Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
600 Black Spots
Novelty Book
For ages 5 to and up
Simon and Schuster, 2007 ISBN: 978-1416940920
We are going to explore some very special three dimensional paper creations. To some eyes they might look like pieces of modern art. To others they might look like puzzles that need to be figured out. Each one is accompanied by a sentence which describes the piece and the number of black spots that are hidden in it.
As we open the first page of the book a fan of white paper opens up across the double page spread in a truly lovely and quite extraordinary way. We read that this pop-up shows “white grasses” and that it has “90 Black Spots” hidden in it. Sure enough if we count carefully there are ninety black spots carefully drawn on either side of each of the white paper ‘fronds.’
Further along we open the page and two pyramids of colored paper, string, and spots (of course) pop up. At the tops of the pyramids there are ‘tassels’ of yarn. And when we pull two tabs the pyramids weave from side to side. They are “tipsy” just as the description say they are. And all over them there are “78 Black Spots.”
Without a doubt this is one of the most extraordinary pop-up books every made. Readers will be dazzled by David A. Carter’s creativity and they will wonder where he got his ideas from. One can guess that modern art had some influence on his marvelous paper sculptures but so many aspects of his creations are so unique, that one never knows what will turn up on the next page. With black spots to count and three dimensional paper artworks to admire, this is a book for readers and pop-up collectors of all ages.
