Chuck Fischer

When I first opened this gorgeous volume, I thought that it was a special book for an older child--someone who would understand how to treasure such a piece of art. However, upon closer inspection, I realize this is no children's book. This is for adults who can properly appreciate not only the artwork--which is breathtaking--but also value the art history included. For centuries, the book of Genesis has been told by artists through their work. Copies of those masterpieces are used to show more illustrate the text, giving the reader much more than they would expect from a pop-up book.

Details are amazing. The Tower of Babel measures 16" in height. Jacob's dream is like a stained glass window (inside a book!). Hold it up to the light for a breath-catching treat. There's a time line of Joseph's life.

More than a children's book, I can see this as a special gift for an art history enthusiast, a lover of the Bible, or as a coffee table volume. What a conversation piece! show less

This gorgeous pop-up book is guaranteed to thrill you even if you don’t have the slightest belief in Seraphim, Cherubim, Principalities, or any of the rest of the nine angelic orders.

According to St. Thomas of Aquinas in Summa Theologica, angels are intellectual creatures of pure spirit, i.e., they are completely incorporeal. Nevertheless, he concedes that from time to time they assume bodies just to perform some specific service for God.

This book highlights the visual representations of show more these incorporeal beings and tells something of the history of how they came to look the way they do in art and literature.

It is important to understand that, at least according to St. Thomas of Aquinas, an angel is not a dead human; angels are as different from humans as animals are from us. They are endowed with a power and intellect not proper to man. Thus the angels are not humans, and humans can never become angels. So how do we know what they might look like? Why do we depict them with wings, for example? Fischer tackles these questions and more in the surprisingly comprehensive written material.

The book is divided into three sections: Messengers, A Hierarchy of Angels, and Secular Angels. Next to the large central pop-up section on each page, small booklets to either side give explanations for what you are seeing, drawn from cultures and religions around the world.

But you don’t even need to read a thing to enjoy this book. I could sit and turn the pages for hours, just to partake in the pop-up confections. And you definitely don’t need to believe in angels. You just need an appreciation of art, culture, and design, and the magical wonder of elaborate pop-ups.

Evaluation: If you need a lovely present to give someone for Christmas this year, I don’t think you can go wrong with this book! You might want to protect it from your resident wild things, however, whether human or beast. show less

I always loved pop up books when I was younger. They were 'special' books, kept on a separate shelf. I still love them today and Angels by Chuck Fischer is destined for a separate shelf as well. An adult shelf though, this one's not for kids to play with!

Angels or celestial spirits appear in many languages and traditional religions including Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Angels covers the history and origins of angels including biblical, secular, arts and music, the zodiac and much show more more.

Fischer has created absolutely gorgeous artwork and paper engineer Bruce Foster has taken that art and produced some of the most intricate pop ups I've ever seen. The colours are rich as is the detail. But it's not just pop ups, it's pull outs and fold outs too, little booklets within the book. I tried to take a picture to show you one of the pop ups, but it just didn't do it justice. My favourite was of the archangel Gabriel. The text is a fascinating collection of historical fact and lore relating to angels.

Turning each page is like unwrapping a present. You really have to stop and savour each page and look at all the detail. Although I must admit, the first thing I did was open every pop up and then I went back to read each page! This would make a phenomenal Christmas gift that could be enjoyed over and over again throughout the year. show less

This pop-up book takes my breath away! It is not for children but rather is to be used as a family keepsake, to be passed down from generation to generation. This is a collector’s gift, a work of art. Each two-page spread tells the history and traditions of Christmas from around the world. There are hidden surprises like pullouts and mini booklets that are filled with information.

The reader learns about Father Christmas, Boxing Day, and plum pudding in England, along with some authentic show more Victorian illustrations. The first nativity scene, presecio, or creche came from Italy, along with La Bafana, the Christmas Witch. From Germany came the Advent Calendar, the legend of Tannenbaum or Christmas tree, and Saint Nicholas. From France comes reveillon, a feast--late-night after midnight mass, Pere Noel, and pictures of the City of Lights, Paris, at Christmas. From Russia came the real Saint Nicholas and Baboushka. We learn that Scandinavia is where the Festival of Light continues. The decorations and the history of Santa are found in the pages about North America. Included in the back of the book is a box that pulls out and contains a Santa and sleigh that can pop together and be used as a stand-alone decoration!

A fantastic book to own or to give! show less