Bookmaking

(International Reading Association's Method for Making Books)

Pam Petty's Educational Homepage

Email 

Materials needed:  wallpaper, 14" x 16 1/2" (or so); 
2 pieces of matboard or stiff cardboard, 6" x 9";
construction paper, 12" x 8 1/2" (or 9");
3 sheets white paper, 8 1/2" x 11";
masking tape, school glue, scissors, 
unwaxed dental floss (or regular thread), needle 

Step 1:  Tape the two boards together horizontally,  
leaving a 1/2" gap between the boards. 

Step 2:  Going from top to bottom, use making tape to bind the 
boards together vertically.  

Step 3:  Flip the book over and continue to bind with masking tape until 
you have made two complete layers of tape.  

Step 4:  Apply glue evenly to the back side of the wallpaper.  To prevent puckering
you may want to use your fingers or a craft stick to spread the glue smoothly on the wallpaper.

Step 5:  After you have placed the boards on the glued wallpaper, fold in each
corner as shown in photograph above.

Step 6:  Continue to fold in the corners, pressing them smoothly in place.

Step 7:  After all corners are firmly glued in place, begin to fold in
side sections of the wallpaper.  

Step 8:  After all sides have been pressed into place, 
continue to smooth all edges apply more glue if needed to ensure 
that all edges will hold.

Step 9:  Cut construction paper to size (12" x 8 1/2" or so - you can trim later if you need to).
Fold the construction paper in half.  (NOTE: You can write your book 
BEFORE you put it together or AFTER -  if you are applying computer graphics, you 
will need to have your book finished before you sew it together.) 
Take the three pieces of paper and fold them in half.  
Put the paper in the fold of the construction paper and make sure all edges are even.

Step:  10 - Using unwaxed dental floss or regular thread, sew the white pages
to the construction paper making sure to keep all the edges of the white paper even.

Example 1:  This is the seam of a finished book.  

Step 11:  After you have sewn the white pages to the construction paper, 
you are ready to apply glue to the BACK side of the construction paper.
This glue should also be applied evenly and smoothly, going all the way out to the 
edges of the construction paper.  

Step 12:  After glue is applied to the back side of the construction paper, 
press it firmly in the CENTER of the wallpaper covered boards.

Step 13:  Make sure you have the construction paper in the center of the 
boards and that all edges are smoothly glued in place.  Try closing the book
and looking for gaps or wrinkles.  While the glue is wet you can still 
reposition the construction paper.

Example 2:  Finished product should have a title on the outside of the book.

Example 3:  View of tile page and inside of front cover.  
The title page should include the title and author's name.

Example 4:  On the back side of the tile page (left side of book as it 
is opened in this photo), you should have the name of the publishing company 
(your last name Publishing Company), the publication date, and the city and state where published.  
The story begins on the facing page (right side of book as it appears in this photo). 

Example 5:  Each page of the book has text and illustrations.  
There are no blank pages in the book.  

Criteria to Consider as you Develop Your Book:

TIPS:

1.  Places that sell wallpaper will usually give old sample books to teachers.  

2.  Shelf paper or liner is suitable if is is thick and durable.  You will still need to apply glue.

3.  You can use different colors of paper instead of white.  

4.  You can computer generate the text, but be careful to make a "mock" copy before you 
     begin as printing double-sided can be complicated.  

5.  If you handwrite your text, be very careful that your letters are very clear and easy to read.

6.  Make sure your text does not run "uphill" or "downhill."  

7.  A great idea would be to make a "me book" to share with your future students as a way
     of introducing yourself, or you can write on any topic that is of interest to you and 
     appropriate for you to share with young students.    

LINKS to Internet sites that feature other information on bookmaking:

 

Making Books (http://www.makingbooks.com/projects.html)  This site provides information and diagrams for making children's books.

 

Book and Bookmaking (http://www.comptons.com/encyclopedia/ARTICLES/0025/00254208_A.html) This site gives great information on the history of bookmaking. Many interesting facts and illustrations. older students would benefit from exposure to this site prior to making their own books - provides for a richer experience and appreciation of books.

 

Bookmaking: A Simple Pamphlet (http://gort.ucsd.edu/preseduc/bookmkg.htm) This site provides a one-page example of bookmaking.

 

Bookmaking: A Bibliography (http://www.inkspirations.com/bookmaking.html) This site provides resources for bookmaking. Many suggested books go beyond classroom use, but might be of interest to educators for their own personal pursuits.

Teacher Resource Books that Facilitate Bookmaking:

  Books Don't Have to Be Flat! : Innovative Ways to Publish Students' Writing in Every Curriculum Area
                     by Kathy Pike, Jean Mumper
                     Paperback - 96 pages (June 1998)
                     Scholastic Trade; ISBN: 0590120492

Making Books Across the Curriculum : Pop Ups, Flaps, Shapes, Wheels and Many More
by Natalie Walsh, Carmen Sorvillo (Illustrator)

How to Make Pop-Ups
by Joan Irvine, Barbara Reid (Illustrator)

How to Make Holiday Pop-Ups
by Joan Irvine, Linda Hendry (Illustrator)

75 Creative Ways to Publish Students' Writing
by Cherlyn Sunflower

Email Pam Petty with any questions or comments.  

ENJOY!  

05/12/2004 05:35:04 PM