Presents, please

Training high heels with built-in stabiliser wheels, a silicone substitute hand to reduce the risks when chopping vegetables at high speed, duster slippers for cats who want to help with the housework – what sort of person finds these items amusing? Well I must admit, I do. However quirky your taste, though, you’re sure to find something to tickle you in 101 Unuseless Japanese Inventions by Kenji Kawakami (HarperCollins, £5.99, ISBN 0 00 638672 5). Hay fever sufferers may appreciate the loo roll dispenser hat – tissues at your fingertips from dawn till dusk. Or what about the daddy nurser? Breast- shaped bottles that can be worn inside or outside a suit to let the modern father experience the joys of nourishing his baby. Although none of these impractical items is for sale, a prototype of each has been made so that the book can be lavishly illustrated. If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for someone who has everything, this book will make them think again.