Pop-Up and Movable Books

Originally created and used by scientists, artists, and scholars as early as the 13th century, pop-up and movable books are now associated with children’s literature and entertainment. Pop-up books weren’t actually designed for or popular with children until well into the 19th century. Nowadays, however, these fun, interactive books engage kids and adults alike. Reimagined interpretations of classics like Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar and C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia show narratives that quite literally jump off the pages. Check out the list below to discover more masterfully crafted pop-up books that will entertain you for hours.

Because these materials are so fragile, they are kept in non-circulating collections. To find pop-up books, please visit our Rare Book and Manuscript Library (RBML), located in room 346 on the third floor of the Main Library, or request materials from our Rare Book Oak Street Library (RBOS) collection at 809 South Oak Street in Champaign. Please request materials ahead of time through the library catalog.

To find more children’s pop-up and movable parts books, please search the library catalog using subject terms like “pop-up book” and “juvenile” or “movable book” and “juvenile.”

Carle, Eric.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Pop-Up Book. 2009.
Created in celebration of the book’s 40th anniversary, the pop-up version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar brings to life the ambitious, every-growing little caterpillar’s journey to becoming a beautiful butterfly.
[RBOS Q. SE. C1922v2009]

Carter, David A.
Winter: A Pop-Up Book. 2015.
A winter wonderland jumps off the pages of this delightfully colorful book. Watch as bright red cardinals, majestic deer, and other animals journey their way through fresh snow in the forest.
[RBOS SE. C245wi]

Graham, Ian.
Solar System: A Journey to the Planets and Beyond. 2007.
Experience the mysteries of the solar system as you embark on a 3-D tour of planets, stars, asteroids, and more. Be sure to wave to the International Space Station and Apollo 11 as you travel by.
[RBOS Q. S.523.2 G7604s]

Grey, Mini.
Jim, Who Ran Away From His Nurse, and Was Eaten by a Lion. 2010.
A colorful adaptation of Hilaire Belloc’s darkly funny cautionary tale of a young boy named Jim who disobeys his nanny and meets his fate in the face of a lion. Not for the faint of heart, this tale is great fun for anyone with a unique sense of humor.
[RBOS Q. SE. J5641]

Jenkins, Martin.
Titanic. 2007.
Experience the Titanic as you’ve never seen it before. Complete with diagrams, historical photos, and striking illustrations, this version of the Titanic’s fateful tale offers readers a chance to explore the “unsinkable ship” in 3-D.
[RBML Q. S.910.91634 J417t]

Maizels, Jennie.
Pop-Up London: Full of Flaps, Facts and Dramatic Pop-Ups. 2012.
Follow the River Thames as it winds through the dazzling city of London. Travel across the London Bridge, pop by Buckingham Palace, whisper inside St. Paul’s Cathedral, and immerse yourself in the beautiful, historic city.
[RBOS Q. S.942.1 M2881p]

Moerbeek, Kees.
Aesop’s Fables: A Pop-Up Book of Classic Tales. 2010.
Watch as characters from these beloved Aesop’s fables, including favorites like “The Tortoise and the Hare” and “The Lion and the Mouse,” literally leap off the pages in this collection of selected tales.
[RBOS S.398.20938 M7229a]

Pease, Pamela.
Pop-Up Tour de France: The World’s Greatest Bike Race. 2009.
Ride alongside bikers as they race through the beautiful country of France. Learn how professional cyclists train, strategize, and prepare themselves for one of the most challenging and revered bike races in the world.
[RBOS Q. S.796.620944 P325p]

Reinhart, Matthew.
Dragons and Monsters. 2011.
Prepare to find werewolves, dragons, vampires, and more mythical creatures lurking inside the pages of this book. While a rare sighting of Bigfoot may excite you, be sure to stay alert and avoid eye contact with the temptress Medusa.
[RBOS S.398.469 R275d]

Sabuda, Robert.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Pop-Ups. 2007.
Acclaimed pop-up book artist Robert Sabuda reimagines C. S. Lewis’s beloved series for younger readers. With each spread dedicated to one of the seven books in the series, this pop-up adventure is perfect for young readers to explore the magical world of Narnia alongside the Pevensie children.
[RBML S. Sa139c]