The Point of Pop-Up Books

 

            Pop-up books are a staple of childhood reading, and yet few people realize the value of these simple and fun literary contraptions for the itty-bitty mind. They help build reading comprehension. They make reading interactive between the child, the book, and you. And they make your child a more active reader instead of a passive one.

 

            Pop-ups are all about predictions and surprises - setting the stage cognitively for key reading comprehension abilities on down the road. When your youngster sees what's under the flaps in a "Where's Spot?" book the first time or two, it's a delightful surprise. For the next few times, give that little brain time to remember before you let your little one lift the flap. Ask: "What do you think is under there?" or "What comes next?" Being able to predict the action in a storyline, and enjoying the development of the story whether you predicted right or wrong, are great joys of reading.

 

 

            You might wait until your child quits teething on books, or tearing the pages, before you introduce an intricate pop-up. There are simple ones around. But for the child who can take care and not rush through the pop-ups and tear them, at around age 3, a great pop-up book is by the most beloved children's author, Dr. Seuss. It's "The Pop-Up Mice of Mr. Brice."

 

            You can find pop-up books in the used book department of a secondhand store, or take books your friends' children have outgrown. Publishers occasionally come out with pop-up versions of familiar children's stories that make great gifts, and you can find new and used pop-up books at an online bookstore such as www.alibris.com (search under "Books" and "Pop Up").

 

            You can help your child make his or her own pop-up book! Work out a story with your child: maybe it will be a new adventure of a familiar storybook character, such as "Spot," "Curious George" or "Clifford." You can find images of these characters on a search engine such as Google. Now cut out pictures from magazines, catalogs or coloring books and tape them onto one piece of paper. Then draw your story line on several sheets of paper. Using an X-acto knife, cut out fold-out flaps from your top sheet. Now tape top sheets and bottom sheets together so that the flaps reveal what you want them to reveal. Be sure to write the words to your story in large, simple print.

 

            By Susan Darst Williams • www.GoBigEd.com • Read to Me 016 • © 2006