Hello and welcome to my review of Matthew Reinhart’s wonderful Harry Potter Pop-Up
Guide to Diagon Alley and Beyond. If you’re new to my channel, I’m a long-time book
collector who posts reviews of physically beautiful books to help you fill your shelves
with joy and I’d love you to subscribe and join me in the journey.
Although when you first open up this book it looks rather like a normal pop-up book,
you will first need to clear a space of about four feet long to be able to really enjoy
this masterpiece because it actually unfolds to create a 3D model of Diagon Alley on one
side, with Platform 9 ¾ and the Ministry of Magic on the other side.
Now, if you are waiting to get your own copy of this book, just be warned that I’m doing
a detailed review, because I don’t want for you to get spoiled as it’s a lot of
fun discovering the hidden pop-up details for yourself. And if you’re watching this
video because you want some help on how to put it together, I’ve added a how-to guide
at the end of the video because it’s actually quite a tricky process.
For the rest of you, sit back and enjoy the tour!
We start, most appropriately, with Harry and Hagrid entering Diagon Alley by tapping a
brick behind the Leaky Cauldron and the brick wall opening up an archway to reveal them.
Next we visit Flourish & Botts to buy our schoolbooks. There are many details to enjoy
such as a display of Guilderoy Lockhart books in the window, and various characters visiting
the shop.
Next we visit the Leaky Cauldron where we can see Harry staying on the first floor in
room 11 with Hedwig after he ran away from Privet Drive.
As we walk past Sugarplum’s take some time to enjoy all the tiny posters hidden down
dark alleyways and see if you recognise any shoppers.
Of course, we get to see some of the Weasley family popping in to visit Weasley’s Wizard
Wheezes.
Next, Buckbeak flies out of the Magical Menagerie and we get to see Ron and Hermione picking
up their familiars.
Gringott’s Bank is cleverly done. First of all we get to see Hagrid and harry visiting
the bank, as well as a the daring dragon escape. But then you can raise the bank to see into
the underground vaults.
Marcus Scarrs indelible tattoos leads us into Knockturn Alley with a few unsavory characters
loitering about.
At Borgin and Burkes antique shop we catch a glimpse of the Malfoys and take care to
avoid the dementor on the roof.
And if you can resist the temptations of the bones on sale at Dystyl Phaelanges, then we
can visit Ollivander’s Wand Showroom and test out his wares.
Now we venture further afield on the other side of the diorama where we can take a quick
trip on the Knight Bus
before we check out Platform 9 ¾ and see who’s travelling on the Hogwarts Express.
Our final destination on this tour is the Ministry of Magic, where we can spy on a few
staff hard at work before we watch some deadly battles in progress.
And last but not least, deep within the Ministry is the Department of Mysteries, which is witness
to a battle between the Deatheaters and Dumbledore’s Army.
Oh – and before I forget – there is even a secret compartment with little paper characters
you can pull out to place in the scenes.
Truly, this is one of the most spectacular pop-ups I own. I did find out after ordering
my copy that there is also a slipcased edition, which I think would be an even better option
because it would be a bit more protective than the plastic covering I have for my copy.
And last but not least, as promised, here are some instructions to help you put it all
together. The book does come with a page of instructions, but it’s quite fiddly so you
might find these visuals helpful.
First of all, you have to unhook the two paper tabs on top of the books from their slots.
Then turn the book upside down and unhook the four paper tabs on the bottom.
Carefully open up the Platform 9 ¾ spread with the train and unhook the two tabs holding
these pages in place as well. This will allow the platform to unfold out of the book.
Now you can start top open the diorama up. Gently pull out the train scene outward and
down until it sits flat on the surface. This step is a little tricky, so I’ll show it
from two different viewpoints. You can also unhook and fold out the knight bus next to
the Hogwarts Express.
Now you want to hold the covers together and gently pull the book out flat by holding both
ends. You should be able to arrange it with three spreads showing Diagon Alley on one
side, and Platform 9 ¾ with the Ministry of Magic on the other side.
The final step is just giving everything a bit more stability. There’s a paper tab
in the upper right corner of the Ministry of magic spread covered in green bricks that
fits into a long slot behind Flourish and Botts to secure the cover.
Then we have a paper tab behind Gringotts that goes behind the Ministry of Magic, and
two tabs behind Ollivanders that slot into Platform 9 ¾.
Packing it all back up again is just a matter of reversing these actions, but I’ll just
show the replacement of the train scene again because again, that’s one of the actions
you have to be quite careful of.
Well, thanks for watching, I hope you enjoyed the tour! Matthew Reinhart really is a paper
engineering genius and even though it’s a very expensive pop-up book and I’m not
sure many people would have to space to display the diorama it’s just an amazing piece of
artwork and I highly recommend it.
‘Til next time Ciao.