The Nightmare Before Christmas: Pop-Up Advent Calendarby Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 10 I've never done an advent calendar before. I've seen them in movies and stories, and I find the idea charming; I've just never before seen one I felt like I needed to have. Until now. The Nightmare Before Christmas holds a special place in my heart for a multitude of reasons. I also like pop-up books, especially with little doors that need opening. So, this Pop-Up Advent Calendar was one I needed to get, and I can say without hesitation that anyone who considers themselves a fan of the movie enough to own even one piece of merch, should treat themselves to this. Plus, it will most certainly make the last month of 2020 a little less nightmarish.The book is 12.5 inches by 13 inches (that means when open it will take up 25 inches of space, so plan accordingly if you want it set out all month). It is a beautiful, high-quality, smooth-paper hardback binding. The front cover features Jack, Sally, and Zero around a Christmas tree (with a few jack-o-lantern ornaments), and a slew of presents below. It's a scene framed by a stone and metal gate wrapped in holiday lights and garland. The back cover features Lock, Shock, and Barrel with their tub, on the road out of Halloween Town (passing the edges of the same gate on the front). In the background are the spiral hill and a moon with Oogie's face on it. There's also a quote from Jack that is very fitting for this book. This is priced at $39.99, which is a very good deal for the quality. My husband commented at how surprised he was that it wasn't $10 to $20 more. It's really made to last, with the interior of the book and each "door" being made of sturdy chipboard. (The only way this could have been made cheaper would be to make the doors of a thinner material, and it would definitely not last as long then.) The book opens only in the center to reveal a 13-inch tall Christmas tree pop-up featuring jack-o-lantern ornaments. Do be careful closing it again, as the tree wants to slide into place somewhat slowly. The paper pattern used gives the tree some nice shape and depth, and there are little up-turns on boughs and branches to hang the advent calendar ornaments on. The interior is bound with the same paper as the cover, and is a stunning image featuring most of the notable smaller-role (but still fan-favorite) faces from the supporting cast of Halloween Town. Sadly, there is a lack of female characters -- Sally and the witches are just silhouettes in the background, the creature that lives in the fountain is nowhere to be seen even though the fountain is there, and the Corpse Family is not pictured either. There is room to have included more characters in the background (though it could arguably clutter the image which IS trying to show a large cast and the town landmarks). Sally is at least on an ornament, but I would have liked to have seen at least one of the female supporting cast in this image. There are 26 doors to open. One hides a booklet, 24 are advent ornaments, and one has the tree topper (numbered "25"). The booklet is 28 pages, divided into two sections. First is a walk-through of the story, complete with quotes sprinkled throughout and some movie stills. Second is a picture and blurb about each ornament (so if you want each day to be a surprise, don't look at this section until later!). The tree topper is not included in booklet's explanations, but it's such an iconic scene, it doesn't really need one. Some of these blurbs have factoids I didn't know (like the ages of Lock, Shock, and Barrel). The doors themselves are well hidden, letting you admire the artwork. Gold embossed numbers are on each door (except the booklet, which has a gold embossed open-book image); this allows you to see them without it being distracting. The doors have a crescent hole for a finger to wedge in and lift the door open. They are stuck fairly tight, given the chipboard and overall newness, so there is a satisfying papery creak when opening. There is extra depth on the inside to help protect the ornaments. The two doors directly under the tree (four and thirteen) are the ones you need to be the most careful opening, but there is plenty of clearance for most hands to open them without hitting the tree with your hand. The ornaments themselves are two-sided and full-color. The paper is a slick, high-quality cardstock, same as the pop-up tree. They are clearly a single piece folded in half to create two sides. In between the two layers that make up the sides is a gold thread that loops out so you can hang it on the tree. I was initially surprised to not see Santa, but there is Santa Jack; and there is a surprise character in place of Santa that is a funny addition that will make you laugh. The only ornament that really makes no sense to include is the Mayor-Mobile, and I can definitely think of a few characters they could have included instead (not the least of which is the Corpse Boy, mentioned as the friend of two other ornaments!). Use the booklet to remember who goes in what door when you're done (or mix it up for next year!). The coloring on the ornaments is lovely, with silver borders around the art so they stand out nicely against the green of the tree. Super plus: none of the paper used to bind this book or its interior pieces is the kind that shows fingerprints! The art is by Graham Erwin, and it is a good match that retains its own unique style. This is especially noticeable on the ornaments, separate as they are from the bigger picture. Also worth noting: Insight Editions, in association with Roots of Peace, will plant two trees for each tree used in manufacturing of this book. This is a stunning, interactive piece of art that fans can enjoy again and again! The promo art does not do this justice. I am thrilled to have it in my collection, and look forward to setting it up this December. Written: October 18, 2020
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