Synopsis
This limited edition of How Many? is signed and numbered by Ron van der Meer. There is a special pop-up (which is not in the trade edition) embedded in the cover, full-cloth binding, foil stamping, and a full-cloth slipcase.
This limited edition truly has to be seen to be appreciated. Each spread features a different shape (square, circle, star, triangle, rectangle) that has been cleverly paper-engineered to form spectacular sculptures. Readers are invited to find and count as many items as they can per spread-shapes within shapes, shapes of different colors, and so on. Whether readers search and count or not, the beautiful paper sculptures will be admired by all who see them. This is a book like no other and belongs on everyone's home bookshelf.
Children's Literature
Triangles, circles, stars, squares, and stripes are the shapes chosen for this outstanding presentation of astonishing constructions by one of the world s premier paper engineers. Within the five double-page spreads of this particular form of book art, simplistically called pop-ups, there are hundreds, possibly thousands, of three-dimensional shapes in different colors and sizes. On each spread there are at least eight to ten questions posed by the author. How many triangles? How many circles can you see through? If a square has a border, does that count as another square? How many stars are transparent? And, on the last page with lines and stripes going up, down, and around, How many lines are there in total? Book artists create by hand delicate books of this difficulty to sell for many hundreds of dollars, but to design and develop a book of this complexity for a mass market with construction sturdy enough to be opened and closed over and over again is truly outstanding. Recommended for personal pleasure and as an ideal gift for anyone of age 6 or over. Reviewer: Eleanor Heldrich