Build-On Brick Mug

The Build-On Brick Mug turns a coffee break into a small construction project. Its grey exterior is a building surface for compatible bricks, so you can attach a weird little creature to the side instead of just staring into your drink. We like the idea of a mug that gives restless hands something to do beyond picking it up and putting it down.

This is a 12-ounce, BPA-free plastic mug, not a ceramic one, and it needs hand washing. That makes it more appealing as a playful desk companion than as a no-fuss addition to the kitchen cupboard. The building surface works with LEGO, Pixel Blocks, KRE-O and other compatible bricks.

You do need your own bricks: none come with it. For someone who already has a stash, that is an invitation to put a few spare pieces to work. For someone starting from zero, the mug alone leaves the building part of the gift unfinished.