"Knick-Knack Paddywack" by Paul O. Zelinsky was one of the first books C owned, bought for her by her Grandad Dodo when she was a tiny, tiny mite.
Unfortunately, tiny mites have very little respect for gloriously complicated, delicate but truly mesmerising paper engineering - which is Paul's trademark, and in this bouncy dog-filled version of the famous rhyme, a young boy encounters some very odd little old men - and their pooches - as he recites the rhyme.
It's really designed as a fun counting book but of course the devil is in the details (and yes, you will see this theme again, and again, and again in our Booky100Keepers list - super-detailed books really are us!) and each page spread not only features tons and tons of cool little in-jokes and illustrations, but the whole book encourages play through innovative paper mechanics, helping to drive the whole story along with a real bounce.
C used to insist on 'helping' with the moving bits, which is why the book is just about still in working condition, but needs a bit of restorative TLC in places (we've never had the heart to try and stick ripped or bent or broken bits back together with sticky tape but have managed to at least keep the thing in one piece).
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| Dogs scoffing bones is a common theme throughout the book, aided by a deft tweak of a paper tab |
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| Sheer brilliance with some of the 'lift the flap' bits and rotating cardboard dial bits (more bone scoffing) |
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| The riotous finale, filled with tons of amazing movement from the child's clapping hands to the little dancing figures and dogs. Amazing work of genius! |
Original Review