As model builders who usually work on airplanes, tanks, or military models, we’re always grateful for kits we can build with our wives, children, or friends! Have you ever heard of BookNooks? If not, it’s about time, because these little dioramas are not only real eye-catchers, but they also come with a high Spouse Approval Factor (yes, that means your partners will be thrilled!). And the best part: BookNooks are also perfect for building together with children and getting into the hobby as a team, or if you just want to try something new.
What are BookNooks, anyway?
A BookNook (Revell ShopLink) is a miniature world that fits into the gap between books or other items on your shelf—basically a bookend, but with depth and atmosphere. You could say it’s a small diorama that tells stories, sparks the imagination, and—just like a book—offers a glimpse into another world.
The idea behind it: You create a small, magical scene that suddenly comes to life when you look at your shelf.
With our BookNooks, we’ve launched a great range of kits that bring exactly these miniature worlds into your living room. From winding alleys and magical libraries to legendary film and literature locations—there’s something for every taste.
A brief look at the history of BookNooks
BookNooks aren’t an entirely new phenomenon, but in recent years, thanks to BookTok and BookTube, they’ve gained enormous popularity. The first miniature worlds designed specifically for bookshelves appeared in 2018. The first modern BookNook of its kind is said to have been published by Japanese designer Monde on his Twitter account, and it quickly made its way to the Reddit front page. Today, /r/BookNooks has almost 100,000 subscribers. Inspired by miniature art and diorama building, they quickly became a trend among crafters and book lovers.
BookNooks especially spread in the maker and model-building community through social media and YouTube tutorials. The combination of model building, art, and literature makes them so unique. Today, BookNooks are not just a hobby, but a real lifestyle trend.
There are now some particularly famous BookNooks that have achieved cult status in the scene. For example, the highly detailed Harry Potter dioramas like “Diagon Alley” or the “Quidditch Field” from Revell, which delight not only fans of the books and film series. The “House of the Dragon” version with the Iron Throne is also a highlight for fantasy fans.
Anecdotes about BookNooks
370 mini-books for a “Neverending Story” BookNook
A Reddit user reports how he hand-crafted an incredible 370 tiny books for his “Neverending Bookshop” BookNook to fill the shelves. At the end, he says with a wink: “I’ll never do that again!”—a perfect example of the attention to detail and the madness that sometimes grips BookNook builders.
Playing with perspective in science fiction: “Project Hail Mary” BookNook
A builder created a BookNook for the sci-fi story “Project Hail Mary.” To represent the depth of a long corridor, he built the model with forced perspective—getting smaller towards the back. In the comments, people admire how well the effect works and how much fun the project was.
A 2-meter-long(!) BookNook around the corner from Nerdforge
Norwegian crafter Martina and her partner have already built a Diagon Alley BookNook and one with an infinite mirror on their joint channel Nerdforge. But with this 2-meter-long BookNook, which wraps around the corner through a custom bookshelf, they truly outdid themselves. The detail and depth of the scene are absolutely breathtaking:
Why BookNooks are exciting for model builders
BookNooks give you the opportunity to use your skills in a new context. The Revell kits are designed so that even beginners can easily assemble them, but there’s still plenty of room for individual creativity… And our BookNooks are immediately practical as decorative bookends once built. Your partners will love that you’re building something that doesn’t just stay in the hobby room, but also beautifies the living room or office.
And: BookNooks are perfect for building with children. The kits are straightforward, most parts fit together without glue, and themes like Harry Potter or Disney are a huge hit with kids. This way, you can share your passion and spend valuable family time together, diving deep into these worlds!
An overview of the Revell BookNooks
Revell offers an exciting selection of BookNooks you should definitely check out:
- Harry Potter: Diagon Alley (202 parts) A magical shopping street with mysterious shops and winding alleys. Perfect for fans of the wizarding world.
- Harry Potter: Quidditch Field (124 parts) The famous Quidditch field with flying broomsticks and stands—a highlight for all Potterheads.
- House of the Dragon: Iron Throne (91 parts) The legendary Iron Throne from Westeros—for all Game of Thrones fans.
- Disney: The Lion King (82 parts) A beautiful scene from the African jungle, ideal for Disney fans.
- Disney: The Jungle Book (68 parts) Another enchanting diorama from the world of Disney.
- Lord of the Rings: Minas Tirith Minas Tirith, the “White City,” became the capital of Gondor and a symbol of hope against Sauron’s rule.
- Lord of the Rings: Barad-Dûr Barad-dûr, Sauron’s dark fortress, was built in the Second Age of Middle-earth and was considered the greatest structure of its time.
- Tiny Adventures “Paris” (168 parts) A romantic miniature Paris that enchants any bookshelf.
Bring home a miniature world with big charm
BookNooks are a fantastic way to expand your model-building hobby while creating something that’s visible and admired in everyday life. They combine creative crafting with decorative function and give you the chance to build something great together with family or children.
So why not swap your paintbrush for a bookshelf kit and create your own miniature world? Your partners will thank you—and you’ll discover a new, exciting side of model building.