April 2009 Calendar / News & Notes / Professional Reading / Pop-up Books Roundup MARK YOUR CALENDAR Upcoming Events for Children's Librarians

DePaola, Tomie, and Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart. Brava Strega Nona! A Heartwarming Pop-up Book . Penguin, 2008. $29.99, ISBN 9780399244537.
Children already familiar with DePaola's Stega Nona books will thoroughly enjoy this book about the kind Italian witch. Beginning with her birth, readers will see her family tree, follow her on a visit to various friends, and hear about her magic pasta pot. The text refers back to the original books, so those who have already read about Big Anthony and the overflowing pasta will understand the references to those stories. Brief enough to read at storytime, this would be great for a unit on Italy.
The illustrations feature DePaola's full color signature style of cheerful characters. The pop-ups are elaborate and amazing, from the grape-draped arbor over the dining table, to the avalanche of pasta, to the city square. Too delicate for circulation, this will be a great addition to an “in library use” pop-up collection and for storytime.

Sabuda, Robert, adapt. Peter Pan: A Pop-up Adaptation of J.M. Barrie's Original Tale. Little Simon, 2008. $29.99, ISBN 9780689853647.
Similar in style to Sabuda's award-winning pop-up adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Little Simon, 2001), this celebrates the classic Peter Pan. Each opening features an elaborate full color pop-up illustration of a scene from the novel - Wendy's bedroom overlooking London, the island of Neverland, the Lost Boy's treehouse, the mermaid lagoon, Peter in flight, and Hook's pirate ship. Each opening also features Sabuda's signature booklets, which contain the text as well as a few smaller pop-ups. These booklets enable Sabuda to offer one chapter-length text passage on each opening, so he can convey much of the story. Most children are introduced to these characters on film (often Disney's animated version), but this can also serve as an introduction that may lead them to read the original version. A splendid success, this won't hold up to library circulation but can be a great gift to a classroom.

Santoro, Lucio and Meera. Predators . Little Simon, 2008. $27.99, ISBN 9781416954392.
Five animals, all very different, but all with the common characteristic of being a predator, are profiled in this entertaining nonfiction book. Spiders, the bald eagle, crocodiles, tigers, and polar bears are described here, shown with a page of text as well as a dramatic full color pop-up painting of the animal. There are some smaller pop-ups and pull tabs that add more facts, and each animal's page also includes information on endangered animals in that category. A winner as a gift book or as a “library use only” browser.

Platt, Richard and David Hawcock. Moon Landing . Candlewick, 2008. $29.99, ISBN 9780763640460.
In anticipation of the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, this striking book has a few pop-ups but is more of a nonfiction book on the subject. It is fairly sturdy, too, so it should hold up to library circulation, since it is aimed at older children who can read the text and are likely to handle the book with some care.
Beginning with information on rockets and the early NASA program, then moving onto a overview of the Apollo program, this includes a timeline, diagrams of a rocket and a spacesuit, and concludes with a dramatic popup of the lunar module. This would serve as a great report book, as well as a browser for our kinetic learners.

Petty, Kate. Earthly Treasure . Illus. by Jennie Maizels. Dutton, 2009. $19.99, ISBN 9780525420804.
At first glance, this looks like a picture book about pirate treasure. It is actually a simple nonfiction book on minerals, and how humans need minerals in our homes and at work. The first opening contains a house with pull tabs that show what it could be like if we didn't use minerals - no roof tiles, no water pipes, no electricity, etc. There is a pop-up volcano and other moveable parts, showing an open pit mine, little foldout booklets explaining how a car, window, and other things are manufactured. It does discuss recycling but there isn't very much on other environmental concerns. Still, a nice easy science book on minerals.

Crowther, Robert. Ships: A Pop-up Book . Candlewick, 2008. $17.99, ISBN 9780763638528.
Following up Crowther's pop-up books on trains and flight, this third book focuses on ships. Beginning with ships from ancient Egypt and Greece, and from other parts of the world, the text features one paragraph on each type of ship - both commercial ships as well as those used in the military. There are dramatic pop-ups of Columbus's Santa Maria, an aircraft carrier, and a modern port, and an interesting foldout of the Queen Mary. An interesting book that is best suited as a gift to a boat fan, as it came apart while I was reviewing it.

Alton, Steve. Blood and Goo and Boogers Too ! Illus. by Nick Sharratt. Dial, 2009. $18.99, ISBN 9780803733251.
What to give the kid who likes the “Grossology” books? Try this popup celebration of bodily fluids! It actually is useful for reports on the human circulatory and respiratory systems, and is a great book for a doctor's waiting room. The cover features a plastic snot-like goo dripping from a nose, and inside we see diagrams of the nose, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. Not sturdy enough for library circulation, it is better suited to a classroom.

Submitted by : Penny Peck, San Leandro Public Library

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