Small children have long known the joys of pop-up books. Just unfold the pages or pull the tabs and flat pictures turn into three-dimensional forms. However, not all pop-up books are kid stuff. With detailed artwork and complex "paper engineering," some are sure to delight older, more sophisticated readers. Here our favorite architecture pop-up books for readers of all ages.
1. The Architecture Pack
Subtitled "A Unique, Three-Dimensional Tour of Architecture over the Centuries : What Architects Do, How They Do It," this playful and educational book is just too good to give to the kids. Included are detailed paper models of famous buildings like the Roman Colosseum, transparencies that show the transformation of cities over time, and commentary on architectural history.
2. Frank Lloyd Wright in Pop-Up
Although not as detailed as the other pop-up books listed here, this collection is an excellent introduction to Frank Lloyd Wright. Six important Wright designs are depicted along with photographs and original plans and drawings. ISBN: 15714569023. Four Extraordinary Skyscrapers
Learn about the Empire State Building in Manhattan, the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, and the Bank of China tower in Hong Kong. Then, use the enclosed deck of illustrated cards to build a two-foot tower.4. The New York Pop-Up Book
Both children and adults will delight in seeing New York's grand structures spring to life. In addtion to the Metropolitan and Guggenheim museums, the federal Reserve and Stock Exchange, Times Square and Rockefeller Center, and other important buildings, the book includes New York's underground subway system.5. The Architecture Pop-Up Book
This fun and fascinating book has three-dimensional replicas of famous buildings through history, including Egyptian pyramids, the Parthenon, the Colosseum, the Taj Mahal, the Hagiá Sophiá, Notre Dame, Monticello, and works by important modern masters.