Van Gogh's House: A Pop-Up Experience [With Opens Into 3-Dimensional Circular House W/Cut Outs]

Even this book is much smaller than i expected. Say, its a pocket size. Still, i found those four rooms are very attractive with many detailed arrangement. Not too much surprise inside, but you almost feel people living there, and watching...

This book is quite charming. As reported in a previous review, the little package one receives is approximately 4" by 5". A pocket on one side contains six punch-out characters, a few punch-out items (incl. vases of flowers, pictures and a pitcher) to be placed in the rooms, and a 32-page booklet about Van Gogh and his paintings. The other side contains the pop-up book, which one opens completely so that the covers touch each other, thus making a carousel of a four-room house -- kitchen, bedroom, study and living room. You can change the pictures that are hanging or place a new work on the easel, etc.This is a lovely item, obviously assembled by and for those who share an affection for this complex painter.

This book is published in association with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands and the National Gallery in London. It is accompanied by a small booklet that tells the story of his life and features some of his many pictures. This is not your typical pop-up book since "Van Gogh's House" opens up into a circular four-room house. The furniture from his pictures have been transformed into 3-D pop-ups ("Van Gogh's Chair" for example). In order to bring his house to life one can play with punch-out figures that depict Van Gogh and his friends ("Joseph Roulin" for example). It is also up to you to decorate the house with Van Gogh's flowers ("Vase of Irises" for example) and his pictures. The book is approx. 4"x5" and folded out it becomes twice the size. For older children it is a unique and playful introduction to this great painter. I like it because it brings together my love for pop-up books and Van Gogh.