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Christmas Around the World: A Pop-Up Book
Master pop-up artist Chuck Fischer's most glorious creation yet -- CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD is the perfect holiday gift. Featuring France, Germany, Russia, Latin America, Scandinavia, Great Britain, Italy, and the United States, every spread is packed with a luxurious central pop-up image, plus removable booklets, pullouts, mini pop-ups, and more. The text illuminates unique Christmas traditions, gift legacies, and portraits of mythic figures, such as England's Father Christmas and Italy's Le Befana. Like Christmas in New York , CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD is destined to become a treasured keepsake and a bestseller for years to come.
12 pages, Hardcover
First published October 29, 2007
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Fischer
15 books11 followersSoon after graduating with a BFA in Advertising Art from the University of Kansas, I moved to New York City to pursue a career in the creative arts. First I tried the acting biz. I had countless walk-on parts on the soap opera All My Children and what I thought would be my "big break" in the movies. I was chosen by Woody Allen for a speaking part in his movie, Stardust Memories, but I was a victim of the proverbial "lost on the cutting room floor". Time to re-evaluate my "acting career".
Fortunately, friends of mine working in the rarified world of high-end interior design, encouraged me to take on decorative painting projects. I was soon commissioned to design and paint murals in some of the finest residences in the world. One of the first things I learned working with America's top decorators, (Sister Parish and Albert Hadley in particular) and their clients, was the importance of a library full of illustrated books for reference and inspiration.
I started building my collection of illustrated books, (numbering in the hundreds today) and as Thomas Jefferson said, "I cannot live without books".
There isn't a design project of mine, from my china patterns for Lenox, to my wallpaper and fabric collections at Brunschwig and Fils and Schumacher that hasn't started with me looking at books.
Today, much of my creative energy is focused on creating unique pop-up books filled with my illustrations, photographs, historical facts and information. My first two pop-up books dealt with American architecture, but my new book, CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK is somewhat of a departure and a harbinger of new projects to come.
Each spread in my pop-up book offers something new and exciting through illustrated 3-D pop-ups that are representative of meticulous research and knowledge of historic art and design. In addition to using my own collection of books for research and inspiration, I spent a great deal of time at the library at the Cooper Hewitt Museum perusing their vast collection of illustrated pop-up books dating from the 13th century, and I have always had good luck finding unique images at the New York Public Library's Picture Collection.
The official websites of venues that I featured in the book were most helpful. www.metmuseum.org; www.nycballet.com; www.amnh.org; www.ndm.si.edu/; www.rockefellercenter.com; www.radiocity.com; and www.nybg.org
Chuck Fischer is a New York City artist whose paintings hang in some of the finest residences in the world. Many of his designs are in the permanent collection of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum. He is the author of two previous pop-up books, The White House and Great American Houses and Gardens.
Visit Chuck in his virtual New York studio.
You can also become a fan on the Angels Facebook Page.
Fortunately, friends of mine working in the rarified world of high-end interior design, encouraged me to take on decorative painting projects. I was soon commissioned to design and paint murals in some of the finest residences in the world. One of the first things I learned working with America's top decorators, (Sister Parish and Albert Hadley in particular) and their clients, was the importance of a library full of illustrated books for reference and inspiration.
I started building my collection of illustrated books, (numbering in the hundreds today) and as Thomas Jefferson said, "I cannot live without books".
There isn't a design project of mine, from my china patterns for Lenox, to my wallpaper and fabric collections at Brunschwig and Fils and Schumacher that hasn't started with me looking at books.
Today, much of my creative energy is focused on creating unique pop-up books filled with my illustrations, photographs, historical facts and information. My first two pop-up books dealt with American architecture, but my new book, CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK is somewhat of a departure and a harbinger of new projects to come.
Each spread in my pop-up book offers something new and exciting through illustrated 3-D pop-ups that are representative of meticulous research and knowledge of historic art and design. In addition to using my own collection of books for research and inspiration, I spent a great deal of time at the library at the Cooper Hewitt Museum perusing their vast collection of illustrated pop-up books dating from the 13th century, and I have always had good luck finding unique images at the New York Public Library's Picture Collection.
The official websites of venues that I featured in the book were most helpful. www.metmuseum.org; www.nycballet.com; www.amnh.org; www.ndm.si.edu/; www.rockefellercenter.com; www.radiocity.com; and www.nybg.org
Chuck Fischer is a New York City artist whose paintings hang in some of the finest residences in the world. Many of his designs are in the permanent collection of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum. He is the author of two previous pop-up books, The White House and Great American Houses and Gardens.
Visit Chuck in his virtual New York studio.
You can also become a fan on the Angels Facebook Page.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 10, 2009
This is a beautiful book that I assumed was for kids. I was so wrong! Although children will be fascinated by the 14 pages of pop-ups and pullouts adults will be too. Chuck Fisher is the artist and designer who created this book. It also includes 65 color illustrations and 60 photos that show various Christmas scenes from different time periods around the world. There are also booklets that describe traditions and customs from several countries. One explained the story of St. Nick and how he evolved into Santa Claus. The major changes to Santa came through the 1800s and early 1900s when different artists depicted the image in different ways. The most recent changes that are recognized in our modern culture came from a Cocoa-Cola campaign in the 1930s. Who knew?
I've already looked at this several times and I keep finding new things. I may share this with the children in the family but I'm keeping it for myself! Thank you so much to Anysia at Booklorn - Books I Have Known and Hatchette Books for the contest that provided me with the 5 Christmas books that included this one.
I've already looked at this several times and I keep finding new things. I may share this with the children in the family but I'm keeping it for myself! Thank you so much to Anysia at Booklorn - Books I Have Known and Hatchette Books for the contest that provided me with the 5 Christmas books that included this one.
January 9, 2011
I thought this would be just a pretty pop-up book and was pleasantly surprised to find it was so much more. The images are just stunning, but what really makes "Christmas Around the World: A Pop-Up Book" so special is all the added information about holiday trends worldwide. One learns about such topics as the history of St. Nicholas, La Befana (the Christmas witch, in Italy, who comes for Epiphany), and the reason the French are known as the most-generous gift givers. Fischer also includes tidbits about the U.S.: I had no idea, for example, that our Santa Claus didn't always have the red suit he's so known for today, until Thomas Nast and Coca-Cola helped popularize the image. My only complaint would be that Scandinavia and Latin America merit only one side each of a pullout tab. I think Scandinavia in particular, where Christmas lasts for six weeks, deserves its own two-page spread.
March 18, 2025
Despite being so short, this book is chock-full of information in the form of tiny booklets and flyers embedded among the richly illustrated and intricate pop-up illustrations. Lots of history on decorations, traditions, variations of Santa Claus, gift-giving and more throughout European countries. This just makes me want to go experience the Christmas season in every one of them.
December 3, 2024
A very cool book with pop ups and booklets describing Christmas Traditions around the world. The text in these booklets is quite small , but informative. Nice artwork. Kids might not appreciate the booklets, but the pop ups are neat.
December 23, 2025
Remarkable book. Lots of info but the font is tiny and can be very hard to read. It’s really an adult book as children will have a very hard time caring about history of Christmas around the world.
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November 27, 2008What a wonderful book! Guaranteed to entertain all ages!
Jackie
Jackie
May 2, 2010
A beautiful keepsake book- full of nooks and pop-up artistry illustrating Christmas traditions and lore around the globe.
December 10, 2011
A beautiful book for children and adults. I loved the pop up pictures and learned about international Christmas traditions that I had not known. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews