Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: a Pop-Up Page Turner Graphic Novel

I grew up in a family who loves to read, and I was privileged that my aunt worked for Scholastic books in New York City as a copy editor. She sent me boxes full of books on a monthly basis that not only contained Scholastic but various books appropriate for all ages. Needless to say, my library of books grew very quickly. One book that she sent me was a pop-up adaptation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Robert Sabuda.

Every page in this book is its own adventure. When I opened the book for the first time as a child, I was not prepared to be greeted by a forest of trees that popped out right in front of me. Each pop-up is brilliantly illustrated with vibrant colors and a unique art style. Along with the illustrations that dominate each page, every scene contains a side panel that includes the text of the story as well more pop-up graphics.

Every scene has a large amount of detail, and I always find something new every time I read this book. There is so much detail within the book that it truly defines the meaning of eye candy. The following quote is a review on the back of the book:

“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is Robert Sabuda’s most amazing creation ever, featuring stunning pop-ups illustrated in John Tenniel’s classic style. The text is faithful to Lewis Carroll’s original story, and special effects like a Victorian peep show, multifaceted foil, and tactile elements make this a pop-up to read and admire again and again.”

Last section from the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
The last pop-up of the book is the scene when Alice is running in the house of cards. This has always been my favorite scene.  This is evidenced by the fact that in my copy of the book, Alice’s leg is taped together due to the amount of times I opened the book to this scene.  My favorite element is the arch of cards as they take on a life of their own, chasing Alice as she tries to escape from them. I am amazed at how Tenniel managed to cut the cards so intricately and have them in positions that look like they are about to fall right out of the book.

Below is a demonstration video of the book.

References:

Sabuda, Robert. Alices Adventures in Wonderland. Little Simon, 2003.

URL link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_DkuirvQ5E

2 thoughts on “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: a Pop-Up Page Turner Graphic Novel”

  1. I love this version of Alice! Our library has a copy if anyone is interested in seeing it. I think it’s on those shelves closest to the HCC bridge.

  2. I love Robert Sabuda’s work! I grew up with a copy “The Night Before Christmas” and remember it being the most magical book as a kid. Many of the page have since been taped together, like Alice’s leg, from the amount times my siblings and I would read it.

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