Pop-Up: A Paper Engineering Masterclass by Ruth Wickings and Frances Castle

Pop-Up: A Paper Engineering Masterclass by Ruth Wickings and Frances Castle
Buy Pop-Up: A Paper Engineering Masterclass by Ruth Wickings and Frances Castle at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Children's Non-Fiction
Reviewer: Keith Dudhnath
Summary: An excellent project book for children to make their own pop-up book. A few minor nitpickings mean it's not quite perfect, but it still makes for an excellent present. Highly precommended.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 16	Date: September 2010
Publisher: Walker
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-1406330854
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With its subtitle of A Paper Engineering Masterclass, you know exactly what you're getting from Pop-Up. You'll see how pop-up books are made, learn the tips of the trade, and make four elaborate 3D models yourself. If you're not rushing out to buy it immediately, there's something wrong with you!

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle! What a superb book! I loved it as soon as I got it, and immediately had to show everyone. Then, of course, came playing with it, putting the pop-ups together and enjoying it. If you've ever been impressed by a pop-up and wondered just how some of the more elaborate aspects worked, then this is the book for you. (I suppose you could let children have a go with it too. Not my copy though - it's all mine).

The projects have simple to follow instructions, with a perfect learning curve. No prior knowledge is needed, just the patience to sit and work through the instructions. Children of about 7 years and up will get the most from it, but it very much depends on the child themselves. If they enjoy doing creative things with paper, and have a relatively steady hand, they'll love doing it, either with you or on their own. You'll also have a deeper respect for just what goes in to making a pop-up book. What I particularly appreciated was that everything was provided - from embossed eyes, to rubber bands, and particularly double-sided sticky tape already in place. No fiddling around with glue here, or needing to round up extra equipment. It's all here and ready to go.

There are some small shortcomings, but these are minor nitpickings in the quest for perfection. Whilst the instructions are clear and easy to follow, there are a couple of occasions where it's not 100% clear whether it should be a mountain or valley fold. Figuring it out is half the fun of achieving the end result, but that is one area where it could be even clearer. There are additional masterclasses on the backs of the instructions, but as the instructions are detached from the final pages, they're not in the book when it's completed. Most of all, when the book is completed, there's no story to read, or really any reason to open it up again other than to show people what you've done. It's still an awful lot of fun and something to be proud of, but imagine the joy to be had if, upon completion, it became a much-loved tale to read again and again. Imagine, for example, if The Very Hungry Caterpillar Pop-Up Book by Eric Carle was a book you could construct yourself.

None of the nitpickings stand in the way of what is an otherwise excellent book. It's a great project for interested children to have fun with - challenging yet achievable, and with a substantial end result. It's beautifully presented with excellent illustrations and impressive paper engineering, and also sparks plenty of ideas for pop-up cards that you can make yourself. It would make a wonderful birthday or Christmas present for a creative young child. Highly recommended.

My thanks to the publishers for sending it to Bookbag.

Abc 3d by Marion Bataille is a gorgeous pop-up book, based around the alphabet. For elaborate pop-up books, check out Cars - A Pop-Up Book Of Automobiles by Robert Crowther, Zoom and Fly, Mr Croc by Jo Lodge and Chick by Ed Vere.

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You can read more book reviews or buy Pop-Up: A Paper Engineering Masterclass by Ruth Wickings and Frances Castle at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Pop-Up: A Paper Engineering Masterclass by Ruth Wickings and Frances Castle at Amazon.com.

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