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Storybird - Read, write, discover, and share the books you'll always remember.

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Become a better writer with Storybird's creativity tools. Online courses, challenges, and reader feedback will help you improve your writing.

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Me Books App | Creating Stories Together

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A wonderland of children's books with rich immersive audio in one interactive storytelling app.

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How to make a book - two great ideas - saddle stitch and Japanese Stab bookbinding - There are lots of different ways to make books - with or without a needle and thread, but this week the kids wanted to have a go at making these 'notebooks' using some old cardboard we've had for a while.

And we ALWAYS have reams of paper, A4 copier paper - the kids really love to draw and write and this is a really nice way of combining an ancient craft of book binding, with their own creativity within.

The oldest child is still mad keen on drawing, whilst 12yo is allegedly writing a book - so hopefully he'll give up writing in his 'notes' on his iPhone, and revert back to good old pen and paper when we've finished making these books!

So, what you will need...
Paper Cotton thread Needle Ruler
Sharp pencil (for creating the holes in the card if you have no Brindle)

Needle Threader (non-essential, but believe me, this works on both ends of the spectrum - moody kids who struggle to thread a needle simply because they don't have the patience, and aged parent eyes - believe me, threading a needle really DOESN'T get easier as your eyes get older!)

So - we experimented with two types of book binding:

A) Saddle Stitch Easy Book Binding (see the dark blue book in the photograph)

1. For this book, you need four to six single sheets of paper, and one single sheet of card for the cover.

2. Fold all of the paper in half, so if it's an A4 sheet, fold down to make A5.

3. Take your first sheet, and mark approximately in the middle of the sheet, on the fold, and then two marks on either side of the centre - equal distance from the centre.

4. Push your bodkin (or sharp pencil) through these three holes.

5. Use this sheet as a template, lay on top of the next sheet, and push through the holes so that all of your sheets have three holes, in the same place.

6. Stitch by pushing your needle through the centre hole, to the back of the book, and back through the top hole, then through the centre hole and back through the lower hole, to the back of the book again.

7. Tie of tightly and you're finished!

B) Japanese Stab Easy Book Binding (the light blue book in the photograph)

1. For this book, you need six to eight single sheets of paper, and two single sheets of card for the covers.

2. Take a ruler and mark a 15mm margin, on the page. Mark 15mm from the top and bottom of this line. Then divide the distance between the two marks by three, and mark two additional points on the line...

3. Using bodkin (or again, a sharp pencil) push holes through the four points. Take care when you line up your 'pages' - again use that top page as a template for the other pages.

4. Hold the book securely as you thread your needle up through from the bottom, up through one of the centre holes. Hold on to the end of the thread.

5. Sew around the spine, and back through the same hole again from the bottom, out and down through the other centre hole. Pull the thread tight.

6. Around the spine again, down through the upper middle hole, and up through the top hole. Pull the thread tight.

7. Around the spine again...

8. Around the top of the spine and up through the top hole again. Pull the thread tight.

9. Keep going, DOWN through the upper middle hole, back UP the next hole and down through the bottom hole. Pull the thread tight.

10. Around the spine again!

11. Then around the bottom of the spine and back through the bottom hole. Pull tight.

12. To finish, pull tightly and double knot the end of the thread to the beginning of the thread, cut the remaining thread, however, leave at least 10mm or risk the knot coming loose...

So, if you are looking for more fun ideas to make and create, you may like to have a look at our air drying clay puppets that we made recently!

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Easy Book binding - two book-binding ideas ~ Incredibusy

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Book Binding - A fun way to make something NEW, the old fashioned way!

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Publishing their work for an audience helps children to write more purposefully. Bookmaking provides a motivating context within which children can bring together their developing understanding of what written language is like; making written language meaningful as they construct their own texts. The decisions that all writers have to take and the processes of redrafting, editing and punctuation can be demonstrated and discussed as teachers and children write together in shared writing.

Children should be encouraged to explore and experiment with the language of picture books by investigating different forms, for example interactive books with pop-ups and flaps, hardback books with dustjackets and e-books. The work and books of Paul Johnson (http://www.bookart.co.uk/) give a wealth of ideas for a range of book making projects for children.

Publishing their work for an audience helps children to write more purposefully. Bookmaking provides a motivating context within which children can bring together their developing understanding of what written language is like; making written language meaningful as they construct their own texts. The decisions that all writers have to take and the processes of redrafting, editing and punctuation can be demonstrated and discussed as teachers and children write together in shared writing.

Children should be encouraged to explore and experiment with the language of picture books by investigating different forms, for example interactive books with pop-ups and flaps, hardback books with dustjackets and e-books. The work and books of Paul Johnson (http://www.bookart.co.uk/) give a wealth of ideas for a range of book making projects for children.

Interactive elements
Children can add to the reader's engagement with the text and characters by having interactive elements within their picturebook such as flaps to lift, pages that open out, cut out parts and pop-ups. It is important that children try out and test their ideas to see how this will work for the reader before inserting into their finished book. This is as important as drafting, re-drafting and editing their writing.

Making dummy and finished books
Many authors will make a dummy book as part of their writing process. This is a small sized or full scale version, which gives the author a truer sense of the physical reality and experience of the finished book. Illustrations will often be roughs; sketches of spreads without huge detail or colour. Text boxes might appear instead of the full text. Making a dummy book is an essential part of the re-drafting process, after storyboarding ideas, as it allows the children a much greater idea of what the finished text will look like and how it works for the reader. There are many ways of making dummy and finished books to draft and publish children's own picturebooks.

Basic origami book
This can be made from either A3, A2 or larger paper. One sheet will make an eight page book. You can make multiple books and glue them together to make longer books.

How to make a basic origami book.pdf

A dustjacketed book
For this, you will need two sheets of at least A2 sized paper. You can make multiple sets of the inner pages and glue them together to make longer books.

How to make a dustjacketed book.pdf

How to make a Sewn Book by Paul Johnson.pdf

E-books
There are a now a number of sites that allow children to view and make e-books. A good e-book should not interrupt the flow of the narrative and should enhance the reader's experience of reading. Ed Vere's Bedtime for Monsters, one of the Power of Pictures texts, features on the Me Books app along with texts by Power of Pictures author David Lucas.

Through looking at what makes a quality e-book, in the same way as you would with a print book, children can also explore this as a publishing medium. There are apps and software available that are easily accessible and can support children in publishing in the e-book format.

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Publishing their work for an audience helps children to write more purposefully. Bookmaking provides a motivating context within which children can bring together their developing understanding of what written language is like; making written language meaningful as they construct their own texts.

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I usually don't get too excited about books that seem to have built in gimmicks, but I changed my mind when I recently discovered the del...

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Make a miniature book

Created by Shelagh McCarthy

These tiny books shown below measure 57mm high and 47mm wide - around the same length as a mouse's tail! They were part of the Infant's Library created more than 200 years ago.

Why are The Infant's Library books so small?

These books were designed to help children learn by reading to their dolls. The series starts with the alphabet and ends with books about animals, flowers, birds, games, outdoor scenes, objects and a (very!) Short History of England.

A small book for a small person

The very first work author Charlotte Brontë created was a miniature book containing a short story written for her baby sister Anne. Written and stitched together when Charlotte was just 12 years old, it was one of many tiny handmade books made by Charlotte and her siblings. The later books were made for and about the children's toy soldiers.

Books for a dolls' house

The book shown below is from the library of Queen Mary's Dolls' House. The little royal house has a garage with cars, baths with silver taps that really work, there's even real wine in tiny bottles in the cellar, and a gramophone with very small records that play the National Anthem. The dolls' house library contains nearly 600 books, handwritten by famous writers such as the author of Winnie-the-Pooh, A A Milne, and James Barrie, who wrote Peter Pan.

Take a look at these brilliant miniature books made by some of your favourite authors, from Jacqueline Wilson to Philip Ardagh, Axel Scheffler and Katherine Rundell.

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Make a miniature book | The British Library

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Make a miniature book Created by Shelagh McCarthy These tiny books shown below measure 57mm high and 47mm wide - around the same length as a mouse's tail! They were part of the Infant's Library created more than 200 years ago. These books were designed to help children learn by reading to their dolls.

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Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds.

1. One sheet of white paper. 12" X 18" is a good size to use. ...

2. Fold in half again. Fold in half again. ...

3. paper with lots of fold lines.

4. Fold in half in the middle- this time a "Hamburger Fold".

5. Make a mark with your pencil in the center of the folded sheet. ...

6. Unfold your sheet of paper.

How do I make a simple book?

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Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds. One sheet of white paper. 12" X 18" is a good size to use. ... Fold in half again. Fold in half again. ... paper with lots of fold lines. Fold in half in the middle- this time a "Hamburger Fold".

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How to make an Explosion Book/Squash Book

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Portraits can be a great way to encourage self expression in kids. This 3D portrait lesson is no exception. Use the free templates to make the logistics easy and get creative by adding any medium you choose!

3D Portrait template....

Print out the template below to use as a guide. You can trace these shapes onto any type of cardboard but we chose leftover cereal. Because I'm a bit of a supply hoarder we always have a supply of these and the cardboard is the perfect weight to cut easily and still stand up nicely.

You could assemble your 3D portrait immediately but it will be much easier if you paint it first. Trace the silhouette but leave the line down the middle for after your 3D portrait has been completely decorated.

Once your sculpture is assembled there is no flat surface to paint or draw on. Depending on the method you choose to add color this may or may not make a difference to you.

So many options...

This template is just the beginning. What really makes these 3D portraits unique is what you add to them. Think of how students can use color, words, texture, pattern, and images to tell a story. How can your students use these as a form of self expression. Are they a self portrait that's realistic or a more abstract exploration?

Paint, stamp, letter, or collage whatever your artist heart desires. Then line templates back up and cut one profile from the top and the other from the bottom. This cut down the middle of the shape is what will allow the two shapes to fit together.

Assembling your 3D portrait.....

Slide the two tabs together. We used a couple of tiny pieces of clear packing tape to make sure pieces were secure. Bottom flaps fold at a ninety degree angle. Where the two pieces of the bottom flaps overlap use another piece or two of packing tape to ensure the flaps stay and provide a secure base for the sculpture.

Want the 3D portrait templates....

Wanna do this project the easy way and know your portrait is going to fit together and stand up?!? Use the turquoise subscribe form below to sign up for my weekly newsletter. You'll also get a subscriber only password that gives you access to my Free Resource Library. This free template as well as dozens of other art and education printables can be found in easy to print PDF form!

If you enjoyed this 3D portrait lesson please consider sharing it on your favorite social media channel. Every single share helps me to bring you more fun projects and free printable resources!

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A 3D Portrait-Sculpture Lesson with a Free Printable Template - The Kitchen Table Classroom

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Portraits can be a great way to encourage self expression in kids. This 3D portrait lesson is no exception. Use the free templates to make the logistics easy and get creative by adding any medium you choose! Print out the template below to use as a guide.