Bookmaking With Kids

This little sketch shows the bare bones of a Scenic Concertina, an appealing book form that invites kids to create a background illustration, add three characters and make up a story about what their characters are doing together in that setting.

The large fold on the left serves as a prop-up easel for the scenic backdrop; the little pleats (known as concertina or accordion folds) hold up the characters; and the flat panel on the right is where kids attach the pages of their story. This post is the first in a series chronicling all the steps it takes to transform a single sheet of paper (half a tabloid sheet, measuring 5½ x 17 inches) into a richly illustrated book about macaws of the Central and South American rain forest.

The 1st graders (students of my friend Debra at Lawton Alternative) began work just before spring break and continued through April with a goal of finishing in time for schoolwide activities in May devoted to endangered species.

Today’s post presents photos of the first two stages of the project.

• Step I: Draw and color elements of the rain forest as the book’s background illustration. The kids started by making a light pencil sketch on 5 x 4 inch card stock, filling into detail with crayons and markers.
• Step II: Fold the book structure, and glue the backdrop in place. You can download a template by clicking here. (Note that two are printed on one 11 x 17 inch sheet.) For instructions, click here.

Click to see more pix!