Books have always had the power to transport us to larger-than-life worlds, but the Los Angeles Public Library has taken that concept to a breathtaking, record-breaking new level. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Richard J. Riordan Central Library, visitors were treated to an awe-inspiring spectacle: an 1,800-pound paper marvel that has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest pop-up book ever created.
Titled Luceros y Penumbras, this monumental work of art is so massive that it requires the strength of multiple people just to turn a single page. When fully unfolded, the oversized spreads span an astonishing 31 feet by 20 feet, with intricate pop-up elements soaring more than 11 feet into the air.
The idea for this magical endeavor was born out of a desire to celebrate a major milestone in a spectacular way. "When we saw that the Centennial of Central Library was coming up, we thought this would be a perfect moment to make this official attempt at breaking this world record," shared Todd Lerew, the Director of Special Projects for the Library Foundation of Los Angeles.
To bring the project’s visual narrative to life, the library enlisted Daniel González, a Los Angeles-based graphic artist and printmaker. Drawing from his family's history in Teúl, Mexico, and his own formative childhood memories as a constant visitor to the Central Library, González crafted deeply personal imagery using linoleum relief printmaking. The pages beautifully weave together a rich tapestry of local history and personal heritage. One spread features the library building rising from a field of stars—a sweet tribute to the stories his grandmother used to share. The book also honors the region's indigenous roots, showcasing the historic Aliso Tree, a traditional gathering place, alongside a sea turtle that alludes to the origin story of the Tongva people.
For González, the colossal project was a heartfelt way to give back to an institution that profoundly shaped his youth. "I hope that by experiencing this art, people have the same experience that I had as a young person when I approached the library," he reflected. "I kind of walked away in awe, and it inspired the curiosity to kind of also see beyond yourself, and maybe consider other people and how they experience the world."
Translating such beautiful two-dimensional artwork into a massive, three-dimensional structure required the unique expertise of Matthew Reinhart, a children's book author and paper engineer. Accustomed to creating standard-sized pop-ups in his studio, Reinhart eagerly embraced the monumental challenge. "There was always a part of me that knew that I would work on something large scale, but this was beyond what I had ever imagined," he noted, explaining how he meticulously chopped up the digitized art to apply to his giant mechanical templates.
The physical fabrication of the book fell into the hands of Greg Young and the team at Goodnight & Co., who faced the daunting task of building a giant, movable structure using only traditional book materials like paper, glue, and fabric. The building process was a puzzle of epic proportions. The team had to build giant presses to stop wet glued paper from warping and carefully protect the edges of the heavy corrugated cardboard to keep it from crushing under its own weight. To solve the problem of binding, they even relied on the expertise of a team member who used to travel with a circus to design the massive fabric hinges.
Because turning a 15-foot-wide page takes considerably more effort than your average children's book, opening the exhibit safely was a thrilling engineering feat in itself. Builders utilized wooden poles with cushioned ends, guided by a forklift and a team of pushers, to carefully flip the heavy pages. Young playfully described the slightly terrifying but exhilarating experience of watching the giant pages flip, comparing the massive moving structure to "a tidal wave coming at you."
Despite all the hurdles, seeing the giant tree and buildings finally pop up brought immense joy and a profound sense of accomplishment to everyone involved. Beyond the Guinness World Record, the complex engineering, and the stunning artwork, the true heart of Luceros y Penumbras remains deeply rooted in community inspiration.
As Young beautifully summed up the massive undertaking, "Ultimately, why we did this is to share the love of reading with kids in Los Angeles." By transforming local history and humble paper into a spectacular work of art, the Los Angeles Public Library has created an unforgettable reminder that within the pages of a book, absolutely anything is possible.
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