Follow Here To Purchase The Pocket Paper Engineer, Volume 3: V-Folds: How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step

Author: Carol Barton

Publisher: Popular Kinetics Press

ISBN: 978-0-9627752-3-9

Carol Barton definitely has a thing about paper, especially card stock or thicker paper that she easily transforms into three-dimensional wonders appropriately called “pop-ups.” In her third volume of The Pocket Paper Engineer, this thirty year plus expert in paper engineering explains the “V-Fold” types of pop-up construction.

This seventy three page hard bound book is perfect in one’s hand and is not recommended as an e-book. The reader gets an instant feel of paper holding the spiral bound blue hard jacket cover with a colorful drawing of paper tools on the front and solid blue back. The beginning of the book includes a Table of Contents and an Introduction including Tools, Terms, Assembly and Learning from the Pros. At the end of the book there is an About the Author and Acknowledgements. No grammatical or typographical errors were noted. Several sentences use contractions.

The book is broken down into five tabbed sections that include Basic V-Folds, V-Fold Supports, Straddles and Zigzags, Making Pop-Up Editions, and Resources and Index. Included in each section are make-your-own actual displays along with a pouch to hold them for later viewing under each particular section.

What is amazing and creative about this book is what Barton gives the reader: exact replications of her own pop-ups including the cut-outs and platforms found under each discussed tab. The reader can easily pick a type of pop-up fold and recreate it. Using precise instructions and tutorials with drawings and directions, one can cut out, fold and paste the designs, completing one of the pop-ups. Colorful painted designs of pop-ups included are cherry trees, a peacock, a dog, a frog, a tool box, a baby on a blanket, a truck and camper scene, a mermaid, salt and pepper and a bat, all with several types of V-folds.

Barton also includes an informational section on making many pop-ups at one time and time saving tips along with websites for resources and supplies. With her background as a renowned book artist, she gives simple, easy-to-follow directions that any age could enjoy including a five years old child with adult supervision to the teen that enjoys the creative learning process.

This book makes an exceptional and fun gift for any person who is creative with their hands or one who wants to learn how to make their own pop-ups. Homeschoolers would appreciate it greatly as a project to research and complete. It is a keeper in this reader’s house to share with future grandchildren or those interested in the art of paper making.