Customer Reviews

The California Pop-Up Book

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book looks like it might just be a decorative coffee table item, but the content belies that impression. The pop-ups are fun and attractive, but the real story is in the choice of objects and the writing. The selections speak to the myth of California that was consciously created by early explorers, developers, and movie moguls but became its own reality as people migrated to the state ready to play the roles the myth-makers created for them. In exposing the history through objects and some remarkable writing by such as Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Carolyn See, Graham Nash, Alice Waters, Terry Gilliam, and Richard Rodriguez, the pre-mythic history and the development of a true California culture emerges...one in which the tinsel is a little tarnished around the edges, but glows as brightly as ever with its own special light.

If you like pop up books this one is a good one to have. Love it. Its not just for kids, its for big kids too.

Even with lack of proper stereoscopic vision, due to serious lazy eye, the figures appear vivid and dimensional. The book includes a set of postcards that may be sent to taunt the less fortunate who haven't witnessed the wonders herein.

The book is--for the most part,--masterfully engineered. The pop-up of the Golden Gate Bridge is particularly spectacular.

There is, however, a blatant void concerning the dawn of California's written history--namely, there is not one pop-up of a Spanish mission. The cover of this book includes a mission bell tower in its collage-style design, suggesting there might be a mission inside. Nada.

Perhaps a pop-up book of the 21 historic California missions is in order.

As a California historian and author of the book: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MISCELLANY, I found this California pop-up to be a charmingly fun novelty book to share when company comes over.

sure, it's used, but one page is missing a piece & it doesn't pop up. worn-looking. this was a gift, so i should have bought it new.

Now I know why I love California so much - this pop-up book tells it all! Well worth the money.