Unfolding Dreams:
Grandma’s Bakery Pop-Up Workshop
Children explored the art and engineering of pop-up books through a playful, food-inspired paper workshop at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library.
Program Overview
ALT Alliance hosted the Unfolding Dreams: Grandma’s Bakery Pop-Up Workshop at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library. The program introduced children and families to the creative world of movable books, combining art, storytelling, and simple paper engineering in an accessible one-hour workshop.
Discovering the Magic of Pop-Up Books
The workshop began with a visual introduction to the more than 700-year history of movable and pop-up books. Participants learned how early paper mechanisms developed from educational tools into imaginative forms of artistic expression, while exploring techniques such as V-folds, parallel folds, pull tabs, and sliders.
Learning Through Hands-On Making
Following a step-by-step demonstration, participants assembled food-themed pop-up cards inspired by pizza, waffles, pies, lemon tarts, and birthday cakes. By cutting, folding, and attaching paper components, children experienced how flat printed materials could transform into three-dimensional scenes when opened.
Sharing the Finished Creations
At the end of the workshop, participants displayed their completed pop-up cards and shared their experiences with the group. Each child left with a handmade paper artwork that reflected both the structural principles of pop-up design and the joy of turning an everyday food theme into an imaginative miniature world.
