Robert Sabuda, an extraordinary paper engineer, has created several dazzling pop-up books, including Cookie Count and The Christmas Alphabet. In this exuberant collaboration with author Nancy Williams, his paper constructions virtually explode into life. The seven principles of Kwanzaa (from unity to faith) are introduced with the African words and pronunciations, accompanied by bright illustrations of African American children and family groups. Each spread includes a pop-up holiday element such as candles in a special candleholder or the mkeka, a colorful place mat to hold theKwanzaa symbols. One pop-up is a gift box with a lid that opens to show a tiny doll inside! ("Each child receives zawadi (zah-WAH-dee), or gifts, from our parents. These are for promises kept during the year.") And, on the last page you can open and close the book slightly to make a little boy"s trombone slide and a girl"s hands wave. Though this book will not withstand much use by young children alone, it would be fine for an adult to read to children. A delightful visual celebration of Kwanzaa. (Ages 3 to 8) --Marcie Bovetz