Mega-Beasts

Sabuda, Robert and Matthew Reinhart. 2007. MEGA-BEASTS. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 978763622305 [All ages]

REVIEW
Noted engineered book artists, Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart turn their attention to prehistoric beasts in this third installment of Encyclopedia Prehistorica. Providing not only an eye-popping visual feast of the giants that once roamed the world, the book presents a wealth of information about the various prehistoric eras and their inhabitants.

Beginning with “Sky Lizards,” the reader is taken on a chronological tour tracing the rise of mammals and a look at some of the amazing species of the various ages. Predators and prey are examined concluding with primitive human hunters. Eye-catching animals spring from the center of each double page spread in amazing pop up art. In each corner is a “mini-book” containing more pop ups and additional information. This is a book that requires browsing and exploring all the various nooks and crannies from which the beasts pop. Wide-range in scope, it may also encourage further exploration of the subject.

CONNECTIONS
Young people are fascinated with pop up or engineered books. How are they created? Study the process and let readers experiment with making their own.

RELATED BOOKS
Explore these books about the creation of pop up book art:
Carter, David and James Diaz. ELEMENTS OF POP UP: A POP UP BOOK FOR ASPIRING PAPER ENGINEERS. ISBN 9780689822247
Irvine, Joan and Linda Hendry. HOW TO MAKE SUPER POP-UPS, VOL 1. ISBN 9780688106904


By Jane H. Claes