Oh, the cleverness of this book. It creates a fanciful world of its own. It would be a treasure for anyone to own, young or old. Especially for those who refuse to grow up.
Each of the six page spreads has an amazing pop-up in the center as well as a collection of smaller pages--each with more pop-ups--that tell the story of Peter Pan. Altogether there are 28 pop-ups. It's an awfully big adventure.
The first spread is a tour de force, the nighttime cityscape of London from above. You have to look twice, but the swirling clouds hide mermaids, an Indian princess, Mr. Smee and Captain Hook. The moon shows Peter's young profile. It's stunning, and moving. Imagination and adventure are literally tucked in the clouds.
The book itself is a full two-and-a-half inches thick, and constructed with super-heavy-duty paper. With a bit of care it will last many many years. The full-color artwork is loose and expressive, with bold black outlines and an almost woodcut style. The dreamy mood it evokes fits the story's flights of imagination.
Delightful details are everywhere. On the mermaid page the scales and a mirror are metallic silver. The pop-up of the crocodile who finally eats Captain Hook has a silver hook deep in its throat. The pirate ship unfurls to become longer than the book itself.
Other pop-up gems include:
600 Black Spots: A Pop-up Book for Children of All Ages
Birthday Bugs: A Pop-up Party
Blue 2: A Pop-up Book for Children of All Ages
Horton Hears a Who Pop-up!
One Red Dot: A Pop-Up Book for Children of All Ages