ABC3D [Hardcover]

Marion Bataille (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 14, 2008 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

"Easily the most innovative alpabet book of the year, if not the decade... Beyond clever."—The Washington Post

 

Prepare to be amazed. From the lenticular cover that changes with the angle of your hands all the way to the Z, ABC3D is as much a work of art as it is a pop-up book. Each of the 26 three-dimensional letters move and change before your eyes. C turns into D with a snap. M stands at attention. X becomes Y with a flick of the wrist. And then there's U...Boldly conceived and brilliantly executed with a striking black, red, and white palette, this is a book that readers and art lovers of all ages will treasure for years to come.

 

ABC3D is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

One of the most delightful and innovative pop-up books I have ever seen.--Robert Sabuda

Prepare to be amazed. From the lenticular cover that changes with the angle of your hands all the way to the Z, ABC3D is as much a work of art as it is a pop-up book. Each of the 26 three-dimensional letters move and change before your eyes. C turns into D with a snap. M stands at attention. X becomes Y with a flick of the wrist. And then there's U...Boldly conceived and brilliantly executed with a striking black, red, and white palette, this is a book that readers and art lovers of all ages will treasure for years to come.
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Review

Winner of the 2010 Meggendorfer Prize

 

"One of the most delightful and innovative pop-up books I have ever seen."—Robert Sabuda

 

* "As stylish as a pop-up can be. Letters here not only pop up, they move and transform... A-plus for drama and innovation. All ages."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

 

"Love at first sight. Charming, witty. A winner, WILL be a classic."—Ed Emberley

 

"An absolute delight."—Kirkus Reviews

“ABC3D is cool in any language, a great conversation piece, and an even greater present.” —Twelve Ten

 

The Washington Post

 

"Does for paper what Claymation did for mud. It's a three-dimensional, interactive, cinematic treat for the littlest fingers right up to the oldest eyes, easily the most innovative alphabet book of the year, if not the decade. It's virtually impossible not to find something to manipulate, admire, chuckle over or just plain play with between the holographic covers of this visual feast... Beyond clever, it's a whole new way for young learners to see both the connections and differernces as well as for adults to rediscover the magic that lurks below the everyday.

 

*Publishers Weekly starred review

 

From the lenticular cover to the jazzy use of a red, white and black color scheme, this hand-size French alphabet book is as stylish as a pop-up can be. Letters here not only pop up, they move and transform. As the reader turns the page, the curves of the letter B slide out from a column thinly striped in red: they appear as narrowly spaced concentric arcs, creating an almost hypnotic effect. C flips over to become the curve of  D; G goes from upright to prone—but then tricks the eye again; and on and on...A-plus for drama and innovation. All ages.

 

 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press; Pop edition (October 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596434252
• ISBN-13: 978-1596434257
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 6.1 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (84 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ABC3D, October 22, 2008

By 

Anna M. Ligtenberg "AnnaLovesBooks" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: ABC3D (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

ISBN 1596434252 - When I first looked at this book, it was marked with a "Reading Level" of 9-12. It is now marked "Baby-Preschool". I think both are wrong, for different reasons and think the right age group is more like 3-100.

Yes, there really are just 26 letters in the entire book (discounting the copyright page in back). And, yes, you can see the entire book - every last letter - in the video on the Amazon listing. But even that, a full preview, hardly does the book justice. Until you've held it in your hands and opened each page a few times, you'll never really "get it".

While there are a million pop-up books out there, I've never seen any other quite like this one. Each letter comes into view in a unique way, so that you can never really be prepared for what's on the next page.

Whether you're buying it as a gift or not, the protective sheets that are inside should be removed and the pages carefully opened, to loosen them a little, before you sit down to enjoy it or box it up to wrap; some of the "pop" in the pop-ups is a little tight at first. Very young children will probably do a bit of damage to the book, so I'd keep it away from them when they're alone. Older children and adults will find the mechanics of some of the pop-ups fascinating, turning even grown men into ooo-ing and aah-ing kids. Learning, teaching, and reading the alphabet has never, ever, been this attractive before!

- AnnaLovesBooks

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing ABCs for Adults, September 23, 2008

By 

Anne (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: ABC3D (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

My husband opened up this book and immediately became protective of it! He wanted to keep it just for himself. Our 3 and 5 year old daughters couldn't wait to see it. But, this is really a book for ages 6 and up. ABC3D is not a child's ABC book by any means. It needs to be handled delicately and some of the letters are not easy to see for a child under 5. My children couldn't discern the u, j, and i. For me (as an adult), the U was really eye catching. It is a book of art that would best be enjoyed by adults and older children for the simplicity of its designs.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thinking Outside the Book- Sophisticated Pop-ups, October 1, 2008

By 

A. L. W. "sweetbaker" (Birmingham, AL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ABC3D (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

This book shows you that thinking outside the "box" can truly be illustrated so inventively here that not only will any age enjoy it,
but it makes you reflect. This small book is a great coffee table book, great for a small group show n tell and great just to
relax with from time to time. What I enjoyed about the book is that seeing the transformation of the letters in various formats makes one think about life's options. When you look at something, letters or anything else , how many different ways can it be reinvented- repurposed, effectively and creatively. I enjoyed how the letters are morphed so that they have a fluidity and a beauty to them. I think this book is great for the elementary teacher who is teaching penmanship to add a little whimsy to learning. Great for the art teacher or fashion instructor whose trying to get the students to look at other creative options. If your are creative I think it could even be used as the back drop for a good bed time story for parents to use with kids to show them creativity as well. If your not into being creative visually, the book definitely will show you that if you put your mind to it, you've got so many more options than the old standards. Look around in your world and see it differently.