A Roundup of Pop-Ups

Despite not actually owning any, I'm a big fan of the pop-up books of Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart (they don't always work in tandem, but many of the following suggestions are their joint publications). I know, you're probably thinking that pop-ups are just for kids, but no. I would only entrust very trustworthy, very careful kids with these books. The pop-ups are phenomenal—sometimes there are pop-ups within pop-ups within pop-ups. Here's a roundup of some of the best.

This one's for the Star Wars fans (and, frankly, anyone who appreciates extreme coolness): Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy. Dude, it contains working lightsabers. Tiny illuminated lightsabers.

If your bent runs more to classic children's stories, check out Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: A Pop-up Adaptation, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: A Commemorative Pop-up, and Cinderella: A Pop-Up Fairy Tale.

Less stereotypically girly—but no less intricate—are the Encyclopedia Prehistorica books, a set of three: Dinosaurs, Mega-Beasts, and Sharks and Other Sea Monsters. I've only seen the one about dinosaurs in person, but it was quite impressive. The trio would make a great present.

For the Narnia fan, there's The Chronicles of Narnia Pop-up: Based on the Books by C. S. Lewis.

And, on a darker note, there's always The Pop-up Book of Phobias. I don't recommend it, but

News From the Pleo Front

Bloody hell. Remember how I first posted about the afreakingdorable Pleo a year ago? Well, I've been following the trials and tribulations of our favorite elusive little dinosaur ever since. And now his release has been delayed again, plus he's going to be more expensive. Dammit.
The essay contest does seem like a good idea, though. Now I just have to think of something brilliant (and brief) to say about how robotic life forms will influence my life in the future.
Oh, incidentally, I meant to blog about this Wired article about Pleo ages ago, but forgot.