SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Pearl's & Ruby's
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

December 15, 2007 by Travis Jonker

Book Review: Gallop! A Scanimation Picture Book

December 15, 2007 by Travis Jonker   14 comments

Gallop! A Scanimation Picture Book
By Rufus Butler Seder
Workman Publishing
ISBN 9780761147633
$12.95
Grades PreK-1
In Stores

*Best New Books*

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The second entry in Webster’s New World Dictionary for the word “gimmick” reads as follows:

“An attention-getting device or feature, typically superficial, designed to promote the success of a product, campaign, etc.”

This definition makes me wonder, “what constitutes a children’s literature gimmick?” Does anything besides the words printed on the page fall into the category of “attention-getting device”? A shiny cover? Flashing lights? What about pop-up books? Those are just one giant gimmick, right?

“Ahhem!” (The sound of someone clearing their throat)

“Excuse me…”

Wait. What’s that? Call me crazy, but I think I hear the voice of famous paper engineer Robert Sabuda…

Robert: Pop-up books are not a “gimmick”, my friend.

Scope Notes: Well, I think I agree, but why?

Robert: Because their gimmick defines their genre.

Scope Notes: Come again?

Robert: Let me break it down for you: the pictures pop up, hence the name pop-up books. Do you see a genre called “shiny cover books”?

Scope Notes: I think I’m getting it. If the “attention-getting device” in question is really, really cool, that does the trick.

Robert: No. A gimmick transcends its label when it moves beyond acting as a superficial add-on. It must become an integral part of the story.

Scope Notes: Okay, I think I have it. Thanks, Robert!

The gimmick in “Gallop! A Scanimation Picture Book” truly transcends. A perfect marriage of story and execution. Scanimation is a technology that makes pictures appear as if they were moving; a poor man’s animation, if you will. Each page of the simple text asks the reader a new question about movement: “Can you gallop like a horse?”, “Can you swim like a turtle?”, and so on. Meanwhile, a Scanimation panel shows the reader each animal, fluidly moving in their own distinctive way as the page is turned. Indeed, “Gallop!” wouldn’t be as effective without this remarkable device. Sure to be a winner with youngsters far and wide, and a great choice for a holiday gift.

The third entry in Webster’s New World Dictionary for the word “gimmick” reads as follows:

“any clever little gadget or ruse”

I think from now on I’ll refer to this entry when discussing “Gallop!”, and leave the gimmickry stuff out of the conversation. It just doesn’t apply here.

Also Reviewed By: Readia: Children’s Book Reviews, Wizards Wireless, Edmund’s Saltmines

Find this book at your local library with WorldCat

Filed under: *Best New Books*, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

A Fuse #8 Production

Remember (the) Maine: A Stroll Around Kittybunkport with Scott Rothman

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

5 Unlimited Access Digital Comics to Boost K–8 Reading | Sponsored 

by Brigid Alverson

Heavy Medal

Nine More Titles: May Mock Newbery 2026 Suggestion Titles

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Politics in Practice

When Book Bans are a Form of Discrimination, What is the Path to Justice?

by John Chrastka

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Read Rec Rachel: Books to Rec and Read for Recc-ers and Readers Dealing with Burnout

by Rachel Strolle

The Yarn

‘The best poem is the one that starts with ‘and”: Mk Smith Despres Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

SLJ Reviews VidieGoGo: A "Video Book" from Wonderscape

36 Great New Titles, Plus Fiction Series Made Simple | Starred Reviews, May 2025

5 Small but Mighty Early Reader Fiction Series

35 Picture Book Fiction Series Perfect for Comfort and Discovery

23 Audiobooks to Inspire Hope in Kids, Tweens, and Teens | Audio Reviews

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Wizards Wireless says

    December 16, 2007 at 7:26 pm

    It’s lovely to see another opinion about this book. And I agree… while the Scanimation is gimmicky, I think it’s a well done, and effective gimmick. And thanks for linking to my post… I didn’t even realize it was a review!

  2. Martha Evengio says

    December 16, 2007 at 7:33 pm

    The first book to contain this type of animation is
    Magic Moving Images – Animated Optical Illusions. (May, 2007)

    A video of the book in action can be seen on youtube.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5W5JJXtqhw

    It has 26 animations of different subjects (3D, Animals, Geometric, Objects etc.) and is less that half the price of Gallop!.

    The book is aimed at all children’s age groups and adults.

    Available to buy through Amazon
    Isbn: 1899618740

    Martha.

  3. tod Hodkins says

    December 16, 2007 at 7:46 pm

    Magic Moving Images is king of this type of animated book.
    I bought it way back in June and everyone I showed it to love it!

    It’s more hands on (you move the acetate to control the animation) but it works really well and the animation is smooth and very realistic.

    I don’t think I would buy Gallop because of the simplistic text.

    Search for the Magic Moving Images book video on You Tube to see the amazing illusion in action!

  4. Scope Notes says

    December 16, 2007 at 10:30 pm

    Tod and Martha,
    Thanks for bringing “Magic Moving Images” into the discussion. I watched the YouTube video you spoke of – it shows “Magic Moving Images” as kind of a DIY version of the Scanimation technology found in “Gallop!”. Very cool stuff.

  5. Wizards Wireless says

    December 19, 2007 at 10:53 am

    Thanks so much for the information about “Magic Moving Images.” I’ve now seen both books (and actually have compared them side by side)… and have to say that I like Gallop better. Magic Moving Images does have a wider array of pictures… but you have to actually cut the acetate out of the book to get it to work, which essentially destroys the book. Also, you could easily lose the acetate, which makes the book difficult for libraries to circulate. And Magic Moving Images is a cheap paperback that won’t hold up through multiple uses, unlike Gallop which is nicely bound and can withstand treatment by young kids.

    The interesting thing about Gallop is that it uses the natural movement of the reader turning pages to make the Scanimation work seamlessly. You don’t see what’s behind it… you just see the magic. I’d recommend Magic Moving Images for someone who really wants to see how Scanimation works, but for everyone else, I’d recommend Gallop.

  6. Scope Notes says

    December 19, 2007 at 1:05 pm

    Good point. I like how you took library circulation into consideration. M.M.I. would be more for home use or individual use, where Gallop! could be added to a library collection for kids and hold up (at least for a while!).
    Really, these two books serve different purposes. Gallop! is a great story with a thrilling gimmick, where M.M.I. gives you a behind the scenes look at the gimmick itself. Both are great at what they were intended for.

  7. Dick Tready says

    January 2, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    Magic Moving Images is for the optical illusion enthusiast / connoisseur, Gallop is aimed squarely at kids. The workings of M.M.I is excellent for trying out the effect and seeing different results by holding and moving the acetate at different angles. You can’t do this with the other book as its all set and bound to a specific page movement.

    My preference is for Magic Moving Images for its ‘hands on’ approach and tons of different subject matters. (gallop has only a few animations)

Trackbacks

  1. Don’t Stop Believin’: NYT Bestsellers « 100 Scope Notes says:
    June 30, 2008 at 2:43 am

    […] GALLOP!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder. (Workman, $12.95.) Animals seem to move when you flip the page. (Ages 4 to 8) […]

  2. Bestsellers: The New York Times has a Time Machine? « 100 Scope Notes says:
    August 22, 2008 at 3:10 am

    […] Best new book (back in December), Gallop! retains the top spot yet again. Another B.N.B., “Madam President”, makes it into the top five at number four. Splat the Cat rounds out the list. […]

  3. Book Fairs & Bestsellers « 100 Scope Notes says:
    October 20, 2008 at 3:03 am

    […] top spot as celebrity author dislikers let out a collective “B.A.C.A. Off!“. Gallop (100 Scope Notes review) takes the #2 slot as its sequel, “Swing”, is released. “Bats at the […]

  4. Try Scanimation « 100 Scope Notes says:
    February 25, 2009 at 2:04 am

    […] the amazing Scanimation technology that brings the best-selling children’s books Gallop! (100 Scope Notes Review) and Swing! to life? Have you been looking for a way to fill approximately one minute today? […]

  5. Link Du Jour: What’s Sellin’ « 100 Scope Notes says:
    April 5, 2009 at 2:04 am

    […] (no doubt revitalized by it’s recent 40th annaversary press) sits at #4, while Gallop! (100 Scope Notes Review) refuses to give up the lime after 72 weeks on the […]

  6. Sunday Link Du Jour: Bought Books « 100 Scope Notes says:
    May 31, 2009 at 3:06 am

    […] The Curious Garden makes an appearance, which I approve of (100 Scope Notes Review), and Gallop! (100 Scope Notes Review) continues to make itself comfortable, kicking its feet up on the top five coffee […]

  7. Non-conventional Inspiration « B2B Fishbowl says:
    July 20, 2009 at 7:50 pm

    […] So, I suggest you remove the horse blinders on your business-to-business projects and look in all directions for inspiration and ideas. Here is one that caught my attention lately. […]

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books 2024
    • 2024 Stars So Far
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Pearls & Rubys
    • Politics in Practice
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • Reasons to Love Libraries
    • 2025 Youth Media Awards
    • Defending the Canon:SLJ & NCTE Review 15 Banned Classics
    • Refreshing the Canon Booklist
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Read Free Poster
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2025


    COPYRIGHT © 2025