The Best Pop-Up Books for Children
Pop-up books are a type of book that the littlest members of your household will fall in love with given their special charm. They’re a great tool to use at home and in the classroom, especially with children who have a hard time reading.
In the article below, we’ll tell you about the main characteristics of these popular books. What’s more, we’ll offer you a list of the best pop-up books for children. Without a doubt, you’ll want to start your own collection right away.
Characteristics of pop-up books
The success of pop-up books within the word of infant literature seems to suggest that they were designed specifically for children. However, in their beginning, these books were aimed at reaching adult audiences.
Originally, the purpose of the pop-up book was as a type of pedagogical resource. As such, these books made it easier to understand and explain theories. It wasn’t until the 18th century when the same technique extended into the world of entertainment literature, especially for children.
These books possess three essential characteristics, which you can find below:
1. The transformation of images
The transformation of images is the main characteristic of pop-up books. Each page of these books contains a flat image. However, this image transforms into something completely different as you turn the pages and pull on certain cardboard tabs. These actions cause the images to move and lift off the page.
2. 3 dimensional
Another essential characteristic of this type of book is that it must contain images and illustrations that are 3D. This aspect creates a layered effect that makes the images in the book much more realist and believable.
3. Movement
The component of movement in the appearance of the illustrations in these books is another essential characteristic. Not only do they lift off the page, but many of them also have additional moving features. This, again, adds more credibility and magic to the stories within.
The best pop-up books for children
Given the tremendous success that these books have had, many titles that have long existed in a traditional format are now available as pop-up versions. Others have appeared directly in this interactive 3D style that’s so popular among young audiences. Below, we’ll leave you with a small selection of the best pop-up books for children.
The Colour Monster, by Anna Llenas
This is one of the most successful books on the market today when it comes to children’s literature. And as if the original 2D version weren’t enough, you can now find it in an even more exciting pop-up version.
The story itself is beautiful, as it helps little ones explore and understand the array of emotions they experience. And now, with the pop-up version, children can enjoy the main character in a whole new way as they learn.
Giraffes Can’t Dance, by Giles Andreae
Children have a particular fondness when it comes to books featuring animals as their main characters. This, along with the fact that they “come to life” in pop-up books makes the combination a sure win. Be sure to find these books – with their beautiful illustrations by Guy Parker-Rees – to add to your family’s library.
The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Without a doubt, this is a favorite piece of literature around the world for adults and children alike. First published in 1943, the beautiful story and the lessons it contains are still appearing in fresh ink today. And the book’s characters have appeared in a number of cartoon series and movies over the decades.
As a pop-up book, understanding the story of The Little Prince becomes even easier for small children. As they turn the pages, they can rely on the 3D images to comprehend Saint-Exupéry’s account of his encounter with the little prince.
Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts, by Matthew Reinhart
If your child is a true fan of J. K. Rowling’s magical stories of Harry Potter, then Matthew Reinhart’s pop-up guide is a must-have. Your child will be able to discover the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in a whole new way.
Even older teenagers and adults will get lost in the world of magic as different parts of the famous castle rise off the pages. No Harry Potter collection is complete without this amazing pop-up book.
Atlases and encyclopedias
Atlases and encyclopedias are great educational tools that get children excited about the world around them. In the past, it was common for families to invest in these books to accompany their children’s education. However, given the ease of finding information on the internet, these treasures have becomes much less commonplace.
Fortunately, with the appearance of pop-up versions, you can once again cultivate a love for atlases and encyclopedias among your little ones. As they turn the pages and observe the images, your children will discover all about science and history in a fun, interactive, and screen-free setting.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Llenas, A. (2014). El monstruo de colores (pop-up). Editorial Flamboyant
- Reinhart, M. (2018). Harry Potter: la guía pop-up de Hogwarts. Norma Editorial
- Saint-Exupery de, A. (2015). El principito (pop-up). Ediciones Salamandra
- Ramos, R., & Ramos, A. M. (2014). Cruce de lecturas y eco alfabetización en libros pop-up para la infancia. OCNOS.