Robert Sabuda Pop-Up Books

Nobody needs to be told that children love pop-up books; what’s not to love? But you and your child will be taken to a whole different world when you open up your first Robert Sabuda pop-up book.

These books are more than just books; they are breathtaking works of art. Robert Sabuda has a long personal story of how he came to begin making these books, and readers everywhere are so glad that he did.

These pop-up books are great to look at with infants, but something that you probably don’t want to leave them alone with. Besides, they are so beautiful that you may find yourself putting them up high and saving them for when your child can truly appreciate them.

How it All Began

Robert Sabuda grew up in Michigan where his mother spent every evening reading books to him and his siblings. She was determined to make them lovers of books, and Robert said it worked for him because he can’t even remember learning to read!

In time, it also became clear that he was an artist; it began with crayons and soon evolved into much more.

Strangely enough, it was a trip to a new dentist that led Robert to his discovery of pop-up books. While he and his mother were in the waiting room, he went to a basket to bring her a book to read. When he opened it, the pictures jumped off the pages and he was hooked.

His mother brought him manila folders to begin making his own pop-ups and family members gave him pop-up books at every occasion. Soon he could make his own pop-up books by examining the ones he had been given.

Throughout the rest of his schooling he continued to grow as an artist, and when he went off to college, he had decided to be a children’s book illustrator.

He began illustrating after college, and then began writing his own stories. He soon realized, however, that pop-up books were what he really wanted to create. He pulled out his old books and began the creations that are so breathtakingly beautiful to readers today.

The Books Themselves

Robert Sabuda has recreated pop-up versions of classic favorites like Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, The Wizard of Oz, and many others. These books will make you feel as if you’re reading the story for the first time.

Each page has a giant pop-up that jumps out at you. On each page are smaller pages with the story written on them; and each of those pages has a pop-up as well. It is truly astounding, and I’m sure you have never seen anything else like it.

For instance, on the last page of Peter Pan, a giant pirate ship, complete with sails and mast, pops up off of the page- it’s bigger than the book itself! Alice in Wonderland includes a whole pop-up layout of the Mad Tea Party!

I love books- especially children’s books, but nothing has ever amazed me more, nor have I ever been happier with a book purchase, than when I opened these pop-up books by Robert Sabuda.

Some of his other works include America the Beautiful, Brava Strega Nona, Superheroes, ABC Disney, Mommy? The Twelve Days of Christmas, and so much more!

A Forever Treasure

I have not yet had the privilege of seeing all of these books for myself, but I am working on putting together a collection for my daughter. They are unlike anything else and will be something that we enjoy together and even something that she can enjoy with her own children someday.