Using children's pop up books in the classroom is a great way to introduce children to literature and a variety of other fascinating topics. While those in the teaching profession once regarded pop up books as a waste of time, they're now enjoying a resurgence in popularity, due in part to the talented artists creating them.
Children's Pop Up Books
If you haven't picked up a children's pop up book lately, you may be surprised. These books combine great stories with unrivaled artwork, all designed to educate and entertain children, as well as adults. They have traditional pop up artwork and often have other enticements, such as tabs to pull, envelopes to open or pockets filled with tidbits of information or photos.
Popular Pop Up Books
Many writers and artists have tried their hand at creating pop up books. Some have become household names because of the sheer number of pop up books they've created, while others only create one or two books in this genre.
The following are some of the readily available children's pop up books in the marketplace:
Pre-School Pop Ups
- I Love You Every Little Bit: A Pop Up Book - by Margaret Wang and John Butler. This book, written for pre-schoolers, features a variety of mother and father animals with their babies.
- Hungry Monsters: A Pop Up Book of Colors - by Matt Mitter and Jo Brown
- Trucks Go Pop! - by Bob Staake
- Peter Rabbit and Friends: A Pop-Up Book - by Beatrix Potter
- A Pop Up Book of Nursery Rhymes - by Matthew Reinhart
- Cookie Count: A Tasty Pop-Up - by Robert Sabuda
Elementary School Pop Ups
- Winter's Tale: An Original Pop Up Journey - by Robert Sabuda. Mr. Sabuda is one of the most prolific pop up book creators. He has published over a dozen pop up books, created for both the young and old alike. His books cover topics such as holidays, dinosaurs and butterflies.
- Chronicles of Narnia Pop Up: Based on the Books of C.S. Lewis - by C.S. Lewis and Robert Sabuda.
- The Paper Dragon - by Marguerite W. Davol and Robert Sabuda.
- Brava, Strega Nona! - by Tomie DePaola, Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart
- The Amazing Pop Up Geography Book - by Kate Petty and Jennie Maizels
- Sea Creatures: A Squirmy, Scary, Prickly Pop Up - by Sally Hewitt and Chris Gilvan-Cartwright
- Cinderella: A Pop-Up Fairy Tale - by Matthew Reinhart
- Trains: A Pop Up Railroad Book - by Robert Crowther
- The Nutcracker: A Pop Up Book - by E.T.A. Hoffman and Patricia Fry
- Sports Illustrated Kids WOW! The Pop-Up Book of Sports - by Editors of Sports Illustrated Kids
- The Pop Up Book of Ships - by David Hawcock and Eric Kentley
- The White House Pop Up Book - by Chuck Fischer
Tween and Teen Pop Ups
- The Pop Up Book of M.C. Escher - by M.C. Escher and Michael Solomon Sachs
- The Pop Up Book of Phobias - by Gary Greenberg and Matthew Reinhart
- Wicked The Musical - by DK Publishing
- Robert Crowther's Pop Up House of Inventions: Hundreds of Fabulous Facts About Your Home - by Robert Crowther
- The Modern Architecture Pop Up Book - by Anton Radevsky and David Sokol
- Frank Gehry in Pop-Up - by Jinny Johnson and Roland Lewis
- Moon Landing: Apollo 11 40th Anniversary Pop Up - by Richard Platt and David Hawcock
- Frank Lloyd Wright in Pop-Up- by Roland Lewis
- Birdscapes: A Pop-Up Celebration of Bird Songs in Stereo Sound - by Miyoko Chu, Cornell Lab or Ornithology and Julia Hargreaves
By introducing children to the magic of pop up books, parents and teachers can induce some reluctant learners to become interested in reading books. Children that already enjoy books may become intrigued by this art form, also known as paper engineering. In either case, children who are exposed to pop up books will enjoy them, and learn a little in the process.
