Bruce Handy wrote Wild Things, a sprawling exploration of children’s literature, because “picture books don’t get the recognition they deserve,” as he explained in an interview. Since giving classics such as Goodnight Moon and Charlotte’s Web their intellectual due, Handy has started writing his own children’s books. Now comes his third, What If One Day … , in which a child innocently considers how the world would change if basic things, from colors to people to nighttime, disappeared. The kid contemplates the good (no birds means relaxed worms) and the bad (no colors means depressed peacocks). Be warned, the book, gorgeously illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin, will not put your child to sleep. ($19.95, amazon.com) —Jensen Davis

A fall shoulder bag that’s neither a tote nor a shrunken duffel? Groundbreaking. But such is the latest proposition from Akris, whose Anna hobo bag is large enough to hold the essentials (and then some) without resembling something that belongs in the overhead compartment. Made of structured nappa leather, it has just the right amount of slouch to fit comfortably under the arm. Ingeniously, its flap closes magnetically, providing easy access to one’s phone, wallet, or paperback. The strap can be folded into what we shall be referring to as “weekend mode” so that the bag can be slung with insouciance over the shoulder as well. ($2,690; akris.com) —Ashley Baker

Is it really even a visit to Los Angeles if one doesn’t procure a $12 shake and an armful of supplements at Moon Juice? I’ve relied on its Magnesi-Om powder as an integral part of my bedtime routine for years, and I am pleased to report that mornings are now tastier and more hydrated as well, thanks to Mini Dew, a new electrolyte-and-mineral-rich powder that, for once, doesn’t taste medicinal. In fact, it’s watermelon-flavored, which is very useful for those of us who know we should start each day with a 16-ounce glass of water and yet find the stuff from the tap less than appealing. (Yes, I’m a child.) Just one little teaspoon in water goes a long way toward achieving peak hydration, especially before or after exercising. ($44, moonjuice.com) —Ashley Baker

Few midcentury artists have had as profound an impact on contemporary aesthetics as Cynthia Carlson, a pioneer of the Pattern and Decoration movement. While most people in the 70s were stuck in the rut of modernist minimalism, Carlson boldly broke gender and artistic barriers with feminine, maximalist wallpapers and art installations that we’re still replicating in our living rooms and galleries today. To celebrate her legacy, D.A.P. has just published Cynthia Carlson: Sixty Years, a beautiful book examining both her whimsical eye and under-appreciated imprint on the art world. Not only does it offer fascinating insight into Carlson’s impressive career, but it also provides the much-needed inspiration to finally add that pop of color to your white walls. ($65, rizzolibookstore.com) —Lucy Horowitz

Spotify is a great tool, but it’s missing some essential music. That’s why there is Radiooooo, a fun, interactive, online tool that lets you navigate a world map and toggle among different decades to find expertly selected, off-the-beaten-track music. While you’re cooking a meal, tune into Lebanon in the 70s for some funk, or Nigeria in the 90s for the best of Afrobeat. We guarantee even your most music-savvy friends haven’t heard of Radiooooo. (radiooooo.com) —Elena Clavarino

True story: I once went into a famed New York department store looking for a basic black belt and was advised (by one of its salespeople!) to go to A.P.C. instead because the department store’s selection was so limited. Bonus points for customer service. For some inexplicable reason, few designers focus on belts, and it’s a shame. Alaïa has been in this game for decades, and now, under newish creative director Pieter Mulier, they are better (less corset-y, more loop-friendly) than ever. This laser-cut style is just the thing to add some panache to jeans, trousers, and skirts—without commanding a disproportionate amount of attention. (It’s only a belt, after all.) Is it eye-wateringly expensive? It is. But wouldn’t it be nice to never need to shop for a black belt ever again? If that’s not luxury, we don’t know what is. ($760, net-a-porter.com) —Ashley Baker