Pop-Up London

Gr 1–5—With the 2012 Summer Olympics now merely months away, books about the city on the Thames should be in high demand. This attractive title could easily take center stage in any such themed display. With the London Eye, the Palace of Westminster, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the more recent Gherkin, London has one of the world's most distinctive and recognizable skylines, which lends itself well to the format. Using the river Thames as the thread between the pages, the book starts at Kew Gardens and ends, appropriately, at the newly constructed Olympic Park, before heading out to the North Sea. The pop-ups open easily and require little manipulation (instruction is given when needed, such as lifting Tower Bridge so that a boat can pass under) and would probably hold up well in circulation. There are flaps to lift and open to discover information about famous London inhabitants, notable ghosts that haunt the city, and secrets and ephemera. These factoids are all incorporated around a theme for each spread: "Power, Pigeons, and Premieres," for instance, introduces readers to Number 10 Downing Street, Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, Charlie Chaplin, and Margaret Thatcher. Turning the book around allows readers to look inside the pop-ups, revealing more facts and trivia about the city and its sweeping history. London iconography-black taxi cabs, red double-decker buses, beefeaters-act as friendly markers along the journey. As a book that is both eye-catching and instructional, Pop-Up London is a treat.—Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA