The Reading Tracker Dial

What it is

The Reading Tracker Dial is a wooden desk piece made for keeping count of the books you read. It has three dials and comes with three sets of number tiles from 0 to 9. Turn the dials or swap the tiles to set your total, then update it whenever you finish another book. The tracker reaches up to 999, so it works for a single year of reading or a lifetime of it.

The body is wood, and the number tiles are paper. No assembly is needed. Take it out of the box, set your number and place it where you read.

Size and placement

At just under 9 in (22 cm) tall, it fits on a nightstand, a shelf or the corner of a desk without taking over the space. The footprint is close to a small hardcover laid flat, so it slots in beside a lamp, a stack of books or a reading journal. Keep it out of direct sun and away from damp spots to protect the wood and paper tiles.

Colors

Four floral finishes are available:

• Beige floral
• Black floral
• Navy floral
• Pink floral

Each option uses the same wooden build and the same three dials and tile sets. The choice comes down to the room where it will live. Beige and Pink lean soft and warm. Black and Navy read a little sharper and suit darker shelves or a study desk.

How to use it

1. Decide what you are counting. A yearly total is the most common choice, but you can also track a reading challenge, a genre project or every book in a series.
2. Set the dials to your starting number. If you are beginning at zero, leave all three at 0.
3. Add a tile set if you prefer tiles over dials, or use the tiles to mark a milestone number you want to keep visible.
4. After you finish a book, move the dials up by one.
5. Reset at the start of a new count and store the spare tiles in a drawer or a small dish.

The three tile sets give you room to work. You can keep one set on the tracker, one set aside for a second count and one spare in case a tile goes missing.

Who it suits

This is a gift for book lovers who like to see their progress. It suits a reader who sets a yearly goal, a book club member who wants a shared count on the table, or anyone who enjoys a small ritual at the end of a book. It also works as a desk ornament on its own, with the floral finish doing most of the talking when the dials sit at zero.

It is recommended for ages 14 and up. There is no light and no power source, so it needs nothing but a flat surface.

Care

Dust the wood with a dry or barely damp cloth. Do not soak it or run it under water. Keep it away from radiators, windowsills with strong afternoon sun and humid rooms, since both wood and paper can warp or fade in those conditions. If a tile feels loose, press it gently into place rather than forcing it. Move the dials by hand and avoid turning them past their stops.

In the box

• Wooden tracker with 3 dials
• 3 sets of number tiles, 0 to 9

No tools, glue or assembly are required.