Oprah sent Mindy Kaling a hand-carved bookcase full of 100 children’s books

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It’s startling to realize that poor Mindy Kaling only gave birth two-and-half months ago! Baby Katherine was born in mid-December, and Mindy seems to have lost a lot of the baby weight quickly, and she’s already out and about doing a ton of promotional appearances, and attending the Vanity Fair Oscar party with her “best friend” BJ Novak (side-eye). In my dream scenario for Mindy, while she’s out doing talk show appearances, her undercover husband Chris Pine is looking after baby Katherine. JUST LET ME HAVE THAT.

Anyway, Mindy has been telling this story on several of her talk show appearances, but it’s still interesting/funny. Apparently, she’s friendly enough with a lot of talk show hosts to the point where they were all sending her gifts for the baby. When she was on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, they talked about his gift for baby Katherine: a very old-fashioned-looking baby onesie, with a bib and some other stuff. Colbert got it from a baby shop in South Carolina, where he’s from. But his gift was not the most thoughtful. No, the most thoughtful gift came from Oprah, who apparently sent a U-Haul over to Mindy’s house to deliver a hand-carved bookcase – in the shape of a castle – full of children’s books with the imprint “Katherine’s Book Club.” The look on Colbert’s face when she told him that was pretty funny.

Now I’m wondering how much baby loot Mindy got from all of her friends and family. Do you give something extra to a woman who makes a conscious choice to be a single mom? Knowing how Indian families operate, I bet there were several aunts and uncles who sent her checks or cash, because they’re worried that she won’t be able to support herself and the baby. But holy sh-t, Oprah is a really good gift-giver, isn’t she? Or is too much?

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24 Responses to “Oprah sent Mindy Kaling a hand-carved bookcase full of 100 children’s books”

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  1. Cynical Ann says:

    I always give my kids’ favorite board books as baby gifts. Not 100 with a hand carved bookcase however. Oprah is really the best.

    • imqrious2 says:

      For my nephews, from pre-birth (showers etc) to every birthday, I always give a couple of books, and a “fun” gift. I always wanted them to equate the two (and they do!). My sister also had a bookcase for each boy, at the foot of their beds, waist high, so they could reach for a book easily. These kids were read to at every nap time, bedtime, and in-between. They would always crawl into my lap with a book and ask to be read to when they were little. Those are some of my favorite memories 😊 Sigh…I miss those times!

      • Ankhel says:

        That’s so sweet.

      • Cynical Ann says:

        Love that. I am completely unsentimental-I donate/toss everything-baby clothes, toys, artwork. But I did keep a bin of board books, and my kids’ favorite books from when they were little for any future grandchildren.

  2. Lori says:

    I hust watched that clip on youtube. Its really sweet, Oprah is the best.

  3. tracking says:

    What a special, thoughtful gift. But y’all can we talk about the movie yet? If you loved the book, you’ll be disappointed. Ava DuVernay’s artistic vision was strong, and most of the casting choices were terrific, but the script was beyond simplistic and the movie ‘Disneyfied’ beyond all recognition.

    • Di says:

      Yes! I was very disappointed with the script. My son kept rolling his eyes at the cheesy lines. And the music score! It was so awful and so long! It felt like the they just over simplified the best bits of the book. Visually it was a beautiful film though.

  4. Lilith says:

    What a thoughtful, beautiful gift. I wish someone did that for me.

  5. LAK says:

    100 books?

    Where do i find Oprah so i can be the recipient of 100 books!!

    That is my perfect gift. Nevermind the kid.

  6. Renee2 says:

    Oprah is a billionaire. This is like me spending 25 bucks on a gift for a co-worker. I agree with everyone above, this a very thoughtful gift.

  7. Sarah says:

    I wish she would release which books, I’m sure it is an amazing collection!

  8. MoCO says:

    Dang – that’s the coolest baby gift ever.

    I’m sure Mindy was covered in gifts. I follow Jessica Alba on Instagram and it’s unbelievable how many cool celebrity baby gifts she got for her son… and she owns a baby gear company! The further irony that the people who have the most get the most.

  9. lucy2 says:

    I love books as gifts for babies and kids, and the “Book Club” aspect is really cute, coming from Oprah.

  10. AnnaKist says:

    Well done! I’m a maniac when it comes to hooks. It’s my gorgeous, darling grandson’s first birthday in 10 days. I’ve been gathering all sorts of gifts to fill a wooden toy box, and there are at least 20 boooks in there. I’ve lost count of the number of books I’ve given him. My family same to Australia, and none of us could speak a word of English. I don’t know how we picked it up so quickly. I remember being about 4, and carrying a thick red book around. It was part of a two-book set, kind of
    Iike an encyclopaedia. I was always looking at the pictures and being frustrated that my brothers could read the words, but not me. And then I went to school, and it was as if I could suddenly read. I don’t know how I learned to read, though – it was like one day I couldn’t read, and the next day I could. All of us – me, my sibling, our children – are voracious readers. There’s nothing like a lazy weekend, sprawled on the couch, and lost in a good book. Except having a child on your lap and reading a favourite book together, or listening to a child read and marvelling at their ability to have mastered the written word.

  11. LadyT says:

    Fabulous gift from Oprah. My daughter was given a “Book Shower” when she was expecting. Just throwing that great idea out there.

  12. Ytbtet says:

    Does anyone else think mindy looks more beautiful as a mother?

    • Ankhel says:

      She looks lovely. You can tell she’s happy.

      Besides the point, but I think Reese looks really good in that photo too.

  13. HeyThere! says:

    Oprah is amazing. That is so thoughtful!

  14. Trish says:

    and meanwhile Wrinkle in time is a huge mess that is going to bomb. The book wasn’t good either.

    • Harryg says:

      Those horrid posters with people in frosty metallic lipstick? I knew it would be a terrible movie when I saw those.

  15. Imara219 says:

    I love the gift! Being a teacher, I received lots of books from co-workers as baby gifts and boy was I glad. One co-worker got me a book with the matching stuffed bunny and baby boy’s body mimicked the bunny (too cute). The book was a frequent read and the bunny is his “lovey”. Each monthly celebration he gets a new book or 3 😉.

  16. JA says:

    I still wouldn’t want to be oprahs friend as it would create the possibility of some day some how I disappointed her. You don’t want to be on Oprah’s bad side! I’ll just admire from afar…great gift! Rich people giving amazing gifts to fellow rich person… the Hollywood circle of life

  17. DesertReal says:

    Awesome gift!
    I always give everyone I know the same book…which is kind of an expletive filled children’s book for adults.
    But it’s only because I want them to laugh when their delirious from the sleep deprivation.
    All that other 19th century baby stuff I figure they’ll get from other people lol