Alexandria Library's Blog: Pop-Up Books For Everyone!

Press release from Alexandria Library's Blog:

2021-08-25

I love a good pop-up book. There’s something magical about how a book, a usually flat item, can suddenly become a three-dimensional wonderland. Yet, beyond their aesthetic appeal, pop-up books help to encourage reading in very specific ways. First of all, they are interactive, which can appeal to reluctant readers. Secondly, they encourage repetition, which is important when mastering a skill. And thirdly, it’s a unique way to teach visualization.

Pop-up books are highly interactive since you can engage with the text beyond reading it, which can make this type of book more appealing to reluctant readers. Pop-up books can also appeal to those with varying learning styles. For example, those who are physical (kinesthetic) learners can touch the pages and move things around. Those who are visual (spatial) learners can see the setting of a scene unfold. Those who are logical (mathematical) learners can assess how the actual folds of the pages work. And those who are aural (auditory) learners can enjoy hearing the text when read aloud.

Pop-up books encourage repetition because their unique format invites you to read them again and again. It is said that “practice makes perfect.” And practice is always more fun when you enjoy what you are doing. Pop-up books can add that extra layer of fun. The tangible sense of discovery makes you want to engage with the text repeatedly.

Pop-up books can help teach visualization. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines visualization as “the formation of mental visual images” or “the act or process of interpreting in visual terms or of putting into visible form.” Creating mental images is an important skill for children to learn. Pop-up books can jump-start that process in their minds as they relate what they see to the words they read. This is not only good for children, but also for adults. In fact, “flap books” — books that reveal layers of information using tabs — were used in various texts to help teach adults anatomy and other science topics. It wasn’t until the 19th century that pop-up books and flap books were marketed more towards children. (Think of those Spot books by Eric Hill.) This is according to Kathleen Chowther, a professor of the history of science at the University of Oklahoma, in her article from The Atlantic in 2018.

However, as great as pop-up and flap books are, they have a drawback. They can be delicate, and excessive use damages their function over time. One little “mis-bend” and they’re never quite the same again. For that reason, it may be a challenge to find many of these books at your local library.

But the benefits make pop-up/flap books a worthwhile investment for your personal collection. They have a good format for all ages to enjoy together. For more intricate books like, examples, a grown-up or older family member can guide a child to gently interact with the book. A young person can start to feel confident in reading as they return to a text and practice. Adult learners can get an assist in visualization. So, I say, “Pop-up books for everyone!”

This press release was produced by Alexandria Library's Blog. The views expressed here are the author’s own.