Some cats chase mice. This one fell asleep with its glasses on, halfway through a good story.

I'm a Novel-ty is a bookish tote bag for readers who know the feeling of nodding off with a chapter still open in front of them. It carries the library haul, the bookstore splurge and the snacks for book club, and it wears its pun right on the front.

The design: a tabby who dozed off mid-chapter

A cartoon tabby with ginger fur, dark stripes and a white muzzle and chest lies curled up against a thick open book. Its eyes are shut in a contented smile, a pair of black rectangular glasses still perched on its nose, and a tiny z drifts above its head. Pink ears and rosy cheeks keep the mood sweet, and a dark-tipped tail curls up behind.

The book rests open by the cat's front paws, with cream pages and a red-brown cover edge; the left page carries a short made-up title in small capitals, and the right page is filled with squiggles that stand in for text. A small leaf lies near one paw, a thin gold arc and a few quick motion marks hover overhead, and a soft beige shadow grounds the scene.

Under the picture, the pun is set in bold black serif capitals: a small I'M A stacked over a large NOVEL-TY, with the N and the L standing taller than the other letters. It is a wink at readers who are a bit of a character themselves, and at every cat that has claimed the warm spot on an open page. Clean outlines and a soft palette of ginger, cream and beige keep it friendly, with open space all around the art.

Why this bookish tote bag can take a heavy library run

• 100% polyester body cut to 15″ × 15″ (39 × 39 cm), a square shape with plenty of width for big books and a folded sweater
• About 10 L (2.6 US gal) inside, enough for this week's holds, a water bottle and a snack for the reading room
• Carries up to 44 lb (20 kg), which is a lot of reading material before the bag reaches its limit
• Twin handles in natural cotton denim, 26″ (67 cm) long and 1″ (2.5 cm) wide, with enough drop to hook the bag over a shoulder
• Made after you order it: sizes may differ by up to 1″ (2.5 cm), and the handles can vary slightly in look depending on where the bag is made

Who it's for

Book-club regulars, cat parents with a towering to-be-read pile, librarians, English teachers and anyone who has woken up with a paperback on their chest. It makes a fitting thank-you for a school librarian, a back-to-school treat for a literature student or a birthday surprise for the friend whose cat always naps on whatever they are reading.

Quick answers

Is the book in the picture a real title?

No. It is a made-up storybook drawn just for this design, and the line underneath plays on the words novel and novelty. No author, publisher or famous series is referenced.

Will a standard hardcover fit without bending?

Yes. Laid flat, the bag measures about 15.75″ × 15.35″ (40 × 39 cm), comfortably larger than a typical hardcover, so books can go in upright with their covers intact.

Is it more of a cat-lover gift or a reader gift?

Both. The joke works for anyone who has fallen asleep over a good book; the cat just looks cuter doing it.

Shipping and returns

Free US shipping. US delivery usually 5–12 business days. Easy 30-day returns.

Size guide