Abstract: A reading stand or holder including a base with a transversely slotted upper surface, a rear, flat background plate in one of the slots for supporting material, such as a book, in an upright, open position, a placement bar in a slot in front of the open book for maintaining open the pages of the open book, and a transparent, flat magnifying panel in one of a number of grooves in front of the open book for magnifying the matter to be read. The further the magnifying panel is from the open book, the greater the degree of magnification. The magnifier stand is particularly useful for following a recipe in a cookbook while cooking. The stand may be seated on a wedge block to tilt the stand or mounted on a swivel, lazy Susan base, to facilitate reading the material. Another, smaller version of the magnifier stand may be used within or on top of a conventional index card box, for reading the cards.