Response to First Blogging Question - The Pop-Up Book

Hello group!

In light of the first blogging question, I have recently come to find that pop-up books are an interesting way of delivering a book’s content. Its three-dimensional form can affect the book's meaning in a unique way, as it not only can bring what’s written on page “to life”, but also redirect one’s attention more towards the illustrations and away from the written word.

An example of this was when I came across a pop-up book of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by the illustrator Robert Sabuda (see link). The decorative details of the three-dimensional images of this particular book struck me as attention grabbing, where it delves into the realm of artistic display and showcase. With the fragile nature and sensitive handling that is required with this particular book – and of other intricate pop-ups – it does call into question what lines are drawn between children’s book and art. While a great addition to any collector of children’s books, one cannot help but think a child’s handling would require a parent’s watchful eye as to not destroy the illustrations. Or in some cases, the parent might be the one to handle the book, while the child would sit, listen and watch with rapt attention.

It is noteworthy to find how certain children’s books can be considered too delicate for a child to handle. Hence, pop-up books are an interesting form where while they can be educational and imaginative for a child, there is a certain finesse that is called upon when using or handling them.

- Raquel

Source:
Amazon. (2003). Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: A Pop-up Adaptation.  
  http://www.amazon.com/Alices-Adventures-Wonderland-Pop-up-
  Adaptation/dp/0689847432/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453420701&sr=1-7 (Accessed
  January 21st, 2016).