Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Mega Beasts |
Thursday, 14 June 2007 |
Do you remember pop-up books? Those cumbersome hardbacks filled with
leaping tigers, squawking birds and various other fantastical
images?
Well, Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart have taken it upon themselves
to transform this childish novelty into something close to art. Their
trilogy of pop-up books, known as ‘Encylopedia Prehistorica’, can
easily claim to be among some of the most sophisticated books ever
made. Ornate depictions of sharks and dinosaurs are painstakingly
constructed from scratch to create and mimic the movements of the
animals in their natural habitats.
The books, although designed principally for children, have found a
huge adult audience, achieving cult status alongside other pop-ups such
as ‘The Pop-Up Book of Sex’ by Melcher Media.
The third and final book in Sabuda’s and Reinhart’s collection, ‘Mega
Beasts’, tackles the furry titans of the ancient world.
Sabre-toothed cats, bears taller than basketball hoops and the
elephant’s hirsute cousin the woolly mammoth, are all beautifully
crafted to leap out at you over 35 pages.
As well as joint projects, the two have been working on their own
individual books. Reinhart has recently completed ‘Star Wars’, and
Sabuda is currently working on his version of ‘The Chronicles of
Narnia’.
‘Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Mega Beasts’ by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart is published by Walker Books in the UK. By Matt Hussey.
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