Best New Pop-Up Books
Best New Pop-Up Books
On this page:
Introduction
Where do I find collectible pop-up books?
Pop-up books are in a second golden age right now, with incredibly clever and intricate designs. But because pop-up books are actually still put together by hand, the labor and transport costs are fast making them cost more to buy than the reasonable person can afford. Many also often only have a single print run, and are very difficult to find in mint condition from the second hand market due to their delicate nature, so missing out on a beautiful title while it’s still in print can be very costly.
So to help you find latest and greatest, this list includes the most beautiful, collectible, and/or likely to be future prize winning pop-up books published over the past couple of years.
☞ Upcoming pop-up book releases are here
☞ A collector’s guide to the most beautiful pop-up books is here
As always, please do share in the comments if there’s a title you’re particularly enjoying right now ツ
2023 Recent Releases
Disney: The Little Mermaid Pop-Up Book
A pop-up celebration of the Disney Princess interpretation of the original Hans Christian Andersen tale, The Little Mermaid. This edition includes 5 pop-up spreads, original artwork and Reinhart’s signature ‘hidden surprises’ on every page. Reinhart is a master of the craft, so you know it’s bound to be excellent.
Paper engineer: Matthew Reinhart
Publisher: Insight Editions
Anticipated release date: May 16, 2023
➤ Find it at Amazon | Book Depository
Pop-up Forest
Everything you’ve always wanted to know about forest ecosystems around the world with fact-packed text, lively and colorful illustrations, and delightful pop-up forestry. Discover what happens when trees communicate with each other; the kinds of creatures that live in them; and what the Scandinavian legend of Yggdrasil has to do with it all.
Paper engineer: Tom Valliant, illustrated by Bernard Duisit, written by Fleur Daugey
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Publication date: Mar 7, 2023
☞ In series with Pop-Up Volcano, Pop-Up Earth and Pop-Up Moon, all of which are also excellent titles.
➤ Find it at Amazon | Book Depository
The Brambly Hedge Pop-Up Book
This book is actually a redesign of a much desired but long out-of-print pop-up title, Through the Hedgerow. It’s a charming celebration of the world of Brambly Hedge, with windows into the daily lives of the mice picking berries and baking pies, as well as attending grand events like Poppy and Dusty’s wedding, and the Snow Ball. It’s not a typical pop-up book – rather, the pages are constructed to pop up as 3D vignettes. (Think of it like widows looking into a beautifully illustrated but static scene.) I love this series, but the pop-up style of this title may not be to everyone’s taste – check out the internal pictures to see what they’re like before purchasing.
Paper engineer: Damian Johnston. Written and illustrated by Jill Barklem.
Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren
Publication date: Mar 7, 2023 (US); Dec 8, 2022 (UK)
➤ Find US edition at Amazon | Book Depository
➤ Find UK edition at Amazon | Book Depository
2022 Publications
The Seven Trials of Rostam
When the mythical Persian king of Iran, King Kay Kavous, foolishly invades the lands of Mazandaran, he soon finds himself and his army imprisoned by the terrifying White Demon. In all of Iran, only one young man is fit for the task of rescuing the king. Rostam, along with his devoted horse Rakhsh, sets off to complete seven heroic trials to save the king and Iran. A stunning effort in English with Persian script told through 8 spreads using 12 intricate mechanics. Enclosed in a beautiful slipcase.
Paper engineer: Simon Arizpe, art and design by Hamid Rahmanian, text by Melissa Hibbard.
Publisher: Fictionville Studio
Publication date: Nov 22, 2022
☞ In series with the equally stunning Zahhak: The Legend of the Serpent King.
➤ Find it at Kingorama
Snow White and other Grimm’s Fairy Tales [Interactive Edition]
This latest effort by MinaLima is a brightly illustrated collection of 23 Grimm’s fairy tales with nine clever interactive features ranging from a pop-up forest and pull-tab mirror for Snow White and a wall of thorns encasing Sleeping Beauty, to a three-dimensional ball gown for Cinderella and a pop-up tower for Rapunzel.
Paper engineer: MinaLima, text by the Brothers Grimm
Publisher: Harper Design
Publication date: Nov 24, 2022
☞ Read more about the delightful MinaLima Interactive Children’s Classics series.
➤ Find it at Amazon | Book Depository
Marvel Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book
A pop-up Marvel super-hero celebration featuring contemporary comics art and three-dimensional paper engineering on every page. Tabs allow you to transform Tony Stark into Iron Man and Bruce Banner into the Incredible Hulk, with other spreads featuring the X-Men taking down a giant sentinel and more.
Paper engineer: Matthew Reinhart
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date: Nov 15, 2022
➤ Find it at Amazon | Book Depository
Snowscape: A Winter Pop-Up Book
A whimsical pop-up winterscape with snowfall blanketing the landscape and delicate pop-up displays of flowers, animals and snowflakes.
Paper engineer: Yoojin Kim, illustrated by Kathryn Selbert, text by Nicole Yen
Publisher: Jumping Jack
Publication date: Sep 6, 2022
☞ Part of the ‘4 Seasons of Pop-Up’ series, along with Flora: A Botanical Pop-Up Book, Shells: A Pop-Up Book of Wonder, Leaves: An Autumn Pop-Up Book, and Snowflakes: A Pop-Up Book.
➤ Find it at Amazon | Book Depository
Teeth, Tentacles and Tail Fins: A Wild Ocean Pop-Up
Pop-up master Matthew Reinhart explores an underwater world where creatures such as the colossal squid, the anglerfish, and the goblin shark lie in wait. Majestic pop-up spreads, pull-out flaps and moving tabs are accompanied by fascinating facts about underwater animal behavior and anatomy.
Paper engineer: Matthew Reinhart
Publisher: Insight Kids
Publication date: Aug 6, 2022
➤ Find it at Amazon | Book Depository
Stranger Things: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book
This 3-D guide explores the world of Stranger Things, including Hawkins, Indiana, the Upside Down, and beyond, inviting you to adventure alongside Eleven and Mike Wheeler, crack the Russian code with Steve Harrington at Scoops Ahoy, face off against the terrifying Demogorgon, and more. Lots of hidden surprises and Easter eggs under the flaps and interactive spreads.
Paper engineer: Simon Arizpe, illustrated by Kyle Lambert, creative direction by Matthew Reinhart
Publisher: Insight Editions (US) / Titan (UK)
Publication date: Aug 30, 2022 (US) / Sep 19, 2022 (UK)
➤ Find US edition at Amazon | Book Depository
➤ Find UK edition at Amazon | Book Depository
Woodland Painting Party: An Easter Pop-Up Book
An Easter holiday adventure in which the Easter Bunny decides to paint her Easter eggs, inspired by the beautiful patterns and colors of her friends. Features seven illustrated spreads filled with original pop-ups, hidden flaps, and charming surprises.
Paper engineer: Yevgeniya Yeretskaya, illustrated by Riley text by Nicole Yen
Publisher: Jumping Jack
Publication date: Mar 15, 2022
☞ In series with Woodland Christmas.
➤ Find it at Amazon | Book Depository
0 Comments