Christmas time is the perfect time to give books for gifts. Here are some of the year's best pop-up books, and other extraordinary books, that will greatly please your gift recipient.
Yellow Square, by David A. Carter, is an enigmatic book full of the most amazing creations of paper structured to pop out, twirl, slide, spin and move just about every way imaginable in the confines of a book. Mr. Carter has just published his fourth monochromatic backdrop of books and this one doesn't disappoint. As with his other highly successful and inventive books, ( “One Red Dot”, “Blue 2” and “600 Black Spots ”), you are attempting to discover the hidden yellow square on each page. Sometimes this is very difficult and you have to resort to moving the entire book at an angle in order to discover the square. What makes this book stand out a little differently from the other 3 books is that there is a simple line of text on each page that goes along with locating the square. The technical engineering and inventive displays on each page are sure to capture the imagination of all ages!
Moon Landing, by Richard Platt, and designed by David Hawcock, is a pop-out book designed to inform and enlighten. This book is a celebration of the fortieth anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the moon back on July 20, 1969. The book is full of inventive displays from space suits to the large representation of the rocket used for the flight. There are smallish booklets full of information and photos of astronauts and flaps with more facts. Whether there is interest in this area or not, makes no difference. Once you open this book, you won't be able to stop reading, learning and understanding space travel.
The Story of an Aviator: The Amazing Wonders Collection, by Marmaduke Randolph Calhoun, with illustrations by Nick HardCastle, and edited by Clint Twist, is filled with colorful adaptations of vintage airplanes. For anyone who has an interest in flying high, this oversized book offers rich information in a book along with a model airplane ready for assembly. This book is a rare treat!
For those interested in the sea, Ships: A Pop-Up Book, by Robert Crowther, get ready for an oceanic journey. Here is another informational book filled with historical ships that range from clippers to supertankers. The many flaps, pop-ups and pull-tabs will surely make you “sea-worthy”.
Now for pop-ups that are good for younger children, ages 4 to 8. Here's one that's bound to please: The Whistle on the Train, by Margaret McNamara delightfully mimics the “Wheels on the Bus” song only “…the whistle on the train goes whoo, whoo, whoo town after town.” The pop-ups are wonderfully engineered and the story will give you a ride all through the town. Sammy's Suitcase, by Lisa Rojany Buccieri, is a delightful pop-up book about Sammy and his magical suitcase as they travel on the train to his grandparents' house. He encounters many difficulties along the way, but once he opens his suitcase, the problems are quickly remedied. There's even a die-cut handle on the book to hold it like a suitcase. Kids will love this book! Maisy's House and Garden: A Carousel Play Book, by Lucy Cousins, proves that books can turn into fun play items that you can fix and read about as well. This 3-D house is interactive with punch out windows, doors, toys, tools, kitchen items and more. There's even a miniature Maisy book to read inside. There's hours of fun waiting here for your young ones. I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not go to Bed: Pop-Up! by Lauren Child, and engineered by Corina Fletcher, is another adaptation of a popular book first published in 2005. The book is extraordinary! And, I especially like how some of the pull-tabs come out with the text! Very clever. The Mystery of the Messy Clubhouse (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse series ), by Thea Feldman, is an interactive pop-up story where you try to solve the mystery of the paw prints.
The last three books are boxed sets. Where's Waldo? The Complete Collection, by Martin Handford, includes the six fabulous oversized books to pore over for hours! This is good for all ages. How Do Dinosaurs….Pocket Library, by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, is an adorable small sized box of board books of all the “How do” series about dinosaurs. This one is a must for toddlers! Nature Nesting Blocks (Baby Einstein series), by Julie Aigner Clark, and illustrated by Nadeem Zaidi, introduces youngsters to life outside. The many sizes of blocks captivate while they instruct.
