By Sara Pearce
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Pop-up books just keep getting better. Bolder. More attention grabbing. More distinctive.
Even in a media-saturated era, these quirky books capture attention through ingenious engineering, clever reimagining and flat-out fun. There is something about paper that moves that makes our jaws drop.
But not every pop-up book is special, and that's why I have waded through stacks of books - books that just don't work, books that tear easily, books that are ho-hum - to find the year's best. Here they are, in time for holiday gift-giving:
The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore, illustrations and paper engineering by Robert Sabuda (Simon & Schuster; $24.95; ages 6-adult). This is the best of the best. As always, Mr. Sabuda's illustrations are elegant and his engineering ambitious and nimble - clock dials move, blankets pull up, Santa slides down the chimney, and Santa's sleigh glides above a snow-covered village - imbuing this holiday classic with new magic.
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Frank Lloyd Wright in Pop-Up by Iain Thomson, paper engineering by Keith Finch, pop-up artwork by Andrew Crowson (Thunder Bay Press; $19.98; ages 12-adult). The year's best value. Six of the architect's most well-known buildings are profiled in this oversized book, which includes plans, drawings, color photos and sophisticated, detailed pop-ups that are as eye-popping as the real buildings.
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Puppy Trouble, written and illustrated by Alexandra Day, paper engineering by Dennis K. Meyer (Farrar, Straus & Giroux; $16.95; ages 3-6). Ms. Day, known for her affectionate tales of Carl the dog, helps FS&G make its pop-up debut with a sweet story about a rambunctious Rotweiller pup who, with the help of judiciously placed pull tabs, just can't stay out of trouble whether overturning plants or trailing toilet paper through the house. Toddlers will relate, as will their parents.
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You Monsters Are In Charge: A Boisterous Bedtime Pop-Up by Jill Sardegna, illustrations and paper engineering by Kees Moerbeek (Simon & Schuster; $12.95; ages 2-5). How many monsters does it take to get one baby monster to sleep? Count up to 10 as the gang tries its best - they leap, dance, sing, paint, juggle - to no avail. The colorful, pull-down pop-ups are simple enough for even the most awkward preschooler to operate and the monsters are more cuddly than scary.
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Big Dig: A Pop-Up Construction! written, illustrated and paper engineering by Paul Strickland (Ragged Bears Books; $17.95; ages 3-7). Enormous trucks with dangling wrecking balls, stretching scoops and clawing diggers clear out a construction site in this kid-pleasing tribute to big machines. You can almost hear gears shifting and feel the dust. There is so much going on that most kids will be oblivious to one of this book's most striking features: the subtle use of women and minorities throughout.
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Five more to look at:
The Giraffe who Cock-a-Doodle-Doo'd: A Pop-Up Book by Keith Faulkner, illustrations by Jonathan Lambert and paper engineering by BrainWave (Dial/Penguin Putnam; $12.99; ages 4-7). The animals in the jungle wake up with new voices.
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The Monster Who Loved Books: A Lip-Smacking Pop-Up Treat for Book Lovers of all Ages! by Keith Faulkner and Jonathan Lambert (Orchard Books/Scholastic; $10.95; ages 4-7). A boy discovers a gorilla-like monster who would rather eat books than read them.
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Pizza! A Yummy Pop-Up, written and illustrated by Jan Pienkowski, paper engineering by Helen Balmer and Martin Taylor (Candlewick Press; $12.99; ages 3-6). What do you feed the king of the jungle for lunch? Pizza, of course, loaded with gross toppings.
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The Princess and the Pea, adapted by Sarah Aronson, illustrated by Chris Demarest, paper engineering by Bruce Foster (Simon & Schuster; $14.95; ages 4-7). This abbreviated version of the classic fairy tale is filled with delightful asides and old-fashioned yuks.
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Scout, written and illustrated by Caroline Heens (Orchard Books/Scholastic; $12.95; ages 5-8). Learn how dogs do and don't behave in this droll, eccentric debut.
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