how to make a pop up book report

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How to Make a Pop up Book

Last Updated: May 30, 2024 Fact Checked

Construction and Design

Things you'll need.

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 50 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 962,652 times. Learn more...

Pop-up elements add an exciting new dimension to any book (sure wish textbooks had them). If you are looking for a craft to make for a young child you know (or anyone!), you can create your own pop-up book rather simply. All you need is a story, a couple of hours, and a few simple materials.

• It can either be fiction or non-fiction. If choosing fiction, you can either go with a short yet classic folk tale or you can write your own story . If choosing non-fiction, look for a subject that a child might find appealing, like space, dinosaurs, or animals.
• You don't need to think of this as a tried-and-true "book." It can double as a letter, proposal, or a thoughtful addition to any gift.
• Feel free to add other craft elements to make it better. But even too many of these can make your pages look busy and weigh them down unnecessarily.
• Before you actually create the book, it is important that you know how many pages you will need along with how many pictures you will need and where to put them.
• The paper must be thicker than an ordinary sheet of printer paper. Fold the paper in half horizontally to create the book's cover. [2] X Research source
• Open your paper. Position it vertically so that its height appears longer than its width. Use your finger or a thin pencil or pen to gently pry the tab forward.
• Make sure that the pictures you create or use roughly correspond to the size of your book page. Also make sure that you have all the characters and images you need for your entire book, rather than the single page. [4] X Research source
• If you plan on writing it out yourself, however, you can leave the space blank or print text out from your computer and paste it onto the page later.
• Review your story. Make sure that you have the illustrations and pictures planned out accurately as well as the text. Also make sure that you have enough pages created!
• If you have more text than you have room for, attach a piece of paper that folds out upon opening to the too-small text area. Problem solved!
• If you have a good eraser, go back and erase your pencil lines after completion.
• If you're using runny glue, be sure not to use too much. Apply the glue to the tab and not the picture; that way you won't risk getting glue above or below the tab. [5] X Research source
• Do not glue any of the pop up tabs together, though, since doing so will prevent them from popping up.
• This, of course, is entirely optional. If you're using it as a story-like letter or other purpose, a cover may be unnecessary.
• Enjoy! Once the glue has dried completely, the book is ready to be read.

Community Q&A

• You can also have more than one pop-up picture per page. Simply cut multiple pairs of slits along the fold, spacing them evenly apart, until you create the number of tabs you need for your illustrations. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 6

• Heavy paper
• Pencil and pen
• Colored pencils, crayons, paints, or markers

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.imagineforest.com/blog/easy-pop-up-book-tutorial-images/
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsaPAvBRWiM
• ↑ http://www.greatschools.org/students/activities/641-make-a-pop-up-book.gs

About This Article

To make a pop-up book, start by folding a sturdy piece of construction paper in half and cutting 2 parallel, horizontal slits in the center of the paper to create a tab. You can follow the same process to create as many pages as you want. Next, write your text on the bottom half of each folded sheet and create the background on the top half. Then, draw your illustrations on separate pieces of paper, cut them out, and glue them to the tabs. Finally, glue the pages of your book together in the correct order. For tips on creating a cover for your book, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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• Paper Crafts

Easy Pop-Up Book Tutorial (with images)

Today I am going to show you an exciting way to make story writing more fun for kids. Pop-up books are a brilliant for making stories literally pop off the page and bring them to life. A pop-book can be the perfect birthday gift and best of all you can make it from materials around the house for free. Follow my easy pop-up book tutorial and you will be able to make a pop-up book within hours!

Pop-Up Book Tutorial:

What you will need: 1. A4 papers or cards 2. Pen/pencil 3. Colouring-in materials (crayons, paint, felt-tip pens…) 4. Scissors 5. glue

Step 1: Plan out your short story, using a storyboard. This storyboard template is perfect for this task! Remember to keep the story and illustrations simple. At this stage, you should also plan out the pop-up elements of your pop-up book.

Here are some interesting pop book ideas to write about:

• Pop-up Animal: Write about your favourite animals.
• Space Project: Learning about the solar system? Create pop-ups of all the planets you know about.
• Re-tell a fairy-tale in a pop-up book format.
• Monster book: Create a scary pop-up book for your friends with monsters popping out at every page.
• Friendship Book: Similar to a friendship pop-up card. Make a pop-up book for your friend with lovely messages on every page.

Step 2: Fold all the A4 paper you need for the actual story pages in half (excluding front and back cover). Pile all these folded papers together equally and draw 2 parallel lines on the top paper. The lines should be around 5cm inwards, with a gap of 2.5cm between them.

Now cut those parallel lines out. Make sure an adult is helping you with this part and the next step! All your story pages should have cuts or silts in them as shown. Pull the cut part outwards.

Make your illustrations on a separate paper. You can fold the paper into 4 parts to ensure the illustrations don’t end up being too large for your pop-up book. You should have one illustration per page for your pop-up book. Colour your illustrations in and cut them out:

Write in the story text at the bottom of the folded papers. Use a pencil first and then you can go over with a pen. Or if you’re really feeling confident you can use a pen straight away!

Colour in the background for each page, leaving the tabs blank. You can use any design and any colouring-in materials you want.

Step 7: Apply glue to the bottom part of the tab and stick your illustrations onto the correct pages. Carry on for each page and illustration in your pop-up book.

Step 8: Glue pages back to back, as shown in the image. Ensure you do not stick the tabs to the pages (this will stop the illustrations from popping up). Your pop-up book is almost done now.

Finally, make the book cover by folding another A4 paper in half. Design your front and back cover and colour it in. Then stick this page to the other pages to form a book cover.

Step 10: Your pop-up book is now complete! Have fun reading it! You can also create easy pop-up cards by following this tutorial for any occasion, such as Christmas or Halloween  (you will only need 2 A4 papers for a pop-up card).

Thank you for reading my easy pop-up book tutorial! For more fun paper craft ideas for kids, click here ! Why not send us pictures of your pop-up book designs and we will share them on our Twitter and Facebook ? Email us at: info(at)imagineforest.com

Do your kids love writing their own stories? Join our website to create your own story online!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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Create a Pop-Up Book: 5 Easy Steps for Beginners

• Gather your materials
• Draw and cut out your designs
• Create the pop-up mechanisms
• Attach your designs to the pages
• Assemble your book

Picture this: A tale of adventure, of mystery, or of whimsical wonder, all unfolding through the intricate pop-up designs that leap off the pages of a book. Sounds magical, doesn't it? Well, the good news is, you don't need to be a wizard to create your own pop up book. Whether it's a gift, a school project, or just a fun weekend activity, the following easy steps will guide you through the process of creating a pop-up book. So, let's get started!

Gather Your Materials

The first step in our journey to create your own pop up book is gathering all the materials you'll need. Think of this as prepping for an art project—you want to have everything at hand before you start. This way, you can focus more on the creation process, and less on scrambling around for supplies.

Art Supplies

Every good pop-up book starts with basic art supplies. Here's what you'll need:

• Cardstock: This is the paper you'll use to create your pop-up designs. It's thick enough to stand up, but thin enough to fold easily.
• Pencil and eraser: You'll use these to sketch your designs before cutting them out.
• Colored pencils, markers, or crayons: These will bring life to your designs. Choose whichever medium you feel most comfortable with.
• Scissors: A good pair of scissors is essential to cut out your designs.

Book Construction Supplies

Once your designs are ready, you'll need some additional supplies to assemble your book:

• Blank book or heavy paper: If you're starting from scratch, heavy paper works great. However, a pre-made blank book can save you some time.
• Glue or double-sided tape: This will secure your pop-up designs to the pages.
• Ruler: A ruler will help you make precise folds and cuts.

With all your materials gathered, you're well on your way to create your own pop up book. Up next, we'll dive into the fun part: drawing and cutting out your designs.

Draw and Cut Out Your Designs

Now that you've got all your materials, the next step to create your own pop up book is to draw and cut out your designs. This is where you can let your imagination take the reins.

Sketching Your Designs

First things first, you'll need to decide what your pop-ups will be. Are they characters from your favorite story? Maybe scenes from a magical world? Or could they be abstract shapes and patterns? Once you've decided, grab your pencil and start sketching these designs on your cardstock. Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect. The goal is to have fun and let your creativity shine.

Cutting Out Your Designs

Once you're happy with your sketches, it's time to cut them out. This is where your pair of scissors comes in handy. As you're cutting, remember to be careful. It's not a race, so take your time to ensure you stay safe and keep your designs intact. Here's a tip: start by cutting out the main outline of your design, then move on to any smaller details.

Adding Color

With your designs cut out, now comes the fun part—adding color! Grab your colored pencils, markers, or crayons and start coloring. Be sure to stay within the lines, but don't be afraid to mix and match colors and experiment with shading to give your designs a 3D feel.

And there you have it! With your vibrant, colored designs ready, you're halfway through the process to create your own pop up book. Next up, we'll be exploring the magic behind the pop-up mechanisms. Ready to bring your designs to life?

Create the Pop-Up Mechanisms

So, your designs are cut out and colored—awesome work! The next step to create your own pop up book is to make those designs literally pop off the pages. How, you ask? Let's get into it.

Understanding the Mechanism

Creating a pop-up mechanism might sound like rocket science, but it's not. All you need are strips of paper, glue, and a bit of patience. The key is to create a fold in the paper strip that will push your design up as the page opens, and pull it back down when the page closes. Easy, right?

Making Your First Pop-Up

First, cut out a strip of paper and fold it into a "V" or "L" shape. This will act as your pop-up "base". Next, take your design and glue it to the top of the base. Be sure to only apply glue on the base and not on the design itself for it to pop up properly. Once the glue dries, test out your pop-up by opening and closing the base. Does your design pop up? If yes, congratulations—you've just made your first pop-up!

Getting Creative with Mechanisms

Now that you know the basics, you can experiment with different types of pop-up mechanisms. Try making a spiral pop-up, or an accordion-style pop-up. The possibilities are endless, and the more you play around, the more unique your pop-up book will be.

With your pop-up mechanisms ready, you're well on your way to create your own pop up book. But we're not done yet—next, we'll be attaching your pop-up designs to the pages. Excited to see your book come together?

Attach Your Designs to the Pages

Now that you have your pop-up mechanisms, it's time to bring your pages to life. Attaching your designs to the pages is a vital step in the process to create your own pop up book. Let's jump right into it.

Choosing the Right Placement

Before you start gluing, think about where you want your pop-ups to be. You can place them in the center of the page, or spread out multiple pop-ups across the page. Imagine how you'd like each page to look when opened and plan accordingly.

Secure Your Pop-Up

Once you've decided on placement, apply glue to the bottom of your pop-up mechanism—remember, not on your design itself—and stick it to the page. Hold it in place for a few seconds to ensure it sticks well. Then, test the pop-up by gently opening and closing the page. If your design pops up and folds back smoothly, you've nailed it!

Maintaining Cleanliness and Precision

While attaching your designs, remember to keep the pages clean. Any stray marks or smudges can distract from your amazing pop-ups. Also, precision is key. Make sure all edges are glued down properly to avoid any mishaps later.

Great job! You're one step closer to the finish line in your quest to create your own pop up book. Up next - the final piece of the puzzle: assembling your book. Are you ready to see your creation take shape?

Assemble Your Book

It's time for the grand finale! All your hard work will now come together as you assemble your pop-up book. This stage is where the magic happens as you create your own pop up book.

Order Your Pages

Firstly, make sure your pages are in the correct order. You wouldn't want your exciting climax to show up before the introduction, would you? Lay out your pages in the sequence you want them to appear in your book. You could even number the back of the pages to make sure they stay in order.

Binding Your Pages

Next, you'll need to bind your pages together. One simple method is using a hole punch and some ribbon or string. Punch holes along the edge of each page, thread your ribbon or string through, and tie it securely. Ensure the pages can still open and close freely and that your pop-up designs aren't affected by the binding.

Adding the Cover

Once your pages are all bound together, it's time to add the cover. You can use a thicker piece of card for this. Decorate it in a way that gives a hint of the exciting pop-up adventure waiting inside!

And there you have it! You've successfully navigated the steps to create your own pop up book. Now, it's time to share your unique creation with the world. Who knows? You might just inspire someone else to start their own pop-up book project!

If you enjoyed learning about creating pop-up books and are interested in taking your project to the next level, consider exploring Genaro Bardy's workshop, ' How to Self Publish a Photobook with Kickstarter .' While the workshop focuses on photobooks, the self-publishing process and Kickstarter tips can be applied to your pop-up book project, helping you bring your creative vision to life.

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Book Report Project Ideas and Forms: Trading cards, book mobiles, and more.

May 8, 2015 by Evan-Moor | 1 Comment

Use these free printables for creative book reports from Evan-Moor’s How to Report on Books :

•   A character trading card project: This book project focuses on recalling facts about a character and creating trading cards.

• Book mobile project: This book project guides students in identifying setting/characters and problem/solution, and in creating a mobile.Tips: glue white paper to backs of construction paper for the illustrations (step #1); add a length of construction paper to increase the long strip to form a ring (step #2.)

• An exciting event pop-up: This book report project focuses on summarizing an exciting event from a fiction book and includes instructions on making a pop-up book report form.

Other engaging book report ideas include:

• Cereal box book report
• Trivia/board games
• Sandwich book report

See our Book Report Fun Pinterest board for more book report ideas such as making character puppets, comic strips, posters, story bags, puzzles, and awards.

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HOW TO MAKE A POP UP BOOK

WHAT IS A POP UP BOOK

Basics of pop up page design, diy pop up book, how to make it, 22 comments on “ how to make a pop up book ”.

I used this for a scool project at it helps so much !! thank you for posting this tut

This video is wonderfully easy to follow, I cannot wait to try my own book out. Thank you for such a great tutorial! A very talented tutor indeed!

I just have to say yu are a fantastic teacher! Your book is wonderful,

Thank you again and hope to see more of your tutorials

Muchísimas gracias. Estoy recién iniciándome en el Pop Up, tratando de aprender todo lo posible. Eres muy generosa al entregar tus conocimientos y experiencia. Las explicaciones del tutorial son muy claras y creo que podre hacerlo. Nuevamente, muchas gracias. Me acabo de suscribir a tu página así es que espero estar siempre en contacto.

Einat, I am getting back into your site and loving what you have. Watched some old favorites again and love the new look. Your one page albums are terrific. But this pop up card is probably my favorite. I go back to it again and again. I love what you do. Thanks for sharing your wonderful talents with us. I look forward to more of your great art.

Thank you Diana!

Wow! Thanx soooo much for this. I’ve wanted to make one for so long and never found a tut that could break it down so well. I’m a visual learner and you helped me tremendously. Now I can make my dad a Christmas pop up!!! I really really want to say Thank you!!! You made my month!!!!!!

Thank you Andrea!!

Wow! Such a beautiful book!! I’m in awe of your talent, totally amazing! Thank you for sharing 🙂

Thanks Trisha!

Your pop up book is sooo awesome

Thanks Barbara!

reat tutorial, Einat, Thanks!

Thank you Tammy!

Lovely pop up book! Thank you for sharing your techniques and ideas. I am amazed at your ability to cut straight with scissors. Sounds simple but not for all. 🙂 Best wishes with your application to Graphic 45.

WOW EINAT THIS IS AMAZING! YOU HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB! I CAN NOT WAIT TO TRY THIS. YOU ARE SO INSPIRATIONAL TO US. WE LOVE YOU!

Congrats on making the team! I look forward to working together on the team this year.

HI. This pop up book is awesome!! Good luck!!!

.מקסים. מקסים. מקסים . נהדר. יפהפה .

Such a great video. I love your soothing voice as you clearly explain each step needed to create something we will be proud of. Also, congratulations on making the team! I look forward to seeing what else you have in store for us.

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Einat Kessler

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Extreme Cards and Papercrafting

How to make pop ups: the basic mechanisms.

• UNC Libraries
• Subject Research
• How To Make Pop-Ups

Pop-Ups: How To Make Pop-Ups

• SILS Library Collection
• History & Bibliography

Books on making pop-ups

Web resources for making pop-ups.

• Paper Engineers

The following books are located at the SILS Library and the Art Library :

Make Your Own Pop-Ups Pop-up projects with step by step instructions and photographs,  created by Robert Sabuda. Projects are labeled for simple, intermediate, and advanced levels.

More How-to Books about Pop-Ups A list of books about how to make pop-ups compiled by Robert  Sabuda .  Sabuda  evaluates the areas covered, lessons or projects included, intended audience, advantages and disadvantages of each book. Books are listed in order from beginner to advanced.

Make Pop-Up Cards & Crafts Learn how to make homemade pop-up cards and crafts with the step-by-step instructions in these Howcast videos.

Extreme Cards and Papermaking ​ A series of lessons to help you learn the basic mechanisms of pop up card and pop up book construction.

Pop-Ups on Pinterest ​ The official Pinterest page for pop-ups, useful as a source of visual inspiration and for finding projects.

The Creation of a Pop-Up Book

In this video, book artist Chuck Fischer and paper engineer Bruce Foster show the process of making a pop-up book, from the drafting stages to assembling the final product.

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• Last Updated: Nov 8, 2023 11:05 AM
• URL: https://guides.lib.unc.edu/pop-ups

Babble Dabble Do

How to Make a Simple DIY Pop-Up Book

April 7, 2014 by Ana Dziengel 9 Comments

Learn how to make a simple DIY pop-up book with this tutorial. Kids can fill it with their own images and story!

This DIY pop-up book tutorial is part of a series called Book Art. If you and your children love reading and making unusual books, you will love this series! I am teaming up with Erica from What Do We Do All Day to bring you this series for kids. Erica will be creating book lists for kids based on a topic and I’ll be supplying a companion activity. We want to inspire the young creators and authors in our children! If you aren’t familiar with Erica’s blog, What Do We Do All Day is a wonderful mix of smart projects for kids, extremely well curated book lists, and tons of learning activities you can do at home.

For the first installment of Book Art  we are exploring pop-up books. Erica created a wonderful list of pop-up books; check out a few below and then visit her site for more! To go with it I created a 3D pop-up book tutorial, designed to become a 3 dimensional story. Check out the tutorial, what my kids did with their books, and then go see what Erica’s kids made. I love collaborations because we get to see what other creative kids can do with an idea!

This tutorial was inspired by my son. His first grade class made pop-up books and he came home one day excited to show me how to do it. Smart guy knows I love a good paper craft…. we turned ours into a 3 dimensional book by using cardstock and making 5 pages so that the book can stand on its end; clip the ends together and you have a story in the round.

This DIY Pop-up book project is suitable for a variety of ages. Older children can both make and fill the book. For younger children, parents can make the book and then ask their children to fill it with a story, information, or images of their choice. I was really excited to see what the form of the book inspired in my children. Read on to find out!

This post contains affiliate links.

Book Art: DIY Pop-Up Book

• Scissors and/or Exacto knife
• Ruler/straightedge
• Cutting mat (optional)

DIY Pop-Up Book Instructions

• Step One Cut an 8 ½” x 11 sheet of cardstock into four equal pieces. Do this by folding the paper in half once, opening, and folding in opposite direction. Cut along fold lines.
• Step Two Take one of your trimmed pieces and fold in half.
• Step Three Mark a 1” x 1” square at the center of the folded edge.
• Step Four Using an Exacto knife or scissors, cut along the two lines perpendicular to the folded edge. DO NOT cut the line parallel to the folded edge.
• Step Five (Optional) Using an Exacto knife, lightly score the line parallel to the edge. Flip over and repeat. This will make the fold crisper.
• Step Six Open the paper up and press the cut square out to form the pop up “leaf”.
• Step Seven Repeat with (4) more sheets. HINT: Use the first cut page as a template to mark the cut lines for the remaining sheets.
• Step Eight Spread adhesive on one side of the first page using a glue stick. Press a folded second page onto the glued side of the first page.
• Step Nine Repeat this for the remaining pages until you have 5 pages total.
• Step Ten For the pop up image, cut out a shape and decorate it, then add it to the pop up leaf using double sided tape or glue NOTE: Make sure that the pop up image does not stick out f the book when folded before gluing. Test out the width first.

You’re done!

Variations:

• The books can be made out of white paper only, or white pages and colored pop up shapes.
• Kids can add the pop up image themselves by drawing and cutting out an image then taping it to the pop up leaf.
• The pop up leaf itself can be used to write or draw on.
• The books can be bigger or smaller.
• The pop up leaf can be bigger or smaller NOTE: the leaf cannot be more than half the width of the entire book or it will stick out of the book when closed.

Creating a DIY pop-up book:

Here is the invitation to create books I set up for my kids:

I left them alone for 20 minutes and they worked on their books with only a minimal amount of bickering….ha! I was impressed they worked so hard without me watching. My 4 year old made a Rapunzel book. She didn’t use the pop up leafs too much.

My 7 year old made a Minecraft book. He chose to make one pop up figure and then filled the rest of his book with a conversation about Minecraft.

And here is a teaser photo from Wha t Do We Do All Day .  Erica  focused  a lot on the storytelling aspect of this project.

Book List and More 

Love pop-up books as much as we do? Here are 3 great pop-up books selected by Erica. If these wet your appetite hop over to What Do We Do All Day  for 3 more pop-up books.

Take it away Erica….

“Paper engineering” seems like a more adequate term than “pop-up” to describe Yellow Square , a book that even grown-ups with love. In each pop-up readers hunt to find a yellow square amidst all the squiggles, swirls, and sometimes dizzying layers and delicately constructed towers. Spare text keeps the focus on the three dimensional marvels.

Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart are two of the biggest names in pop-up books. Between the two of them, they have turned classic children’s books and well-known fairy tales into fabulously engineered 3-D masterpieces. Each page not only has a large, center pop-up with informative text, but tiny pop-ups books hidden away in the corners. If you have a dino-lover at home (and who doesn’t), Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs : The Definitive Pop-Up is sure to please.

David Carter, another big name in pop-ups, has an entire bug book series. My 5 year old still loves Alpha Bugs: A Pop-up Alphabet , which has not just pop ups, but lift the flaps, pull tabs, rotating discs and even a scratch and sniff flower. Clever rhymes about funny little bugs, each one starting with a new letter of the alphabet will keep kids entertained.

I hope your kids enjoyed making a DIY pop-up book of their own! I’m a book-making junkie. It’s been a hobby of mine for quite some time and I’m thrilled to be working on this series of book lists and activities for kids with Erica from What Do We Do All Day ! Be sure to check back next month for the next installment!

For a few more handmade book ideas check out some other tutorials we’ve done:  I Love You Books ,  Day Glo Accordion Books , and  Recycled Handmade Journals .

Don’t miss out on more handmade books here on Babble Dabble Do! Subscribe below:

Erica @ What Do We Do All Day? says

April 7, 2014 at 5:08 am

Yay! It was so fun doing this first collaboration with you and I can’t wait to do more!

Ana Dziengel says

April 9, 2014 at 6:09 am

Me too! I love approaching books from a reading and making standpoint!

Marie-Claude Leroux says

April 7, 2014 at 7:01 am

I am so excited about this collaboration and series! This pop up tutorial is a great way to start! Thanks!

Thanks Marie-Claude! It’s gonna be fun!

Jeanette Nyberg says

April 7, 2014 at 5:34 pm

This is cooler than cool. I simply love your collaboration, I love your project, and I can’t wait to see what what you women come up with next.

April 9, 2014 at 6:08 am

Thanks Jeanette! Books are one of my fave projects 🙂

April 8, 2014 at 12:40 am

Ana, I’m swooning on every level!! Paper and books are my personal weakness and I’m head over heals to see how you combine this. Swoon. swoon. swoon!! Beautiful work! ‘

April 9, 2014 at 6:07 am

Thanks Gina, I have a huge soft spot for handmade books too!

April 8, 2014 at 12:42 am

PS, really fun to be introduced to a creative who’s a FOA! … looking forward to seeing her site, as well — and collaborations!

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How To Make a Pop-Up Book

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Are you trying to learn how to make a pop-up book? Well, you have landed on the right article. Pop-up books have always fascinated me with the interesting 3D images and creative plot lines. They add an exciting new dimension to your book.

Planning the Book

Gathering supplies, how to make a pop-up book.

How to make a pop-up book seems like a pretty straightforward question. However, its answer lies in the complication of your book. If you want a simple pop-up book, you can easily do this by planning your plotline and creating 3D elements. You can use a simple box, V-fold, or letter pop-ups to add the 3D element to your book.

If you want to make a simple, exciting book, you need a few materials and 3-4 hours. However, if you’re going to make a 3D pop-up book with multiple illustrations, you will need more planning. 

In our article on how to make a pop-up book, we’ll discuss planning your book and gathering supplies accordingly. We will also discuss the different techniques to make it a creative masterpiece.

Before you can learn how to make a pop-up book, you need to plan your plotline. It would be best to decide on the illustrations you want to pop out of your book. You could even create a visualization of your pop-up book using an online flipbook maker ! 

The first step to planning your pop-up book is to choose an exciting topic. This will depend upon your audience. If you are thinking of making a book for kids, your topic should be kid-friendly. You can try making a plotline around a popular cartoon or create a character of your own. 

If you are learning how to make a pop-up book and target adults, you can choose a wide range of topics. Creating a 3D pop-up book on a social issue close to your heart is also a great idea. 

You can choose between a fiction and non-fiction book as well. Children usually prefer fiction books with many characters and a little moral education at the end. You can make a 3D pop-up book of a classic folk tale if you choose fiction. You can also create a short story of your own.

Whatever topic you choose, make sure that you do not complicate it too much. When learning how to make a pop-up book as a beginner, try keeping things simple. Once you are familiar with the basic techniques, you can move forward and add as many 3D pop-ups as you like.

Once you have planned your book, it’s now time to gather your supplies. Creating and learning how to make a pop-up book becomes easier when you have everything you need beforehand. The supplies you need would depend upon your project.

You will need a few basic materials while making a 3D pop-up book.

• Pair of Scissors
• White index cards
• Colorful index cards
• Colour Pencils
• Watercolor or Acrylic Paints

Once you have gathered all your supplies, you should create a small storyboard. This helps you outline your story and decide your 3D elements beforehand. It saves your time and effort. 

In this section of the article, we will learn the basic techniques of how to make a pop-up book. Planning your storyline and gathering supplies would help you get your work done faster. 

Most people prefer getting their work done in a single sitting. However, I would recommend making your pop-up book in a span of 2 or 3 days. This will help you be more creative with your ideas.

Simple Box Pop-Up Book

In this section of how to make a pop-up book, we will start with the most straightforward technique. It is one of the easiest pop-up mechanisms to create. All you’ll need is card stock, a pair of scissors, and a scale to get started. 

• Fold the piece of the card stock paper in half. 
• To make a rectangle pop-up, draw one or more rectangles on the outer edge of your card stock. The bottom side of the rectangle should be the centerfold of your card stock.
• Cut the sides of the rectangle that are perpendicular to the centerfold.
• Fold the piece across the rectangle’s top edge and create a fold line.
• Now open your card stock to 90 degrees. Push the rectangles from the back with your finger to pop them forward. 
• Your rectangle pop-ups are ready. You can attach any character illustration to these cards. These will then be added to your book to create a 3D look.

Instead of making all identical rectangles, you can also cut out different sizes. This will give a better 3D illustration of your book. In the first technique of how to make a pop-up book, you learned to make basic pop-ups for your book.

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V Fold Pop-Up Book

Once you have learned to make a simple rectangle or square pop-up, it’s time to spice it up a little bit. In this section of how to make a pop-up book, we’ll learn V pop-ups. These add a little more creativity to your books . All you’ll need is card stock, a pair of scissors, and a scale to get started. 

• Fold your card stock in half.
• Now draw a square on one half. Make sure that one of the edges of the square is the centerfold. Draw a diagonal as well. 
• Start cutting along one of the edges of the square, which is perpendicular to the centerfold.
• Continue cutting across the diagonal of the square.
• Crease the cut-out shape to set the fold.
• Open your card and push the V shape from the back with your finger. This will help pop it up.
• Your V-fold pop-ups are ready. You can attach any character illustration to these cards. They will then be added to your book to create a 3D look.
• You can also make them look like the bottom lip of a character or a tree. 

n this technique of how to make a pop-up book, you learned the V-fold technique. You can use this in different book sections and get creative with the pop-up.

Separate Cut Boxes Pop-Up Book

The problem with making rectangular and pop-up boxes are they leave a hole in the front. They also limit the appearance of the pop-up. If you want to utilize every part of your book, you might want to attach separate cut boxes. In this section of how to make a pop-up book, we’ll learn to connect separate cut boxes. 

All you’ll need is a few sheets of card stock, a pair of scissors, and a scale to get started.

• Search the web and print out a box mechanism on your card stock. Alternatively, you can also draw the box with a scale and pencil.
• Cut the box with a pair of scissors. 
• Fold your base card in half. 
• Stick the box to the base card with the help of extended tabs. 
• You can stick the tabs outside or turn them inside.
• Your separate box pop-ups are ready. You can attach any character illustration to these cards. They will then be added to your book to create a 3D look.

In this technique of how to make a pop-up book, you learned how to make separate pop-ups. You can use this when you want to attach a uniquely-shaped pop-up to your book. 

Separate Cut V-Fold Pop-Up Book

Just like you make square or rectangular boxes, you can also cut a V-fold separately and attach it to your book. In this section of how to make a pop-up book, we’ll learn to connect separate V-folds. Here, you use tabs to stick the folds to your book. These can either be visible, hidden or slotted.

• Search the web and print out a V-fold mechanism on your card stock. You can also draw the V-fold with a scale and pencil by taking a reference.
• Cut the V-fold with a pair of scissors. 
• Stick the Fold to the base card with the help of extended tabs. 
• Your separate V-fold pop-ups are ready. You can attach any character illustration to these cards. They will then be added to your book to create a 3D look.

The best part about attaching a separate cut V-fold to your pop-up book is the freedom of experimentation. You can try out different angles of V or use an asymmetrical V-fold as per your requirement. This will allow you to give a creative touch to your book.

Letter Pop-Up Book

If you are making a pop-up book for kids, adding letters as a 3D pop-up would be a great idea. You can create an educational book out of it, helping children learn the alphabet faster. Alternatively, you can also use it in a fiction book to stress certain action words. In this section of how to make a pop-up book, we’ll learn to create popped-up letters. 

All you’ll need is card stock, a pair of scissors, and a scale to get started.

• Print out the letters on the center of your card stock. You can also draw them out with a pencil and scale. Make sure that they are equally divided at the center. 
• Fold your card stock in half. 
• Now create a rectangular box around the letters to give you an idea of how to cut out the letters. Make sure the box is the same size as the letters you have drawn.
• Carefully cut the edges of the rectangular box that are perpendicular to the center fold line. 
• Open the card stock and push the rectangle forward with your fingers.
• You now have a popped-up rectangle where half the letter is on the front, and the other half is on the top of the box. 
• Now carefully cut around the letters to complete your pop-up word.
•  Your letter pop-ups are ready. You can make them for any word in your book and give a nice twist to your 3-D pop-up book. 

Creating a letter pop-up can make your book enjoyable to read and learn. They are great for action fiction books. You can concentrate on an action word and pop it out of your book. 

Slotted Shapes Pop-Up Book

Once you are familiar with the basic pop-up shapes mentioned above, it’s time to learn a slightly difficult pop-up. In this section of how to make a pop-up book, we’ll learn to create slotted shapes.  

The most basic X-design pop-up card has two identical and symmetrical shapes. These shapes are slotted together at right angles. All you’ll need is a few colored sheets of cardstock, a pair of scissors, and a scale to get started.

• Cut two identical and symmetrical shapes. For this tutorial, we are using two heart shapes that are symmetrical to each other.
• Fold the shapes in half, lengthwise, to create a line of symmetry.
• Slot the shapes along this line. One shape should be halfway down, and the other should be halfway up. The width of these slots would vary depending upon the thickness of your base paper. You can make them narrow initially and make them wider later if you have to. 
• Slide the shapes together to make a slotted X shape. 
• To attach these shapes, you will need to use a square box. The length of the box will be equal to the widest point. That is, from the slot to the edge of your shape.
• Cut a strip of paper to make a square box. The strip would be four times the measured edge of the box. Fold the box and glue it together. 
• Flatten the shape and box. Line up the centerline of your slotted-X shape to the center fold line of the box.
• Glue them together. Takeyourbasecardandfold it in half. 
• Spread the glue on the other two edges of the box and stick them to the base card.
• Your slotted-shaped pop-ups are ready.

Slotted pop-ups make your books enjoyable to read.

Creating a 3D pop-up book is a fun task. You get to create an exciting storyline and use your imagination and draw out characters. The pop-up element to the book makes it interesting for both kids and adults. While learning how to make a pop-up book, you can add different pop-up techniques to a single book. 

If you want to learn more about how to make a pop-up book, you can take a 1:1 lesson from an online tutor. This will help you be clear with the basic techniques and the small tips and tricks. 

Lrnkey, an online tutoring platform, offers online tutorials for beginners and advanced artists. These one-on-one lessons hosted by expert tutors help you learn everything there is about making a pop-up book.

How to Bind a Pop-Up Book?

Once you have learnt how to make a pop-up book, you need an outer cover to bind it. You cannot use a traditional cover for your pop-up pages. These covers curl up the centre of your spreads, creating tension in the centrefold. For binding a pop-up book, you can add a little extra space between the pages. 

These pages can also be bonded together by adding extra hinges to the spine of your book cover. This helps you bind your pop-up book without creating tension at the centre. While binding the book, make sure that the cover is sturdy. 

How Pop-Up Books are Made?

Pop-up books are a combination of art and science. You need to be creative to create illustrations and set a plot for your book. On the other hand, you need a little science to attach pop-ups to your book. They’re also often associated with origami. This is because they both involve paper folding.

However, these creative and interesting books rely on glue and a pair of scissors. They use a thicker card stock material to retain the shape of pop-ups. Just by making a few changes to the mechanism, you can create different types of pop-ups for your 3D pop-up books. 

What Type of Paper is Used to Make Pop-Up Books?

Pop-up books usually use heavy material paper. This helps to keep hinges in place and shape. The heavy gauge paper is used to make all the movable elements of your pop-up book. 

While learning how to make a pop-up book, you can use a heavy board cover for the front and back of your book. Make sure you use good-quality glue to attach these pop-up mechanisms to your pages. 

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19+ Ways to Make a Pop-up Book

Pop-up books look pretty and offer you a unique way of teaching. You can have the pop-ups on a single page or all the pages. Make them colorful and cheery so that they can hold a kid’s attention. They are usually used to tell stories though some are designed for showing reports and scientific facts.

1. Pop-up Book Directions

The lovely pink backdrop makes this book exquisite. The 3D effect adds to its looks. You can draw any picture of your choice and cut it according to the guidelines for the desired effect.

2. DIY Pop-up Book Idea

You can write a poem on your handmade pop-up book and make it interactive with the readers. Add bright colors to make it kid-friendly.

3. Make a Pop-up Book Step By Step

4. Complex Pop-up Book Guide

5. Simple Pop-up Book Steps

This pop-up book is easy and hence, suits beginners. Be careful with the cutting part as it lends character to the craft.

6. One Pop-up Page in a Book

7. Detailed Pop-up Book Tutorial

Don’t the trees in the pop-up book look lovely? You can tell the story of a forest through this DIY. Children would be excited about the lush greenery depicted on the pages. Following the same guide you can make persons and animals in your book.

8. Bright Pop-up House Book

A house pop-up in your book looks quaint and charming. You can design the house in any style you like. Don’t forget to add vivid colors.

9. Moving Pop-up Book Instructions

A pop-up book with moving parts would catch the fancy of many. Moreover, it boasts of professional looks. You can craft it from paper that is a little stiff, like construction paper.

10. Homemade Pop-up Book with Paper

11. Instructions On How to Make Something Pop Up In a Book

12. Cool Solar System Pop-up Book

Teach children the solar system in an interesting way by making a pop-up book. Ensure that it has the drawings or pictures of all the planets and the sun.

Following the same method as above, you can make a giant pop-up book out of paper for entertaining kids and adults alike. A good idea would be to gather a group and tell a story to your audience by turning the pages of the book.

13. Simple Pop-up Book Letters for Kids

Letters add a unique touch of personalization to your project. If you know the technique of making a pop-up card, things will be easier for you. Just join multiple cards/pages back to back and you have a pop-up book.

14. Snazzy Pop-up Book with Pull Tab

15. Pop-up Pyramid Book Video

16. Pop-up CastleBook DIY Idea

A castle pop-up on a page of a book looks beautiful and can serve as the backdrop of an interesting story of kings and princesses. Make the pop-up colorful and vivid to attract children to the book.

Once you are comfortable with the above procedure, you can make a Christmas pop-up book with x-mas trees, Santa, snowmen, etc. for the holiday season.

17. Lush Pop-up Book Report

18. ScenicPop-up Book Using Folder

19. Pop-up Story Book DIY

It would be fun to put this craft together with little munchkins. They would be excited to tell a story through their own pop-up book. Remember that a pop-up book is not only used to tell a story but explain academic concepts as well.

Published on November 2nd 2019 by Peyton Derrida

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How to Make a Pop-Up Book About the Solar System

Things you'll need.

10 8 1/2-by-11-inch pieces of white cardstock

Construction paper

Pop-up books are fun for children to make and to read. A pop-up book about the solar system is a great book report idea or can be done as a project in science class. The secret to creating an easy pop-up book is to keep the cuts simple and focus on creating bright, colorful pop-up images.

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Cut the pop-up fold in your first piece of cardstock by folding your cardstock in half, horizontally.

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With the folded edge facing you, draw two vertical parellel lines in the center of the paper, about three inches apart and each about two inches high.

Cut along these lines, then fold the cut part away from you and press it down making a crease.

Fold the cut part back down to its original position and open up your cardstock so it is standing like a peaked roof.

Punch the cut part in with your fingers so that the crease can be creased the opposite way, making an upside down tent.

Fold the card shut and press it down so the creases are defined.

When you open the cardstock, the cutout part will pop up. This is where you can glue your pop-up images. Repeat the entire process for the remaining pieces of cardstock.

Draw the planets, the sun and the moon on construction paper and cut them out individually. Make each object colorful and large enough to stand out on the page.

Glue one planet, sun or moon to each page on the area that pops up. Write the name of the planet and a few simple facts about it on the page.

Stack finished pages together. Use a hole puch to make holes along the left hand side of the pages of your book. Secure the pages together by tying yarn through the holes.

Books About Making Pop-Ups

Books are a great way to learn more about paper engineering and creating pop-ups. On this page you’ll find a selection of books about making pop-ups written by various Paper engineers and pop-up book Authors. These handbooks and manuals will teach you how to use all kinds of techniques to create your own pop-ups. Also take a look at these Pop-up Video Tutorials or  Pop-up Templates  to start creating pop-ups right away!

Elements of Pop-Up

Every aspect of the creation of a pop-up, known as paper engineering, is clearly and thoroughly covered in this book. It gives you not only all techniques but also real examples of pop-ups in the book itself. All types of parallel folds, angle folds, wheels, and pull tabs are accurately detailed verbally and visually, flat and in dimension. This book is perfect for aspiring pop-up creators, paper engineers, students, and appreciators of this unique art form.

Author: James Diaz and David A. Carter Amazon: Elements of Pop-Up

Pop-Up Design and Paper Mechanics

Author: Duncan Birmingham Amazon: Pop-Up Design and Paper Mechanics

Playing with Pop-Ups

Author: Helen Hiebert Amazon: Playing with Pop-ups

The Pop-Up Book: Step-by-Step Instructions

Author: Paul Jackson Amazon: The Pop-Up Book: Step-by-Step Instructions

Pop-Up: Everything You Need

Author: Ruth Wickings Amazon: Pop-Up: Everything You Need

Cut and Fold Techniques for Pop-Up Designs

Author: Paul Jackson Amazon: Cut and Fold Techniques for Pop-Up Designs

Paper Engineering for Pop-Up Books and Cards

Author: Mark Hiner Amazon: Paper Engineering for Pop-Up Books and Cards

The list above is a selection of the best DIY books we could find. We always try to keep this list up-to-date but if you have any additions for this list, please let us know! You can send us a message with your suggestions on our Contact page.

Tools & Supplies

80lb White Cardstock Paper 8.5 x 11 inch

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X-ACTO Knife With Safety Cap

Elmer’s Glue-All Extra Strong Multi-Purpose

Genuine Bone Folder and Scoring Tool

Scotch Double Sided Tape 0.5 x 400 inch

Asdirne Scissors Set of 4, Blue & Gray

Officemate Stainless Steel Ruler

Self Healing Double Sided Cutting Mat

• How to make a pop-up book

On this page you’ll find all steps that are needed to create and publish your own pop-up book. A detailed step-by-step guide to get you started with your pop-up book project.  View page…

Pop-up templates

Create the most beautiful pop-ups with these handy pop-up templates! You can choose from many different pop-up designs and most of them are print-ready!   View templates…

Pop-up video tutorials

There are a lot of great video tutorials to find on the Internet that teach you how to make a pop-up. Start with the basics or just pick a nice pop-up design to create yourself!  Watch tutorials…

pop-up tools & supplies

Making pop-ups is the most fun when you have good tools to work with. We’ve made a selection of the most useful products when it comes to working with paper.   View supplies…

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How to make a pop-up book.

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You will be amazed how beautiful and inspiring pop-up books can be. Watch our video reviews, discover books on our ranking lists, find the best pop-up books for kids and much more. Welcome to BestPopUpBooks.com!

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How To Make A Pop-Up Book With Engineering

Grade level, mathematics, activity type:, engineering and design challenge , geometry , art.

This resource was created as part of the Science Friday Educator Collaborative . If you are implementing this in the classroom, please check out the Educator’s Guide for tips for classroom use.

How does the dinosaur pop out of the page? Is it magic? Hint: it’s not magic—it’s math and engineering! Pop-up book artists like Matthew Reinhart , who created the dinosaur above, combine art with principles of math and engineering to design pop-up books that delight readers of all ages. It doesn’t just stop there. The principles of pop-ups transcend disciplines: they have inspired the development of nanodevices that manipulate light , microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) , paper robots , and furniture .

In this activity, you will learn how to make pop-ups by building two different pop-up mechanisms, pick out mathematical patterns that will help you predict pop-up motion, and then apply those ideas to build a card inspired by your favorite Science Friday story.

Using scissors, tape, and reams of creativity, Matthew Reinhart engineers paper to bend, fold, and transform into fantastic creatures, structures and locales. By adjusting the angles of folds and the depth of layers, Reinhart animates his subjects to tell dramatic stories that literally pop off the page. Watch to see how Reinhart creates his amazing feats of paper engineering.

We will use short time-stamped clips from this video throughout the resource to help you build your paper engineering skills!

Hey educators! How has the school year been for you? Tell SciFri your stories and feedback for our future STEM education coverage in a short survey ! 

Let’s explore some pops.

How do pop-ups work? How does Reinhart get his pop-ups to pop, or rise, so high off the page? Like skyscrapers and bridges , pop-ups need specially engineered supports. When used on the base of a card, these supports provide a solid foundation that carries and distributes the forces that are created by the moving attachments. Supports that are built on top of each other work together to increase the strength of the card so attachments can reach above and beyond the edges of the page. Look carefully at Reinhart’s pop-ups.

Can you find the support structures?

In engineering, triangles are frequently used to distribute forces and increase the strength of structures like skyscrapers, buildings, and bridges. Do you see any triangles? What other shapes do you notice? Are there differences based on the size or direction of the pop-up?

It’s Time To Build Some Popup Cards!

Do you recognize this object? It’s a pop-up card! Well, it’s the foundation of a pop-up card—without any decorations. Watch how all the shapes move together when the card is opened and closed. What could we turn this card into? A dinosaur, like the one in Matthew Reinhart’s video, perhaps?

In the time-stamped version of the video below, Reinhart explains two of the support structures that he frequently uses, the v-fold and layer. These support structures are called pop-up mechanisms —elements that cause movement on the surface of the page. In this activity, you will build v-fold mechanisms and explore the geometry that makes them pop. You will explore the layer mechanism in a later activity.

• One copy of the Pop-up Template
• Two copies of the Card Template
• Artist/drafting tape or transparent tape
• Protractor ( Here is a printable protractor you can use!)
• Pop-up Observation Sheet
• Optional: A craft knife.

Remember to be careful when using sharp tools and always cut on a cutting mat or other layer to protect your table.

Note: Copy paper can be used in lieu of cardstock, but is more likely to tear if pop-ups are repositioned.

Prepare And Build Your First Pop-up Card

• Cut out the shapes from the Pop-up Template by cutting along the solid lines.  On the Card Template, create two cards by cutting along the labeled cut line. Fold each card and popup back-and-forth along the dotted lines so that each crease is sharp. At the end of this step, you should have four cards and eight shapes . These eight shapes will be our pop-ups, and we will refer to them by the number printed on the shape. Tip: Stack your cards and pop-ups by type for later work.
• Use a protractor to measure angles A and B on one copy of popups #1, #2, and #3.  Write each angle measurement in Table I of your Pop-up Observation Sheet .  How are angles A and B on each pop-up related? Do you notice a pattern?

Build Your Remaining Pop-ups

Now that you’ve built your first pop-up card, grab your remaining stacks of cards. Follow the directions below to build three different pop-up cards. As you work, record your measurements in Table II of the Pop-up Observation Sheet .

• Does every pop-up stay inside the card when the card is closed?
• How do the measures of angles C1 and D1 compare?
• How do the measures of angles C2 and D2 compare?
• How do line 1 and line 2 make each pop-up look different?

When finished, your three pop-up cards should look something like this:

Note: You will have one extra copy of Card 2, this is for later.

Develop Your Theory: How Do Pop-ups Work?

Mathematicians, like scientists, use observations to make educated guesses. In mathematics, these educated guesses are called conjectures . Let’s look at your Pop-up Observation Sheet  and your three completed cards to make conjectures about the geometry that makes v-fold mechanisms pop.  Start by focusing on symmetry . Parts of objects have symmetry when one part has the same size and shape as another after a flip, turn, or slide.

• Where do you notice symmetry on your pop-ups and cards? What data from Table I or Table II supports your observations?
• Can you describe how symmetry might be important to the movement of the pop-ups?

Your conjectures about symmetry might look something like this:

V-folds have a line of symmetry. The dotted line on each v-fold mechanism is a line of symmetry. This explains why angles A and B on each v-fold mechanism have the same measure—the line of symmetry divides each pop-up into two parts of the same size and shape.

Cards have a line of symmetry. The center fold of the card is a line of symmetry. Closing the card reflects line 1 to the other side of the card, making angles C and and D the same measure.

On pop-ups, the line of symmetry of the card and the v-fold are aligned. When we placed our v-folds on the card, the line of symmetry of the v-fold was directly above the center fold of the card. When the two lines of symmetry are aligned, the card and pop-up open and close together.

Other ideas you should think about:

• What could be controlling the height of a pop-up?
• If a pop-up extends outside the closed card, what changes could you make to the pop-up or card to keep the pop-up inside the card?

What Else You Can  Do?

Keeping these observations in mind, play around with the way the v-fold mechanisms are attached to your three cards . You might try to re-attach the pop-ups to lines that are drawn at different angles or lines that extend in a different direction from the center of the card. You might change the size or shape of the pop-up. You might even try other ways to attach the pop-up to the card. As you play, try to:

• Alter the height of a pop-up.
• Make a large part of a pop-up extend outside the closed card.
• Make two pop-ups crash into each other as the card opens or closes.
• Observe what happens when you place a pop-up so that its fold is not directly above the center of the card.

V-folds are just one of the many types of mechanisms used by pop-up artists. In the next activity, we will use a layer mechanism to help build up our pop-up. Watch the video below to learn how to create simple layers.

Combining Popups

Most of the scenes in a pop-up book are built using multiple pop-up mechanisms that work together to create height and motion across two pages.

Any pop-up mechanism that is taped to a card creates a fold at the taped edge that can power another mechanism. By attaching pop-ups to each other, you can create supports for wider and taller designs. Let’s try it!

• Three completed pop-up cards from the previous activity
• One copy of pop-up #4 from your stack of pop-ups
• Artist/drafting tape or transparent tape.

What shape does pop-up #4 create?

You probably noticed that this pop-up has a different shape than the others—it looks more like a box. This is the layer, or parallelogram, mechanism. They don’t have to be attached to another pop-up. They can also be attached directly to the card .

What could pop-up #3 be used for? Where could you add other v-fold or layer mechanisms to make your pop-ups taller or wider?

Experiment by attaching more pop-ups to others. Use pop-ups from the Pop-up Template or cut out some of your own in similar shapes and custom sizes. Don’t forget to incorporate things you learned during your experimentation with v-folds!

How Does Paper Move When Attached To A Popup Mechanism?

As Reinhart explained, different pop-up configurations cause attachments to move differently.  Let’s experiment with our cards.

• Three completed pop-up cards from the previous activities
• Colored paper (e.g., construction, copy paper)
• Double-sided tape or adhesive dots
• Cut rectangles, squares, circles, and other shapes out of copy or construction paper. Use double-sided tape to attach the shapes to any of your pop-up mechanisms.
• Open and close the card and observe how the shapes move. Move or trim shapes that extend outside the card.
• What is the largest or longest shape that can be attached to a pop-up before it extends from the card?
• Do some attached shapes move more than others? How does a shape’s movement change if you connect it to a different position on the pop-up?

Your answers to these questions will vary based on the size of the shape, the type of pop-up, and the location of the pop-up on the card. Try cutting pictures out of magazines and see how you might make those images move and pop off the page.

Attachments are not the only way to tell a story — the mechanism can tell a story, too.  You can cut a pop-up to slightly alter its shape or draw on it to change its look. It is best to do this before attaching the pop-up to the page.  Use your imagination!

Engineering Your Perfect Pop

Get ready to put together everything you learned about pop-ups!  Your challenge: choose a Science Friday story and use art, math, and engineering to create a pop-up that responds to or is inspired by the story. Maybe you want to create a pop-up card that tells a story. Great! Perhaps you prefer to invent a device that uses pop-up principles to solve a problem. Awesome! The choice is yours.

• At least four sheets of cardstock (You can use copy paper, but it is more likely to tear when repositioning.)
• Artists tape or transparent tape
• Colored copy paper or construction paper
• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
• Engineering Your Perfect Pop Checklist
• Optional: an additional copy of the Pop-up Template , and craft knife (be careful when using sharp tools and always cut on a cutting mat).

When solving a problem, it’s important to follow a design process. As a paper engineer, you are going to break up your work into design process stages. Keep in mind that the design process is not linear. As you move from one stage to the next, you may find that you need to revisit a previous stage. Use the Engineering Your Perfect Pop Checklist as you work through the design process.

Get inspired by a story!

Here’s a selection of Science Friday stories you can choose from:

• The Bots and The Bees
• The Complicated Sex Lives of Venus Flytraps
• The Seriously Silly Science Cartoons of Rosemary Mosco
• Egypt is Building a Massive 1.8-Gigawatt Solar Park
• How to Grow Coral
• Want more options? Search Science Friday’s website .

Interested in diving deeper to make a bigger global impact? Align your pop-up creation with one of the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development . Brainstorm how pop-ups could be used to inexpensively solve a problem relating to the human health and environmental goals that are championed by the United Nations. As an example, get inspired by the Prakash lab and simplicity by design , especially the Foldscope , an inexpensive microscope that is made from cut, folded, and assembled paper.

Analyze your story!

What about the resource motivates or inspires you?  What do the people in the story need? What is the problem they are dealing with? How might pop-ups be used to help solve your selected issue or to tell your story? Identify information that might inform your design. Define the idea you plan to convey with your pop-up or the problem you want to solve.

The next two stages, Design and Test, are closely linked. You will spend a lot of time moving between these stages until your pop-up device or card works correctly. Remember that you don’t have to wait to test until you have all the pieces in place. You should test and adjust as you go.

Design: Let the engineering begin!

• Create a rough sketch of the layout of your card. Where will you place and combine mechanisms? Do you need to learn more building techniques? What resources will you use to learn them?
• Build your design on a foundation that is made from a piece of 8.5” x 11” cardstock or copy paper, folded in half. For the pop-ups, either make copies of the Pop-up Template or cut your own similar shaped and custom sized pop-ups .
• Check out the resources below to learn different techniques for creating pop-ups.

Test: Try out the mechanics of your card.

Does your prototype open and close smoothly? Do all pieces fold flat when the card is closed? Do all decorations stay inside the card when it is closed? Does the card convey your idea or address the issue you selected?

Show Off Your Creation

It’s time to show off your hard work! Refer to your Engineering Your Perfect Pop Checklist as you prepare your presentation. Share pictures of your work with Science Friday on Twitter or Instagram, using the hashtag: #SciFriPop.

Take a few minutes to reflect on your experience. What did you learn? What challenges did you face? How did you overcome them? What would you do differently next time? What would you like to learn more about?

Now that you’ve explored the basics of pop-ups, keep experimenting and creating more perfect pops!

• Want to learn how to make, cut out, and combine other types of pop-up mechanisms? Take a few of Matthew Reinhart’s Pop-up School Lessons or Pop-up Master Classes or head to pop-up artist Duncan Birmingham’s YouTube channel .
• Interested in exploring the geometry of more pop-up mechanisms?  Pop-up design and paper mechanics by pop-up artist Duncan Birmingham beautifully explains the theory of pop-ups and shows how to create more complex mechanisms, step-by-step or you can take check Matthew Reinhart’s Pop-up School on YouTube or Duncan Birmingham’s channel.
• Want to know how pop-up books are manufactured? This video shows how Matthew Reinhart designed a page in one of his books, and this video explains how a pop-up page is printed and assembled in a factory.
• Check out kirigami , the Japanese art of paper cutting. This art form has inspired some recent engineering innovations .
• HS-ETS1-2 Engineering Design : Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.
• MS-ETS-1 Engineering Design : Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
• CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSG.MG.A.3 : Apply geometric methods to solve design problems (e.g., designing an object or structure to satisfy physical constraints or minimize cost; working with typographic grid systems based on ratios).
• CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP3 : Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
• CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP4 : Model with mathematics.
• CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP5 : Use appropriate tools strategically.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.3 : Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks; analyze the specific results based on explanations in the text.

Special Thanks To: Josh Back, for filming all of the videos Catherine Phillips, for testing the lesson and providing feedback Josh Back, Alex Back, and Dave Back for testing revision after revision of this activity

Credits : Written by Jamie Back Mentored by Katharine Hinkle Review by Science Friday Educator Collaborative Cohort 6 Editing by Shirley Campbell, Xochitl Garcia, and Katharine Hinkle Digital Production by Xochitl Garcia

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About Jamie Back

Jamie Back is a high school STEAM Teacher and Makerspace Coordinator at Cincinnati Country Day School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jamie is a “maker” and a lifelong learner who enjoys bringing engineering design, making, computational thinking, and 3D printing into her classroom.

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The Spooky Secrets Behind Pop-up Books!

October 26, 2023

Posted by: Beatriz Haspo

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I have always loved pop-up books. They have a fascinating way of making the pages three-dimensional and with movement, allowing us to literally engage and experience the story. We participate in the creation of change and movement while reading, which is such an exciting experience.

At the same time, I have been equally fascinated with the engineering aspects behind them and intrigued about how the pages magically fold out and fold back so perfectly, then fold out and back again as many times as you want.

As the Collections Officer in the Collections Management Division, I have the privilege of caring for many thousands of pop-up books inside the General Collections. These titles receive a distinct categorization as “special formats materials” or SpecMat, which are linked to specific preservation and access policies.

But before we dive into these details, I want to share a little bit of history about the origin of pop-up books, which are part of a subcategory of books called “movable books”.

The first movable books were made in the early 13 th century by the Benedictine monk, Mathew Paris (c. 1200-1259) and the Catalan mystic and poet, Ramon Llull (c. 1232-1315/14), both of whom used volvelles (or wheel paper chart mechanisms with rotating parts) to calculate dates, the astrological position of the stars, and to express spiritual concepts (Smithsonian, n.d.). The first official “pop-up book” is considered to be the story of “ Little Red Riding Hood ” published in 1855 by Dean & Son.  They called it a “scenic book” as the images created a scene through layering the illustration, which would “pop-up” after pulling a ribbon ( Library of Congress, 2014 ).  Later, S. Louis Giraud in England (1930s), along with Thomas Brown, created what are considered true pop-up books, with three-dimensional freestanding pop-ups that were viewable from all sides, which is the idea that we have nowadays, when we hear “pop-up books” (Smithsonian, n.d.). There were many other paper engineering pioneers and publishers that helped to produce the “golden age” of moveable books, including Dean & Son, Blue Ribbon Books, McLoughlin Brothers, Ernest Nister, Lothar Meggendorfer, Vojtech Kubasta and others, all of whom greatly contributed to the collection of the various types of mechanisms needed to create colorful, complex and interactive books. (University of North Texas, n.d.)

Originally, movable books were made for adults, not children. Before the invention of printing, these books were used for scholarly purposes, primarily in science and philosophy (Reid-Walsh, 2019). They helped illustrate complex systems “particularly relating to medicine, mathematics, and technology” as well as mysticism and navigation (Smithsonian, n.d.). For example, the “lift-the-flap” mechanisms were very useful in illustrating the concepts of anatomy in medicine books as the separate leaves, hinged at the top, would feature different sections of the body at various depths (University of North Texas, n.d.)

By the mid-18 th century, well after the invention of the printing press (1450s), advances in bookmaking made books more accessible and current. With the growth of the middle class and increasing awareness of the importance of childhood education, books were published specifically for children to teach them manners, religion, numbers, and letters as well as entertainment (Reid-Walsh, 2019, Fig. 3). Many of the movable books created in the 19 th century were made for entertainment as the “interactive elements of movables and pop-ups are much like playing a game,” as it engages and amuses the reader (Smithsonian, n.d.). The first movable books for children included religious flap books, fold-out and cut-out pieces for alphabets, and flap books based on “popular theatrical entertainments such as puppet shows” (Reid-Walsh, 2019).

From the collections management and preservation perspective, pop-up books present some challenges. These books are mostly made of paper with extra elements of fragile and movable parts and thus are susceptible to the same preservation challenges common to all paper and book materials. These factors can lead to damage and deterioration. Among them, environmental damage from temperature and humidity, light, dust, pests, and rough handling of the materials. The inherent acidic nature of paper also causes natural deterioration and brittleness. Continued and rough handling is especially a concern for pop-up and movable books due to the mechanisms of tabs, strings, wheels, etc., that allow for the interactive nature that can be easily worn and torn over time from repeated use. Common damages to movable books include unbound and loose pages, tears near the pull tabs, missing or torn detached tabs, missing parts, and misaligned or broken mechanisms.

With that in mind, these materials are categorized as special materials (or SpecMat) with the associated access and inventory policies. They receive additional levels of preservation, usually being placed inside custom-made boxes, to protect them during use, in storage or in transit. Over almost two decades, I have had the chance to train staff, interns and volunteers of the Collections Management Division to make such boxes. While these items may be requested by patrons, they are served in special reading rooms, where staff trained in care and handling can help readers. As part of the SpecMat materials, the pop-up books are stored at our offsite storage facilities for long-term preservation.

In addition, pop-up books are a great way to teach about paper engineering, project planning and critical thinking skills. Danna Bell, Educational Resource Specialist at the Library of Congress, in her blog post ( Bell, 2021 ) provided a template for a lesson regarding how to construct a pop-up book, with students following an Observe-Reflect-Question approach as they looked at pop-up books, considered how they are constructed, and determined what materials would be necessary to make their own. Linked to the lesson is a video of Robert Sabuda and Mathew Reinhart, award-winning self-taught pop-up book illustrators, demonstrating how to make simple pop-up books at the 2008 National Book Festival with paper, pen, and scissors. This lesson template teaches how the engineering process, such as paper engineering, is a cycle that requires people to design and create multiple versions of their ideas, to observe how each version works, and reflect on how they might make it better” (Bell, 2021).

And because we are approaching Halloween, I could not end this blog without sharing some images of some cool pop-up books that are part of the General Collections. Happy Halloween everybody!

I want to thank my interns (past and present) namely Irene Lewis, Lindsay Oliver, Elizabeth Sporgitas, Melody Wang and Lauren Quackenbush for their contributions in this blog.

Bell, Danna. 2021. “Inspiring the E(ngineering) in STEM by Exploring the Construction of Pop-up Books.” Teaching With the Library of Congress. https://blogs.loc.gov/teachers/2021/07/inspiring-the-engineering-in-stem-by-exploring-the-construction-of-pop-up-books/ ?loclr=blogpres

Library of Congress. 2014. “Origins & Variety of Movable Structures in the Book Format.” Video. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021689307/

Reid-Walsh, Jacqueline. 2019.”What are Movable Books?” Learning as Play. The Pennsylvania State University. https://sites.psu.edu/play/what-are-movable-books/

Smithsonian Institution Libraries. n.d. “Paper Engineering: Fold, Pull, Pop & Turn” (2010-2011) Access June 14, 2022 from https://library.si.edu/digital-library/exhibition/paper-engineering

University of North Texas. n.d. “Pop-Up and Movable Books: A Tour through Their History.” Accessed June 14, 2022 from https://library.unt.edu/rarebooks/exhibits/popup2/default.htm

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Comments (2)

I love your blogs! This one is great: lots of interesting information, excellent illustrations, fun examples. Congratulations!!!

Interesting history.

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