BELIEVE

A pop-up invitation to dream big.

With his latest set of seemingly
miraculous white pop-ups, Sabuda urges expansive life goals. Accompanying a
flat image of a small pine cone, the phrase “When I grow up” concludes, with a
page turn, “I will stand TALL,” next to a towering tree. “When I strive for my
goals” (a small bee looping in for a landing) leads to a magnificent stand of
finely petaled sunflowers and a satisfied “I will savor the outcome.” A bowl of
eggs turns to a swirling flight of birds when dreams are shared; dreaming “of
the future” transforms a bath toy into a great ship in full sail; a multileveled
castle is the result when “I build my life”; and finally the “humble beginning”
envisioned as a paper airplane becomes a rocket blasting off “to a life among
the stars.” Younger viewers may be more inclined to admire the way each model
unfolds and marvel at its intricate paper engineering than to embellish the
metaphorical images with specific personal ambitions—but the wide-angled
outlook may inspire at least some longer thoughts. It’s easy to imagine this
giving Oh, the Places You’ll Go a run
for its money as a perennial graduation gift.

An elevated outing, perhaps a touch
vague but, as ever, magnificently designed. (Pop-up picture book. 7-9,
adult)