The Amazing Pop-up, Pull-Out Space Shuttle

Children's Literature - Judy Katsh

This book could not be more aptly named. It is amazing. The first four pages of text will seem familiar to anyone who knows DK books. On each page, there's a large central illustration surrounded by captions, cartoons, and photographs that help explain and enrich the topic being presented. As readers turn those four pages, expectations mount-something strange is going on here. The pages unfold vertically! And they feel so heavy! The fifth turn of a page (this one typically horizontal) lives up to the mounting expectation. It's the space shuttle. A giant pop-up space shuttle is right there for all readers young, old, jaded, and enthusiastic alike to gasp at. There are more accompanying captions and pictures. But the main attraction needs little explanation. It's all there, four feet long and majestic in metallic gray and blue to play with and pore over. Not exactly armchair reading, this space shuttle will dominate the floor or table in the reading space. So it's a good thing the paper engineering feels pretty sturdy; younger brothers and sisters will surely come over to investigate!