Bookmaking Resources for Children and Educators
When children create books, they employ a vast array of skills and practices that are applied with purposeful goals of communication. In such activity, learning and development occur in a holistic fashion that integrates language arts (especially reading and writing, speaking and listening) with fine art, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), as well as social and emotional development.
- When making books, children count, measure, fold, cut, and glue materials.
- They develop motor skills and manual dexterity using the tools and materials for book-making.
- They learn about sequence and following procedures as they work step-by-step to create different book structures.
- They learn about design and how design relates to function and aesthetics.
- And when they compose—write and illustrate—they develop language and literacy and fine art skills, as well as potentially developing science, social studies, health and other content related knowledge.
This is why the Austin Book Arts Center considers making books to be an educational super-tool!
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¡Let’s Make Books/Hagamos Libros!
In order to reach an even wider audience, ABAC launched a campaign in the spring of 2021 to produce Spanish/English videos and dual-language instructional pamphlets for students and educators, grades K-8th. As a companion to the videos, ABAC provided a free Bookmaking Kit to each of Austin ISD’s 120 elementary and middle school art teachers. These kits are composed of common materials, making them easy to replicate in classrooms and at home.
ABAC wishes to thank the following for making ¡Let’s Make Books/Hagamos Libros! possible: Teachers–Marga Silvestre and Linda Anderson, Mary Baughman, Xander Clark, Feral Design Studio, Jesse Gainer, Mark Hall, Amy Rivera Kent, Paul Kretchmer, Tocker Foundation, all donors to ABAC’s 2021 Amplify Austin campaign, and all ABAC volunteers!
Links to the Spanish/English videos and dual-language instructional pamphlets (for download) are available below. Pamphlets include step-by-step instructions, a list of common tools needed, and a list of materials required to complete the projects.
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Level 1 (K-2nd Grade)
LEVEL 1 PAMPHLET BOOK
The Level 1 Pamphlet Book is a traditional looking book with a cover and pages that are sewn together. We see this simple structure as a staple for classrooms and homes because of its versatility and familiarity. We believe the pamphlet structure is ideal for making picture books, narratives, journals, poetry, and informational, or expository, books.
LEVEL 1 PAPER BAG BOOK
The Level 1 Paper Bag Book is made from paper bags like the kind often used for sack lunches. Because of the way the pages open with compartments, we think it makes an ideal collection book. However, we feel sure that children and others who make this book will come up with all kinds of ways this unique book structure will serve multiple purposes.
LEVEL 1 ACCORDION BOOK
The Level 1 Accordion Book is The accordion fold makes an ideal book to display illustrations and can be used for many different genres of writing such as narrative, graphic novels, expository, and poetry.
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Level 2 (3rd – 5th Grade)
Click here to download Level 2 Instructions
LEVEL 2 PAMPHLET BOOK
LEVEL 2 CARTONERA BOOK
LEVEL 2 ACCORDION BOOK
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Level 3 (6th – 8th Grade)
Click here to download Level 3 instructions.
LEVEL 3 COMMON ZINE
LEVEL 3 PANTS ZINE
LEVEL 3 ACCORDION ZINE WITH COVER
LEVEL 3 MAZE ZINE