Written by Chloe Toscano, writer focused on disability awareness and advocacy.
Updated August 22, 2023
A book can be such a convenient form of entertainment (even if it isn’t a phone). Whether relaxing on the beach, going on a trip, or just looking to wind down at the end of the day before bed, popping open a book and diving into a story other than your own can feel refreshing. But for some of us, trying to hold open the pages can turn a cherished experience into a frustrating one. It hit me the other day when I decided to read by the water with my lunch.
I ended up heading home, having read a measly half page, only to return to my desk bothered by my failed attempt at taking in a narrative in the sunlight. It was a windy day, which made it utterly impossible to eat my sandwich and hold open the book simultaneously with one hand. Always true to myself, I chose the sandwich. Still, having the chance to multitask would’ve been preferred.
As someone with one arm, that annoying experience allowed me to reflect on the other times books had felt inaccessible. I’ve struggled with the seemingly simple act of keeping a book open in various scenarios, from the kitchen to the beach and bed. Some have told me I should settle for an electronic reader, but if, like me, you enjoy the feel of an actual book and prefer it over a screen, you might need some help.
Below, I’ve compiled a list of six accommodating book stands and page holders to make reading as accessible and frustration free as can be.
Editor's Note: The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.
Best for Bed
Thinking Gifts Cuddly Reader Tablet Stand and Book Holder
Bedtime is for coziness. So, what better way to de-stress with an accessible reading session than with one of these adorable animal pillow stands? The bed or couch can be such a desirable location when you want to settle down and do some reading, but unfortunately, that comfy space may come with some uncomfortable complications when it comes to functioning.
A squishy bed is a challenging place to use a book stand, and sometimes you want to free up a hand so you can multitask and drink the tea you’ve made to go with your bedtime book. These pillow stands offer the perfect way to balance a book while in bed or on the sofa, and the little lip on each pillow ensures your book won’t close on itself, making for a hands-free reading experience.
My favorite part about these Cuddly Reader pillows, though, is their creative designs. Color and fun aesthetics are often left out of accessible concepts, and I love that these unite the two qualities with choices such as a silly pink cat or a blue dragon.
Pros
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Soft design for bed or couch
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Variety of styles
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Lip holds books in place
Cons
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Pillow may be too squishy for heavy books
Buy now at Amazon
Best for Desk
Charlton Home Ceanna Metal Book Stand
I immediately fell in love with this stand. If you want to make your desk more accessible while adding some décor, this is indeed a statement piece. Unlike many desk book holders, this one doesn’t have a lip.
The two little weighted ball-and-chain accents hold the pages open. This makes it easy to turn the pages because, instead of having to pick up the entire book to turn the page, all you have to do is lift the little chain holding it in place.
Pros
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Takes décor into account
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Durable metal construction
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Lip-free design
Cons
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On the larger side
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Not adjustable
Buy now at Wayfair
Best for Recipe Book
Camelmother Metal Book Stand
This Metal Book Stand from Camelmother came highly recommended, with a vast majority of five-star reviews on Amazon. One great feature of this stand is how lightweight it is. Because ideally, when you’re looking for something to make your life easier, you don’t want it to add bulk and inconvenience. And despite its weight, many users found that it could still support heavier-weight books such as hardcovers.
A product like this could be excellent for use on the kitchen counter. I enjoy having a recipe book out, and since I need to follow the recipe down to every last pinch, I find myself checking and rechecking the book about a thousand times throughout the process.
It can be irritating to keep returning to your stubborn page if you’re working with hands covered in food—at least, that’s the case for me, as things tend to get a little messy when I’m chopping and stirring with one arm. If you want a cookbook stand, this is a top pick for reviewers.
Pros
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Lightweight
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Adjustable
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Variety of colors
Cons
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Small size may not fit all books
Buy now at Amazon
Best Adjustable
Wishacc Book Stand with Clamp
This one is a fairly large book holder, but it’s still so versatile. Sometimes I struggle to keep notebooks or books turned to the proper page when I’m writing and working at my desk. Since I already type with one hand, the last thing I want to do is to constantly stop to find the page of notes I was looking at.
This adjustable book stand from Wishacc easily clamps to the desk and remedies that situation, because you can perch anything from books to tablets and use the movable “arms” at the bottom to secure the pages. It’s a great multitasking aid, and its easy installation, which has led to many five-star reviews on Amazon, allows you to use this product in places beyond the desk, such as the kitchen or even on a nightstand.
Pros
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Very adjustable to angles and heights
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Sturdy and durable
Cons
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Requires a clamp installation
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May be a bit large
Buy now at Amazon
Best for Travel
Superior Essentials Silicone Bookmark
Sometimes the simplest designs are amongst the best. This weighted page holder from Superior Essentials features a basic but effective construction. It looks slightly like a dog bone: long and thin in the middle with two bulbous weighted ends.
Just place this little contraption down onto your open book with one weighted end on either page, and the pressure stops the page from closing up on you. What I love most about this product is its portability. This is a wonderful knickknack to toss in your bag or purse without taking up too much space, so that you can make sure you won’t experience your own version of my windy day nightmare. With this travel-friendly weight in tow, you’ll be able to read your book and eat your lunch too.
Pros
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Travel friendly
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Simple design
Cons
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Frequent repositioning on some books
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Not weighty enough for heaviest books
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Doesn't work well at an angle
Buy now at Amazon
$12.95 from Walmart
Best Lightweight
Tilisma Walnut Thumb Bookmark
If you like to hold your book as you read, this ingenious gadget offers a comfortable and accessible book-holding experience. Just slide your thumb through the center of the holder, and rest the pointed tip between the pages as its wooden “wingspan” does the rest. And when it comes down to inclusive design, this one is a winner because it comes in five varieties to accommodate a range of hand shapes and sizes.
Pros
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Allows easy one-handed book holding
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Comes in multiple sizes
Cons
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Can cause very minor damage to books
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Slight hand discomfort
Buy now at Amazon
$13.99 from Walmart
What You Need To Know About Book Stands
While book stands and holders aren’t exactly the most complex products you’ll ever buy, there are a few questions worth asking when choosing the right book stand or holder for you. Here are some aspects worth considering.
Stand versus holder: This article focuses on two different types of products. One is a more full-fledged book stand that holds the entire book, while the other is a smaller object merely designed to hold the book open for a one-handed page flip experience.
To select the best book holder or stand for you, you need to think mostly about the location in which the product will be used. If you’re going to use it in the kitchen, for example, lots of folks tend to prefer larger stands. If you want something you can use from a chair or while lying on the beach, a more portable page holder might make sense.
Thankfully, most of the products on this list aren’t overly costly, so you can always buy more than one if you want holders to suit multiple occasions. When it comes to accessibility, one’s personal level of dexterity may dictate the style that works best for them.
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Meet the writer
Chloe Toscano is a writer focusing on disability awareness and advocacy. Her work has been featured in Allure, SELF, them., Salon, Wired, and more. You can follow her on Instagram at @chloevalentinetoscano and Twitter @ToscanoChloe or read more of her work on her website.
See all of Chloe Toscano's reviews
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