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“Dreams do come true, if only we wish hard enough,” writes J.M. Barrie in his classic Peter Pan. “You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it.” This quote was the one I chose for my senior yearbook, a quote both unbearably romantic and perhaps a bit of a red flag about my work-to-sleep ratio at the time.
I have always been a Peter Pan faithful. The Disney film had its many joys.* The musical had the moment that enchanted me (an entire audience clapping because they believe in fairies, because they choose to believe). But the first time I read the book, I understood the true draw. Barrie’s writing is full of wonder and ethereal joy. Of nostalgia, yes, and yet it also encourages us. Wendy does grow up, but she passes on her ability to fly to the next generation. Growing up is inevitable, but childhood is still magic, and we can rest assured, it’s still out there.
May 9 is J.M. Barrie’s birthday, and is known by some as Peter Pan Day in celebration of the author’s legacy. This Peter Pan Day, pick up some of these bookish goods and remember what it was like the first time you followed Peter straight towards the second star to the right—straight on, ’til morning.
“So great were the delights of flying that they wasted time circling round church spires or any other tall objects on the way that took their fancy”—but you’ll know just what time it is with this Big Ben wall clock featuring the Darling sibling silhouettes. $15+
Wendy offers Peter a kiss, but realizing he doesn’t know what one is, gives him a thimble instead. “Now, shall I give you a kiss?” he asks, and drops an acorn button into her hand. She chooses to wear “his kiss” on the chain around her neck, which goes on to save her life. Now you too can wear not one, but two kisses around your neck on this silver necklace chain. The shop has many versions, including one where the thimble is hidden in an acorn. $68
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“You just think lovely wonderful thoughts. . .and they lift you up in the air.” This lovely, whimsical print is for the optimists, the positive thinkers, or the people who need to be reminded to think happy thoughts. $21+
Wear the words of J.M. Barrie to keep your head warm as you read with this cute, comfy twist knot headband. The shop also has Peter Pan baby blankets, beanies, makeup pouches, and more for you to choose from! $18
What does Neverland smell like? Perhaps like bergamot, citrus, and a salty sea breeze. This lovely candle brings Peter Pan’s world to the comfort of your own home. $17
These beautiful ornaments use real, repurposed book pages to create keepsakes featuring real words and text from Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. It’s the perfect hanging decoration or Christmas tree bauble. $12+
This simple but effective map of Neverland matches the Disney film’s layout and will be a welcome addition to any Disney-themed children’s room or whimsical home. Your kids will need it to help them stay out of trouble! $12
For those who don’t know, the original by J.M. Barrie is actually titled Peter and Wendy; this beautiful locket, with a book quote inside, pays tribute to the first edition released in 1911. $69+
Make any light switch or outlet beautiful, adding some whimsy to any (or every) room, with this stunning cover featuring the first page of J.M. Barrie’s masterpiece. It can be customized for any size or configuration! $42+
Until now, I’ve been pretty focused on the book versions of Barrie’s classic. But I had to include a couple of Disney treasures here and there. This enamel pin pays tribute to an icon: the sumptuously murderous mermaid in Peter Pan (1953). $15
Are you an ambitious cosplayer, getting ready for Halloween, love Tinkerbell, or just want to seize your chance to wear fairy wings? These gorgeous iridescent wings are a work of art. $69+
*The film—and the original book—also has its flaws, most notably its racist depiction of Indigenous people. Luckily, the franchise has had some much-needed updates when it comes to Indigenous characters, as this article illustrates: “Peter Pan still hasn’t grown up, but Tiger Lily has changed“. You can also pick up Tiger Lily and the Secret Treasure of Neverland, a new Peter Pan adventure starring Tiger Lily by Métis author Cherie Dimaline.
On the hunt for more Peter Pan merch? Keep a careful eye out for misattributions! From “To live will be an awfully big adventure” (it’s “To die will be,” but the former is more inspiring) to “You know that place between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming? That’s where I’ll always love you. . .That’s where I’ll be waiting,” which is a Peter Pan–adjacent quote, from Hook. They’re both wonderful quotes, but neither was written by J.M. Barrie. Now you know!
Want more Peter Pan? Check out eight retellings to whisk you away. Or if you want to do more shopping, check out our other The Goods collections for some great bookish ideas.
The following comes to you from the Editorial Desk.
This week, we’re highlighting a post that offers you a guide to all things cozy genre books! Get to know some outstanding cozy mysteries, cozy horror, and a whole lot more. Read on for an excerpt and become an All Access member to unlock the full post.
A Guide to All the Cozy Genres
Cozy has certainly become a buzzword attached to genre fiction. It all started with cozy mysteries, which have been around for decades. Now we’re seeing cozy science fiction and fantasy, and even cozy horror. So what exactly does “cozy” mean?
There are some common traits of so-called cozy books. Generally, they evoke a charming atmosphere with their setting. In cozy mysteries, this is often a small town—think of a quaint village in the English countryside. Fantasy adds some magic to that quaint village; horror adds ghosts. For science fiction, coziness often manifests as a ship, space station, or colony with a tight-knit crew. Readers can expect rich descriptions of the setting and a lot of atmosphere for a fully transporting reading experience.
Another common factor in these books is the stakes of the story. Cozy mysteries are somewhat confounding because the crimes they solve are typically murders! Nevertheless, the reader is not subjected to gory details or put in a position of extreme suspense. Likewise, cozy fantasy and sci-fi novels may deal with the aftermath of a large-scale conflict, but the characters are likely to be dealing with smaller, more internal or interpersonal challenges.
Sign up to become an All Access member for only $6/month and then click here to read the full, unlocked article. Level up your reading life with All Access membership and explore a full library of exclusive bonus content, including must-reads, deep dives, and reading challenge recommendations.