Angels
By Chuck Fischer
Little, Brown and Company, $30.00, 18 pages
My two-year old boy is dying to get his hands on this. If he succeeds, this will be the worst day of his young life. While the back cover of Angels proudly proclaims “for all ages,” I think they meant “over two.” What an incredible, ornate, extravagant work of art is Chuck Fischer’s Angels! The paper engineering was done by Bruce Foster, who has his own website dedicated to the craft. I’m amazed at the level of sophistication with which these images were wrought. I don’t recall seeing a pop-up book this intricate when I was a young boy. I must say in complete honesty, this work is superlative. I can’t heap enough glowing praise on Chuck Fischer who did the artwork, Bruce Foster, who figured out how to fold it all neatly up into a pop-up that is smooth-flowing and easy to open, and to Curtis Flowers for the articulate, eloquent dissertations that give us the legends, myths and history of the Angels. What more perfect time of year to bring out this gem than at the holidays? This is a superb gift book, just not for my two-year old boy. Not this year.
Reviewed by John Cloutman
Listen to our interview with Chuck Fischer at http://www.sacramentobookreview.com/chuck_fischer.php
Yes, the book is gorgeous, well-planned and inviting. It is also inviting to ANY age. It is the perfect, loving opportunity to teach a young person how to look with one’s eyes and listen with one’s soul. If it is torn, what a wonderful opportunity to teach curiousity and learn how to reason the construction and repair. The tear can teach that life is fragile, to handle with care, yet make mistakes, be forgiven and continue on. A family together reading is the perfect setting to open many dialouges to not only feed one’s eyes, but one’s soul. Thanks Chuck for again enriching our world–making it a more beautiful place; to be enjoyed with vision and in spirit!