Pop-up Designer

Matthew Reinhart works at a table covered with paper scraps in his studio in New York City. He cuts, folds, glues, and tapes pieces together to create a flat shape. Then he pulls a paper tab. Suddenly, the flat shape springs to life. It unfolds into a 3-D sculpture of a monster that waves its claws and gnashes its teeth.

Reinhart designs pop-up books. He helps bring stories to life with dinosaurs that “roar” and fairy-tale princesses that spin. Reinhart combines science, engineering, and art to make his amazing paper creations.

Matthew Reinhart works at a table covered with paper scraps. He has a studio in New York City. He cuts, folds, glues, and tapes paper pieces together. First, the creation is a flat shape. Then Reinhart pulls a paper tab. Suddenly, the flat shape springs to life. It unfolds into a 3-D sculpture of a monster. It waves its claws and gnashes its teeth.

Reinhart designs pop-up books. He helps bring stories to life. He makes dinosaurs that "roar" and fairy-tale princesses that spin. Reinhart combines science, engineering, and art to make his amazing paper creations.

Making a new pop-up book takes a lot of planning. Reinhart first writes an outline showing what will be on each page. For example, to make a dinosaur book that includes a T. rex, “I think: What’s the coolest way for readers to encounter a T. rex?” says Reinhart. “Maybe it tries to bite them!”

Next is the engineering stage. “That’s when I cut and fold paper to figure out how to make a T. rex that bites,” he says. He uses different folding techniques to create various effects in a pop-up. 

Making a new pop-up book takes a lot of planning. Reinhart first writes an outline. This shows what will be on each page. For example, to make a dinosaur book that includes a T. rex, "I think: What's the coolest way for readers to encounter a T. rex?" says Reinhart. "Maybe it tries to bite them!"

Next is the engineering stage. "That's when I cut and fold paper to figure out how to make a T. rex that bites," he says. He uses different folding techniques. This creates various effects in a pop-up. 

Every pop-up Reinhart creates is unique—he goes through a lot of trial and error. He builds each piece as many as 20 times until it works exactly right. 

“I go through a lot of paper!” he says. “But failing is OK. That’s how I discover ways to make a piece move in a really new and cool way.”

Every pop-up Reinhart creates is unique. He goes through a lot of trial and error. He builds each piece as many as 20 times until it works exactly right.

"I go through a lot of paper!" he says. "But failing is OK. That's how I discover ways to make a piece move in a new and cool way."

This lizard has one line of symmetry. Draw a line through the lizard to show its symmetry.

This lizard has one line of symmetry. Draw a line through the lizard to show its symmetry.

What type of line did you draw above?

What type of line did you draw above?

Draw all the lines of symmetry on this snowflake. How many does it have?

Draw all the lines of symmetry on this snowflake. How many does it have?

Circle the castle that has one line of symmetry.

Circle the castle that has one line of symmetry.

Circle the part of this lizard that would have to change for it to have a line of symmetry.

Circle the part of this lizard that would have to change for it to have a line of symmetry.

Draw an image that has at least one line of symmetry. Mark the line(s) of symmetry with dotted line(s).

Draw an image that has at least one line of symmetry. Mark the line(s) of symmetry with dotted line(s).