Carl Pops Up

Rating:
Summary: A very original book
Review: Carl Pops Up by Alexandra Day

Carl Pops Up is a creative book. It does not have many words, yet the meaning is easily interpreted. The pull tabs are a clever way of keeping you interested in the book. Carl, the dog, is put in charge of looking after the baby while the mother's not there. He feeds the baby, played with the baby, and even bathes the baby. He puts the baby to bed after doing these things just as if he is a babysitter. This dog gives new meaning to the words,"man's best friend." I recommend this to anyone who likes to read good, humorous books.

Rating:
Summary: Carl is a classic, but this pop up is not!
Review: First let me say that I love the Carl books, especially "Good Dog Carl." I love the concept, the way that you get to make up your own words. Most of the Carl books are inventive and endearing classics. In fact, perhaps the reason that I am so disappointed with this adaptation is that I am holding it to this same high standard. The Carl books are awesome; however, this pop up version is just OK, at best.

I agree with the Horn book review which notes that the pop up and interactive parts are not especially creative. Perhaps this is because they took a story that was not specifically designed for a pop up format and made it pop up. At any rate, I think they could have been more ingenious in their choice of what they made pop up or move.

Also, there is one page where Carl and the baby are looking in Mommy's mirror that is downright ridiculous. The page is designed to move so that it looks like they are blinking, but instead, the eyes just look freaky like something out of the Exorcist! Very strange.

Surely such an excellent book deserves a better pop up adaptation.

Rating:
Summary: My child loves it
Review: My child loves this pop-up book...maybe it's because we own rotties ourselves, but she hasn't gotten tired of this book that she's had for two years. She always asks to read it and enjoys the pop-ups, and push and pull tabs.