Pop-Up Books: A Guide for Teachers and Librarians

This comprehensive overview highlights the accessibility, variety, and types of pop-up books, and explores their potential as instructional tools. While the introduction can sometimes be repetitive and heavy with references, the authors' enthusiasm is contagious. The volume's real value comes in the extensive collection of lesson plans, which are divided into use with elementary, middle school, and high school students. Each well-thought-out lesson starts with a theme and then focuses on one book. Major curriculum areas are noted, and an overview of the activity is followed by step-by-step instructions for implementing it. It is unfortunate that the layout of these lessons is so dense that it's often difficult to find the end of one lesson and the beginning of the next. While this might prove annoying, it doesn't detract from the actual lessons. This is a wonderful resource for librarians or teachers looking for a new hook for their lessons. The skill, detail, and feats of engineering that contribute to pop-up books make them an ideal source for engaging students in a variety of curriculum areas.—Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City