Grade 3 Up—Carter"s fifth installment in his innovative, color-themed paper-sculpture series incorporates another level of sensory interaction for readers to take note of and explore. Sound plays an important role in the artwork from the cover (fingers can be strummed along the raised, textured starburst shapes) to the unfurling and contemplation of each of the nine paper-engineering marvels contained within. Like the other offerings in the series, the poetic text tantalizingly refers to the displayed pop-up while leaving much to interpretation by the imagination (\"Rainbow bubble blast/and crackly white noise\") or explanation from canny adults (\"Sir Anthony"s easel/and Munari"s white noise\"). The paper structures are as breathtaking as ever, with the sound effects varying from \"white noise\" created as the sculpture is deployed to pieces with added aural wows (the \"tinkling\" of cutout circles hanging from string or a pull tab that runs along serrated xylophonelike card stock). The relationship between words, sounds, and visuals is consistently pleasing, thought-provoking, and playful. In addition to grabbing the eye and ear, this book seems a natural for extensions in music and art classes.


Carter completes his color series with an inventive, thought-provoking offering that is not only about seeing but hearing, too. As in previous books, Carter presents an array of shapes and forms that have no intended meaning, but here he also incorporates sound into every spread. In the first, a “blast” of colors is accompanied by a “crackly white noise.” Sometimes the noise is made by simply turning the page, while other times pull tabs make sounds. This would work best with older children, who will be fascinated by Carter’s craft and may use this as a jumping-off place for their own creative endeavors. Grades 3