2021 Gift Guide: A call to action holiday

Cubebot, $20

Inspired by Japanese toys, artist David Weeks created this fully posable wooden friend who provides a good excuse to get kids' minds and hands working (and provide a distraction from screens for a bit). For adults, this can be a fun, aesthetically pleasing alternative to a stress ball.

Children's books by Innosanto Nagara, $12–18

The activist and illustrator behind A is for Activism and Counting on Community crafts gorgeous books that bring playfulness and a sense of discovery to the actions of being an engaged citizen and community member, providing young readers with a sense of their individual agency. A is for Activism is available here in board book form; a picture book edition is also on sale at the Store. And along these lines, a hot new item in kids' reading is also available—The 1619 Project: Born on the Water.

Feminist AF: A Guide to Crushing Girlhood, $17

"Feminism is fun. It makes life better," declare authors Brittney Cooper, Chanel Craft Tanner, and Susana Morris. Blasting the old stereotypes about mirthless man haters, Feminist AF embraces joy, diversity, and attitude as it uses the insights of feminism to guide young women through challenging issues in their lives.

Be Gay, Do Comics, $25

Over 30 queer cartoonists use their art form to illuminate collective history and individual identity in a book that can be shared as a tool for greater understanding, or simply as a treat for comics lovers of all kinds.

Stamps & stickers, $3.75–10

Help your giftee spread some food for thought on their car, laptop or notebook with items like this anti-white supremacy bumper sticker. As a bonus, all proceeds from purchases of The Portland Stamp Company's stamps to promote queer visibility support the Queens of the Castro Scholarship Fund, a California nonprofit that creates safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth ages 16–25.

Activity books, $9–15

Kids of all ages will enjoy a collection of word jumbles and other activities designed to dispel myths around the Satanic Temple, or King Khan's Black Power Tarot Colouring Book, featuring icons like Curtis Mayfield, Sun Ra, and Nina Simone. For teens and adults, Offline Activities is a flip book-sized compendium of thoughtful prompts such as "Look into someone's eyes for five minutes without talking" and "Cut up a piece of junk mail and make a collage." Notable quotes give the user an extra push and pages are meant to be ripped out when tasks are completed, so the ultimate goal, as page one makes clear, is to "Destroy this book."

Anti-Racist Writing Workshop: How to Decolonize the Creative Classroom, $25

For the teachers and writers in your life, award-winning educator Felicia Rose Chavez has created an easy-to-use guide with strategies to recruit and foster the talents of writers of color. It's available online here.

Manifesto: The Art Movements Game, $15

Give your board game-loving friends something new for their next play night: a grown-up version of Go Fish in which players must collect artist cards and group them into the right movements to win. This is just one of several novel card game options at the Wex Store, from a Louise Bourgeois memory game to a tarot deck devoted to the Golden Girls.

Modern Art = mug, $17

New Orleans artist Craig Damrauer designed this fabulous functional piece that's part statement, part dare. It'll speak especially loudly to the artists and arts workers in your life. It's also available as a tea towel, a fabric keyring, and a travel pouch.

David Shrigley's Be Nice tea towel, $30

A good option for the hard to buy for, Shrigley's colorful, warm-hearted, smile-inducing collab with Third Drawer Down brings an everlasting rainbow to your giftee's kitchen in the form of a lightweight linen tea towel that's suitable for framing. This design is also available as a magnet and a puffy sticker card, good for any occasion.