Story by Mitch Grimmett, A&E Editorial Intern

Lovers of the outdoors will be thrilled about the release of this book that will spirit readers away to over 18 of our country’s most popular national parks with only a few turns of the page.
                                      
However, buy a deluxe edition of the book and you will not only be admiring the beauty of each paper park, but also helping to save these great parks in the real world.  

For every online purchase of the book, $8 will be donated to the National Parks Conservation Association. In addition, the purchase of a limited edition version will result in $80 being donated to the conservation of these parks. Through donations, buyers will help to reach the $100,000 goal set by the many people who helped to create this incredible work of art. But who exactly put this book together?

                                             
The three big names that came together to publish the pop-up book include, Bruce Foster, Don Compton and Dave Ember. Foster is an award-winning paper engineer of over 40 pop-up books for every age group from small children to adults. Three of his books have appeared on NBC’s Today Show and he also designed the many pop-ups seen in Disney’s Enchanted.

                             
Don Compton, the author of the book, once made a living in the steel business but has since retired and published 16 books, including the companion book to the PBS television series entitled Great Lodges of the National Parks. Many of the stories told in these books come from Compton’s trips with his family to national parks and, with the release of this most recent labor of love, he is celebrating his 77 birthday.     

                                                        
Last, but certainly not least, is Dave Ember, the crew’s illustrator and designer. Big names such as The New York Times, Hewlett-Packard and Playboy, Inc. have all come to Ember for his unique artistic style when corporate or advertising art is needed. However, this is the first time that Dave has ever illustrated a pop-up book.

“The main difference between my normal work and the work on the book is twofold,” Dave explained. “My normal work usually involves clean geometric shapes and is more conceptual in nature so I get to play a bit more. However the book art involves organic shapes and I needed to represent the subject matter realistically. It was quite a juggling act coordinating all these elements. But, like I said, every time I open the book, I realize all the work paid off.”

http://www.nationalparkspopup.com/

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