The Cat Scholar Book Nook

What it is and what it is made of

The Cat Scholar Book Nook is a DIY book nook kit that turns a small stretch of shelf into a miniature room. The scene is a cat's study, built from laser-cut wood, paper and resin parts. A warm LED light is included, so the finished nook glows when it sits between your books.

This is a kit, not a finished model. You press the parts together and use glue for some pieces. The build is meant for ages 14 and up, and it works well as a slow weekend project or a gift for a reader who likes to make things.

What you get and what you need

Every kit ships with the parts shown for the Count Cat's Study style. The box includes the wood sheets, paper elements, resin pieces and the warm LED light. You supply the glue and a few basic tools, such as a craft knife and tweezers.

A few notes before you start:

• Read the instructions fully once before you break out any parts.
• Keep the wood sheets flat until you need each piece.
• Test the LED light before you close up the scene.
• Work on a tray so small parts do not roll away.

Sizes and styles

This page lists the Count Cat's Study style. It is a single style option, so you pick it once and the kit arrives ready for that scene.

If you want a different scene, check the other book nook kits in the Book nooks category. Each kit is sold on its own page with its own style name.

How to build it

Start with the base and the back wall. Those two pieces set the shape of the room, and everything else stacks on top of them. Dry-fit each joint before you add glue, then press the piece in and hold it for a few seconds.

The paper and resin parts go in after the wood frame is solid. Paper pieces sit flat against the walls, and resin pieces add the small details that catch the light. Save the LED for near the end, once the walls are closed in, so you can hide the wire along the back edge.

Give the glue time to set before you stand the nook up. A finished nook is light, so it slides onto a shelf without any mounting hardware.

Where it fits

A book nook sits between books on a shelf, which is why it is also called a bookshelf insert. Leave a gap about the width of a hardcover and slide the nook in. The warm LED does the rest.

It also works on a desk, a windowsill or a mantel. Any flat spot with a little room behind it will do. Keep it out of direct sun and away from damp, since paper and wood do not like either one.

Care and handling

Dust the finished nook with a soft brush or a dry cloth. Do not use water or spray cleaners on the wood, paper or resin. If the LED stops working, check the battery contact and the wire before you take anything apart.

Store the kit in its box if you are not ready to build it. Keep the sheets flat and away from heat. Once it is built, the nook is a display piece, so handle it by the base rather than the walls.