Encyclopedia Prehistorica Mega-Beasts Pop-Up
Completing the nonfiction trilogy begun with Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Dinosaurs (2005) and Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters (2006), this book presents information and pop-up illustrations of other prehistoric beasts, from pterosaurs to woolly mammoths. Thick with layers of carefully painted, cut, folded, and glued papers, the book is designed to amaze, and so it does, with animals springing forward as their pages are opened. Besides the large pop-ups on the six double-page spreads, many small gatefold pages open out to reveal their own surprises. The cleverly designed and beautifully crafted illustrations move in and out without a hitch. Despite the text's relatively high reading level, with often lengthy sentences and multisyllabic words, there are no source notes or index. Take this for what it is: a fine collection of moveable paper sculptures bolstered with miscellaneous information. More to the point, it's a young browser's delight. Phelan, Carolyn