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Robert Sabuda at work in his studio. His next book, 'The 12 Days of Christmas,' is due to be released this October.
Sabuda and his assistant, Matthew Reinhart (left), collaborate |
By BRITTANY ROUSH
YOUTH CORRESPONDENT
Around Christmastime last year, while shopping for myself in Borders, I wandered into the children's section to see what new and fun things they had to offer. I spotted a book decorated with various dinosaurs. But this wasn't just any book. It was the newest Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart pop-up.
I opened the book and a gigantic T-Rex head popped out at me. Amused, I continued flipping through, page after page, quickly becoming enthralled with the beautiful colors and wonderful designs. There were flying beasts with a breathtaking color scheme, fighting dinosaurs and even one dinosaur eating another.
Amazed, I bought "Dinosaurs," the first in a series of three "Encyclopedia Prehistorica." But my purchases didn't stop there. I soon coveted "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," both delightful pop-up renditions of two of my favorite stories.
It wasn't until the release of "Sharks," the newest of Sabuda and Reinhart's collection, that I decided to interview the two pop-up masters. Several weeks later I received the number, and it was time.
With a nervous flutter in my stomach, I dialed the number for Sabuda's New York studio. An assistant answered and quickly brought Sabuda to the phone. Reinhart, Sabuda's assistant, jumped on the line next, and the interview was under way:
Q : Does one do the writing and the other do the pop-up part of the book?
Sabuda : We both do both!
Reinhart : I wrote the text for ["Sharks"] while Robert did the artwork.
Sabuda: But we often do both. We'll work back and forth, we'll discuss artwork together.
Q : Is this something that you always wanted to do?
Sabuda: I've always been an artist. I don't ever recall a time when I wasn't making something or drawing or painting something, and I love children's books.
Pop-up books were just a fluke--I mean, I've been working with a lot of paper with my illustration books, and it just seemed like a good time to work in 3-D. So I taught myself how to make pop-ups and then the rest, I guess, is history.
Q : So, do you like working with pop-up books more than the regular illustrations?
Sabuda : You know, each has its own challenges, I suppose. But there's something about working with 3-D. My father was a bricklayer, and my grandfather was a carpenter, so I like working with my hands and making craft. Right now, at least in my life, I'm enjoying working with pop-ups.
Reinhart: I always wanted to be a toy designer--I actually went to school for it at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. And I was lucky enough to be able to do some television work on Nickelodeon for "Blue's Clues." And I just kind of stumbled upon pop-ups.
Sabuda: Once he has all the pieces that work, I go in and make the artwork. I begin by penciling in where the eyes and shadows are going to be and then I actually make my own paper. And I use acrylic paints, and I have an assistant who helps me, and we make tons and tons of papers. And we use acrylics and we splatter them and we use sponges to make different textures. Then we let them dry and make the art using collage. We then scan all the artwork into the computer and send them all to the manufacturer.
Q : Are you surprised by the amount of success you've had?
Sabuda: Well, yes. I guess I'm very surprised. And I guess what surprised me most was that so many people--such a broad spectrum of people--like them.
We'll be at a book signing and big bikers will come up and say [lowers his voice] "We really love your pop-up books."
People are able to make the pop-up happen with their own hands. We're so electronically overwhelmed today, but a book is such a private moment between the reader and the book. You turn the page yourself and the magic happens. That can happen anywhere--you don't have to plug it in or do anything, and I think people find comfort in that simple pleasure of turning the page and seeing that "Wow" moment of that pop-up coming up.
BRITTANY ROUSH is a rising
