making books

- - "Amy [Amanda] my lazy sister is thirteen years old. She talks on the phone for an hour or two at a time. She has her own room and it is a mess. She always keeps it messy. When she goes places with her friends she always dresses nice and leaves her clothes on the floor."

- - "When Calvin was about to climb up the swing, he saw something. A turkey! Then he showed the turkey how to do flips. They were both wearing clown ties."

- - "Then he went home. Then he played soccer. Then he went home. Then he ate corn on the cob. Then he played soccer again"

Excerpts from my three favorite books - My Lazy Sister by my sister written many years ago when she was 8; a collection called Stories By Calvin, written by Calvin two years ago; and Mr. Soccerball, written by Ezra just this summer (the sequel for that one is in progress at the moment-I can't wait). These books are so very dear to me - I read them over and over and over and smile, and I will most assuredly treasure them forever. These were the first, but there are piles of these books now - in various stages of completion - among our things.

I keep a supply of these simple little handmade books accessible and at the ready for when the kids' book-writing inspiration strikes. The construction - on my end - is basic - heavy card stock folded in half, with 10-20 pages or lightweight paper on the inside pages, all stapled together on the fold. I started making them this way after receiving some similarly made and loved books from the Grecos. They're quick and easy, and yet, an absolute favorite thing for the kids to work on.

Our bookmaking has been fueled in recent weeks by the arrival of two wonderful bookmaking books.The first - How to Make Books: Fold, Cut and Stitch Your Way to a One-of-a-Kind Book is a guide to basic bookmaking, containing step-by-step instructions on a variety of methods. It's got me itching to take the needle and thread to some paper. Calvin's often asked about the construction of books, and this has given me lots of answers on the different ways it can be done. Though I think it's really geared towards an adult reader, the kids have been really interested in what's inside it too - I see some fun collaborations happening.

The second book that's being fought over explored daily around here is The Book Book, by Sophie Benini Pietromarchi. This book is really hard to explain - it's such eye candy and poetry and instruction and inspiration all rolled into one. It's written for children and covers not only the how of bookmaking, but the what to include in your book - characters, themes, ideas for inspiration. Really really good stuff, and put together so creatively. It's got everyone around here thinking differently about our bookmaking - and including things like fabrics, found objects, and food (!). The Book Book is published by Tara Publishing - a small and amazing (I'm in love with nearly their whole catalog now) independent publisher out of India. In addition to Amazon, it's also available on the their website here (where there's free worldwide shipping and screen printed gift wrap - ah! - before the holidays), and of course - also available by request from your local independent bookstore. 

Ah...new fresh inspiration for the little and big writers / illustrators / poets / bookmakers in the house. We're going to have fun with these...

Comments

[Ali]

I love seeing all those little books together. I tend to be a collector of those sorts of things + I bet that simon would really like to have access...love the idea of encouraging him to "make" a book.

[Viv]

Wow, what a time capsule your sister's book is, eh? What a great idea to have all the book-making supplies together and ready! My daughter loves to make books - her latest is a Tintin story of her making (She's obsessed with Tintin currently, at 4 years of age!). Thanks for that idea and as always, for the inspiration.

[sarah]

How funny we are on the same kick around here lately. Gryphon's been working on a book called "Arania" It's an imaginary world that he's had going for a few years now and he said the other day that he needed to write it down so he doesn't forget when he's older *sob*

I like your idea of having the little books ready to go. Mind if I steal it?

[Mefuza]

thanks for sharing.
i checked out tara publishers and their concept is unique. i am going to browse some more. thanks for the link. i have found many great blogs and links from your posts - asante sana [thank you]

[Eren]

I absolutely think! Ian and Zane wrote their first little books this past summer, but maybe it is time to encourage a holiday chapter or two. Thanks for the inspiration this morning.

[Mary]

Brave woman, sharing what your sister thought of you back in the day! Seriously, though, what great mementos to have.

[heather]

what treasures, amanda. we are pretty big on having projects gathered and ready to go as the child initiates, very montessori. this inspires me greatly, thank you. find a couple of tid bits of our writing journey in the two links below. i can't wait to incorporate your families idea of a book making "work" choice in our home. wonderful!
letter writing...
http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/homeschool/2007/11/our-learning-ap.html
writing workshop...
http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/homeschool/2007/10/if-you-were-to-.html

have a love a lovely weekend!

[julia]

how fun! i saw the how to make books book in your sidebar, and was intrigued- looks great. making my own books was one of my favorite activities in elementary school. i wrote a whole series about two friends named charles and kate and all their adventures. ahh- you're inspiring me to dig them out and reread them. thank you for sharing this with us, and with your children- what a wonderful experience for them (and us)

[Sarah]

My girls also wrote a number of books when they were younger. They read them over and over, and I believe the books helped them gain reading confidence. Susan Gaylord has a website and newsletter about making books with children. Every month an email comes with fun seasonal bookmaking ideas: http://www.makingbooks.com Here are some books my girls made: http://maymomvt.blogspot.com/2007/08/making-books.html

[sue]

Thanks-so-much-for-this-post,Amanda!
Perfect-timing-for-us-who-are-trying-to
inspire-the-'author-illustrator'-in-all-of-us!

Have-a-great-weekend!:)

[kristin]

i could spend hours at your kids new bookmaking station - perhaps i'll start with one of those little beige books and that chunky twig pencil and see what happens from there, is the coffee on? :)

what a super creative little nook. we too absolutely love bookmaking around here in all its forms. just last week i was given back about a half a yard of buckram that i had left behind in a closet at my parents house after college (along with some other stray items of mine they found)... just holding the material again had me itching to get to making something bookish.

thanks for those book links too, they look so interesting! i hope to get a chance to check them out.

happy bookbinding soules!

[Katie]

Did i write that one? I sounds like something i would write - I didn't like that you had your own room and the three of us shared one! Whose plan was that anyways?! ;-)

[amanda]

Katie - Ha!! It wasn't you - Michelle. But remember that I lost that room after six months because it was always messy!

[lera]

My boys like to make books, too. As an alternative, you can buy some very cool blank books: http://www.barebooks.com/ They have comic books, BOARD books (very cool), spiral-bound, etc. They are fun.

[annette]

You're on a roll, Amanda. What a slew of wonderful and inspiring posts lately! Thank you! I too have been encouraging book making since Sebastian was small, and have a treasured shelf of results to make me laugh and remember...

[Melissa]

My son has been writing a book this year to encourage both his storytelling skills and his love of art. It involves pirates (all of his stories do) and a penguin and a hamburger man as main characters. I am getting such a kick out of it ;o)

[Anne]

I love these little books; I still have one that I made as a child called the Minky Man - my Dad was so proud of it he saved it and now I cherish it.

[Cath]

Amanda, I so love reading your blog! I could hardly wait this morning, after 6 plus hours of teething pain and non-stop nursing with my 14 month old, to read your latest. It both inspires and excites me for what lies ahead with my wee chickadee! Thank you so much. Cath

[mary]

My girls have had the same book obsession lately. I was thinking of making up a bunch of little books for them just like those. I love watching them work on the illustrations and then the stories, the best stories in the world. What a great little writing station you have created.

[amy]

i have been doing this with my students for years- they are little treasures
We had a fiber artist come and stay with our class for a season and it was amazing...making prints and sewing books and exploring words
my fave
A little shop in my town sells small blank hardbacks and I adore them

[Heather]

Hey Amanda,
I am a little behind in writing about your "acorn" post the other day. Thanks for the info on the farmhouse. My mom always gives my 2 1/2 yr old nice gifts for Christmas and this could be one for this year.

Also, someone asked about paints for the wooden pieces. I don't have suggestions for that BUT a great way to decorate wooden peices is with a "wood burning tool" ***not for children!!!*** But mom or dad could decorate the pieces with the tool. No varnish is needed and it gives a really nice "down to earth quality". I have decorated a wooden "treasure box" for a little friend of mine, many many wooden eggs, wooden pin people, and Christmas ornaments with this handy tool. A Wood Buring Tool is definitely up there with my glue gun...yes, really.

Thanks for all the great ideas! Love your blog!
....from a "neighbor" in Vermont!

[kat nicholas]

i absolutely love the sometimes backwards, sometimes forward "E"s. And the multiple lines, as opposed to the standard three, on the E and the F - priceless. There's some great creativity brewing there. . .

[Meredith from Merchant Ships]

thank you for this simple--yet limitless-nudge to creativity. I can hardly get to the card stock drawer fast enough.

Why hadn't I thought of this already?

[Mama Manuscripts]

Such fun!!

[Susanna]

You are such a great mama!!

[Jade]

My little ones are too young to write a book but I love the idea. Maybe we'll do a picture book! Thanks once again for the great ideas.

[camerashymomma]

oh goodness, thanks for all these links. i have been making my son a book of his own since his birth. these are great links for him now to start his very own (with my penmanship until he learns writing) but i am a huge fan of documenting the storyteller in him... thank you, thank you for this!

[Kelly]

love the book making station - what an inspiring idea!

[amanda]

Oooh, I love this. Thanks for the links, too!

[Jean]

Oh, how those E's make me smile. My oldest made hers the same way. My kids are forever making books. The subjects change, but never the intensity that goes into their creations.
They are all so great to read and look back on.
Thanks for another fun post.

[jek]

oh yay! this is so so so wonderful! i just taught a bookmaking with kids workshop to educators and professionals and was astounded to hear that not one of them had ever made a book before! yikes! books made by children are simply the best! love, LOVE, love what you share, thank you!

[SOULEMAMA]

Heather - a woodburner!! Oh my gosh - you just gave me just the idea I needed for a holiday gift for a certain 7 year old. To be used strictly with adult help, of course. But he's going to FLIP over that thing. I remember playing with mine so very much as a kid. Loved it. Thanks for the reminder!

[Meredith]

Lovely ideas, mine are making little books and writing BIG books all the time, I too enjoy havig ready made baskets and supplies available to juice their creativity! Thanks for sharing yours here :)

[simply]

We are story tellers at aour home...our children also have a book inspiration area...they are in to writing comics as of now and that always makes for a good read :o)

~simply stork~

[Amy]

I remember when I was young a little girl that always had a fancy journal that she was filling with her stories. Her mom always kept her well-supplied. Now with journals even available at the dollar stores, this is something I would love to do for my kids. Thank you for this fabulous idea!!

[jess]

bookmaking is great fun! you should check out rebecca goodale, an amazing local maine book artist and teacher. http://www.usm.maine.edu/art/facultystaff/goodale.html i highly recomend her class called illuminated autobiagraphy. a life changing class.

[jen t]

i thought i was done with my holiday shopping for the kids, but i MUST get the book book! i love your sister's story about you, sounds like you were just like almost every 13 year old girl i've know, myself included.

[Renee]

love the daily gifts you give your children. how wonderful to have paper and pencils on hand to use whenever inspiration strikes.
i have taken some old, damage board books and recycled them by gessoing the inside and pasting various papers over the pages to give to my daughter to create in. she loves to help with the prep work for the books as well.
thank you for your blog.

[michelle]

Thank you for sharing resources. Ironically I just posted my 8 year old's Thanksgiving story he wrote on my blog last night and I would love to be able to bind the pages in something more permanent then the loose pages he wrote it on.

=)

[m]

I still have the first book that was "all written and illustrated by..." me when I was six: 'Horse Stories'. I pull it out every so often. I'm so glad I kept it.

I love the idea of having a book making area and can't wait for my son to be old enough to start this sort of thing. You have so many good ideas! Just where to house them all in a wee little home?

[Poppins]

Wonderful little book caddy! A great idea that I may just steal, er, borrow.

Just today we each started a tag book that's a Christmas ABC.

[Gina]

Thanks for this post!
One of my daughters has become very serious about writing a book. She has even went as far as asking if I would submit it to a publisher for her. She carries her notebook around, filling it with her stories. The thing that makes me so excited over this strong interest is she struggles to read. And for a long time she wanted nothing to do with books, if I wasn't the one reading them to her. She has went to therapy for a eye and brain miscommunication problem. In the same family as dyslexia. I will be definitely getting those books for her. Thanks again!!

[brandie]

okay, so much to say here. love everything about this post. need to get myself a book making corner asap! totally going to copy your whole idea. ordered how to make books for the shop and you are totally right, it is so amazing.
you're the best, really.

[SOULEMAMA]

Gina - have you thought about making a Blurb book with her? Or Lulu.com? You could self-publish her book and only need pay for as many copies as you want (between $12 and $30). It could be such a rewarding project for her!
The kids and I have been working on a Blurb book this fall. They're REALLY excited about it.

m - sorry! I hope I didn't insinuate we had a whole book making CORNER! ;) It's just the caddy. On their drawing table, in the corner of our dining room. "wee" house here, too. I prefer to think 'cozy'! ;)

Renee - that idea is BRILLIANT! I'm tempted to run for the Gesso and unused board books right now. Thank you!!

[Lynn in Tucson]

Lovely! I've kept empty notebooks around since my daughter was little (like, two years ago) so she's always had a place for spontaneous writing. This morning she was working on song lyrics before she left for school.

Are you familiar with
http://www.makingbookswithchildren.blogspot.com/
Her projects and book structures are worth exploring, as is
http://www.amazon.com/Making-Books-That-Fold-Twist/dp/1579903266
The latter has lots of nature components in it, if memory serves.

[Andrea]

Very cute idea! But I have a question...what are the "storebought" spiral bound notebooks for in the caddy in the first picture?

I see the stapled books that you mentioned, but I can't decide what the others are for!d

Thanks, love the idea!

[Katherine]

My mum still has some of the books I made when I was little, I love looking at them. I bought a very basic bookbinding kit when on holiday in Skye a couple of years ago (from www.laurawest.com although the kit isn't on the site) and keep meaning to do a course.

[Lissilulu]

oh amanda! you dont know how timely this post is for me.
we are on an almost non existent budget this year for Christmas and I have several bookwriters in my home.
I will get some pretty card stock for the olders, bright colors and stickers for the youngers and make books for one of their presents.
i love my collection of books also.
only bad thing is the author taking it to read and losing it. hmmmmm.
have a great day!
lori

[Toni]

Wonderful inspiration here, Amanda! I'm so going to make the little books for Noah. He has been making them on his own lately, but I think having some ready to go will only be further inspiration for him! And I love how you have a writing station set up. I'm very much into that kind of thing--small corners of tools and supplies ready to go. That's why every crafty girl dreams of her own studio, right? (I read a book once about that very thing, stations throughout your house for writing, art, music, reading etc..) Thank you for sharing so much of yourself and your family. xo.

[jenni s-g]

Your book making box is a great idea! We're getting into making simple books too. And the stories are just as spectacular. Thanks for sharing!