Favorite Dual-Functioning Books

 

DUAL-FUNCTIONING BOOKS

There are some really cool books out there that go beyond being brick-and-mortar "text and illustration" books. They take things to the next level in that the physical book becomes a key part of the experience and incites its own separate experience. I have dubbed these dual-functioning books because––as the name would suggest––these books serve two functions: To be a book and to be something beyond a book. Check out some examples below!

                        

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Favorite Pinocchio Picture Books

                

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Let's Talk Illustrators #221: Nina Laden

I have absolutely fallen in love with author-illustrator Nina Laden's newest project The Trainbow! This book is on two of my favorites lists—board books and leporellos—so you know when I had the chance to chat with Nina about it, I took it immediately. Enjoy a peek at this beautifully-designed treasure of a book!

Favorite Laser Cut Books

LASER CUT BOOKS

Some books have pages or portions of pages with intricately-cut shapes. The process of creating these decorative contours is called laser cutting, which is exactly what it sounds like: a precision laser vaporizes any material (in this case, paper) within the negative space of the image. These laser cuts are especially common in pop-up books and carousel books to provide an extra layer of depth to the images.

                        

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Favorite Carousel Books

CAROUSEL BOOKS

Carousel books, sometimes called 360° books or 3D pop-up books, are a sub-category of pop-up books, but they're so distinct that they deserve their own list here on the site. Carousel books are bound like regular picture books, but the front and back covers are designed to touch so that the book opens all the way into a 360° circle (they usually have ribbons or magnets to connect the front and back covers).

              

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