The Thing: a gorgeous book that begs to be judged by its cover

Authentic, old-fashioned, bespoke, handcrafted—these are the buzzwords on which the book industry is staking its future hardcover sales. Marian Bantjes’ I Wonder is the ultimate example. The Canadian-born graphic artist spent 15 months creating this satin-wrapped, gold-embossed ode to the art of the printed page. The text inside—essays on such sweeping subjects as wonder, honour and memory—is almost beside the point. This is reading as a sensual, tactile experience, a gift to anti-e-reader bibliophiles everywhere. The first Toronto shipment sold out at Type Books in a week, proving that, in our Kindle/Kobo/iPad–addled world, sometimes you can, and should, judge a book by its cover. $45.

Type Books, 883 Queen St. W., 416-366‑8973.