Labor Day is coming up and you might be hosting a party or a small gathering of friends to celebrate the unofficial end of summer. If you are, then we have two new books (and a few tools to go along with them) to help make your party prep a little easier.If you’re tired of standing at the bar pouring drinks all night, then we have a new book for you. It’s called Batched & Bottled: Cocktails to Make Ahead and it’s written by Max and Noel Venning. With 50 recipes for drinks from negronis and manhattans to fancier concoctions that require kitchen prep, this book will make your entertaining easier. Make drinks hours, days, or weeks ahead and you’ll have one less task the day of your soirée. Pair that with a few of our favorite bar accoutrements and you’re ready to enjoy!

Hudson & Lee Ginger Spice Honey Simple Syrup, $13 | Jack Rudy cherries, $22 | Bartender’s knife, $35Tall Anchor glass, $12 | Sphere ice mold, $15 | Five O’Clock Somewhere Bar Mat, $25

 When feeding a crowd this Labor Day you need, Feed Your People by Leslie Jonath with 18 Reasons. With recipes from chefs like Alice Waters and Dennis Lee for everything from comfort food to show-stopping culinary delights, cooking for a crowd never tasted so good. Most recipes are scaled to feed groups of 10 or 20 people with make-ahead strategies, equipment, and serving suggestions for rounding out the meal. This book takes the “labor” out of your Labor Day cooking!

Teak Salt Cellar, $35 | Whale Serving Board, $28 | French linen dish towel, $30Mason Cash mixing bowl, $35 | Kitchen Timer, $25 | Measuring Spoons, $16.50

 Labor Day is a day of rest, so don’t labor in the kitchen or behind a bar this year. Get what you can done ahead of time – and in mass quantities – so you can enjoy the day and those nearest and dearest to you!