A book holder stand has two shallow box like parts hinged together along one side to be openable to extend the parts from each other in opposite directions and define a generally planar support. A pivoted shelf is mounted at the bottom of each part able to be flipped down to provide a support for an opened book placed on edge thereon. An elongated retainer element is pivoted to each shelf by having a first segment received in a hole in an outer face of the associated shelf, with an angled down segment extending from the end of the first segment and able to be swept over an opened book with the shelf flipped down. A locking rod is slidable across the hinged sides to lock the parts in their spaced apart position. A prop rod is pivotally mounted to the hinged side of one part which can be pivoted out to extend at an angle thereto to support the book holder stand at an inclined position for convenient reading of an opened book resting on the shelves.