I have been looking to get a copy of a book I remember from Elementary
school. Here are all the details that I can remember about the book:
The book was likely printed around 1991 (I believe that it was a new
book when I was in third grade, dating it right around the early 90's.
The book was very unique in that each page was cut up into panels.
Each page had a different painting on in, and since each painting was
cut up into three panels, you could flip each panel independently of
the others. Each painting was made to match the others, so when the
panels were flipped, the painting would still look complete. For
instance, one of the paintings was a group of 6 swans, when you
flipped the panel of the heads of the swans to reveal the next
painting underneath, the swans heads would become trees.

I've gone to children's librarians and tried to find the book, but no
luck. I've tried to search the Internet, but I don't know exactly what
to look for.
It was an amazing children's book, and I would love to find it again.
Sorry that's it's difficult to explain, I hope someone can help me
out.

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Request for Question Clarification by juggler-ga on 01 Oct 2004 20:27 PDT

I've located a children's book published in 1991 that would seem to
match your description (i.e., pages cut into panels that can be
flipped independently to make different pictures).

"Hound Bee!" (1991), illustrated By Robert J. Kaufman et al.

From Alibris.com:
"Hound Bee!
Horizontally split pages permit the reader to mix and match images to
create funny situations. "
http://www.alibris.com/search/search.cfm?qwork=2997979&wtit=hound%20bee&matches=4&qsort=r


However, a number of similar books have published throuhout the years.
One popular title is "Magical Changes" (1980) by Graham Oakley.  That
book is also similar to what you've described, but is clearly not your
book as the pages have two levels rather than three.
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=199170444
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0689307322/

Because similar books exist, I can't be 100% sure that "Hound Bee!" is
the exact book you have in mind. However, the year is consistent your
memory of the book being new in 1991.

Let me know what you think.

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Request for Question Clarification by juggler-ga on 01 Oct 2004 20:38 PDT

sorry for that typo:

"...a number of similar books have published THROUGHOUT the years."

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Request for Question Clarification by juggler-ga on 01 Oct 2004 20:47 PDT

"...been published..."  

(sorry again)

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Clarification of Question by t3rryruth-ga on 01 Oct 2004 21:22 PDT

I think the book I am thinking of is "Magical Changes." I was hoping
to find a picture of the original cover to verify it, but I only found
a picture of the rereleased version "512" cover. But, I believe that
it's the right book. It must have only been split into two, not three
panels (sometimes my memory does not serve me as well as I would
like). It's just a shame that the book is so expensive. Such is life.
But I think you answered my question. What a relief, it's been bugging
me for years.

Hi.

Okay, we'll have "Magical Changes" by Graham Oakley the official answer.

Available at half.com for $20
http://half.ebay.com/cat/buy/prod.cgi?cpid=2773350

Available at Alibris starting at $38.94
http://www.alibris.com/search/search.cfm?qwork=2677346

--
search strategy:
I first came upon "Magical Changes" by searching for the word "horizontal"
in the rec.arts.books.childrens newsgroup on Google Groups:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&c2coff=1&selm=83jnof%24r4h%241%40nnrp1.deja.com

Thanks!

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Clarification of Answer by juggler-ga on 01 Oct 2004 21:53 PDT

Gee, I'm really making a lot of typos tonight...

"Okay, we'll make..."

Quick response. Exactly what I was looking for (and I'm even happier
that I can get the book for 20$)

Thank you for the tip.
-juggler