Also known as animated books, this type of book is generally intended for children. Pages contain mechanisms that move certain elements of the set or the character.

There are different types of animations :

⭐️ A zipper can move the character on the page, the opening of a window, the replacement of a decoration by another through a system of slots or cuts in the page.

⭐️ A wheel inserted in the page protrudes on one side and can be rotated, making various elements appear in cutouts of the page , often coordinated (three cuts show successively the trios yellow-banana-sun, green-pear-grass...).

⭐️ A small plastic pouch attached to the cover and filled with liquid moves when pressed on or a character is shown in relief.

⭐️ A hole can accommodate the reader's finger, decorated with a small face drawn on the nail, to become a character in the story.

Story

If you plan to offer or show a pop-up book to a child, the subject of the story will have to be adapted to his tastes. But we all know  even adults can't resist  a good story in 3D.

You may choose a fictional subject or stick with non-fiction. If you opt for fiction, you can adapt a short traditional tale or write your own story. If you prefer to write on a subject rather than a story, look for a theme that will interest a child, such as space, dinosaurs or farm animals. Remember what was stated in the previous section 'How to write a children's story?'

Limit the number of animated items you plan to use so your pages don't become overloaded, heavy, or too fragile. The fewer cuts you make into the pages, the stronger they remain.

Tip: Feel free to use other materials to personalize your book, like glitter, fur, or fabric.

How to make the book

Make a model or a draft mockup and write down the outline of the story. Separate it into several paragraphs to determine the number of pages you will need. Like the mangakas (author of mangas), make a quick sketch of the illustrations that you plan to use for each page to help locate your 3D illustrations.

There are many ways to make a pop-up book. This site shows you interesting details.

Make your illustrations. You can draw the images on Canson sheets or on Bristol. Thick paper is needed for the tabs and windows. Another possibility is to  cut images from magazines and glue them on thicker paper.

The images you use should be about the same size as the page in your book. Make sure you have all the pictures and characters you need for the whole book, not just for one page. The main character will probably show on several pages, so make sure you have enough of it in stock!

Remember to keep space for the text (2 or 3 lines) at the bottom or at the top of the page. If you write directly on the page, assure to choose the color and thickness of the pen tip to match the rest of the page. Of course you can also paste printed text.

Tip: If you don't have enough space for text, glue a larger piece of paper to the page and fold it in.