Home-School-Horizons

Making books with children in my homeschool is one of the most enjoyable pastimes I know. It creates a language-rich environment, encourages better reading skills and fires the imagination. It also gives parents and children a shared time of special memories.

When making books with children keep it simple and use easy-to-find materials. Both save on frustration and ensure a fun time. Here are instructions for my three favorite books. These generic books can be used in many different ways and for any subject or topic.

Directions

Supplies list

• Construction paper
• Ream of copy paper
• Card stock (contact a local print shop for great paper scraps)
• Index cards (small and medium size)
• Crayons
• Colored pencils (nice but not essential)
• Scissors (the kind for little hands)
• Glue sticks (this kind is better while glue for making books)
• Leftover wrapping paper
• Wallpaper sample book (they give away the outdated ones if you ask)
• Paper punch
• Cardboard (thin is better for books)
• Yarn, ribbon, string

Take a sheet of 8-1/2 x 11 copy paper. Fold in half and in half again, so there are four boxes when unfolded. Cut along the fold lines so there are four small sheets and stack. Cut two pieces of construction paper slightly larger than the sheets add to sheets and punch two holes on one edge. Thread with ribbon, yarn or string.

Larger book

This is just a variation on the small book. Take 8-1/2 x 11 sheets, as many as needed, stack, create cover slightly larger than sheets, staple or punch and thread with yarn, ribbon, etc. Add sheets as needed to make a longer book.

Accordion book

Cut two 8-1/2 x 11 sheets in half the long way. Glue strips end-for-end. Fold the (now) one, long strip back and forth accordion-style to make the pages. Cut two pieces of poster board slightly larger than the folded paper. Glue a piece to each end of the paper strip so that by holding the two pieces of poster board the book opens and closes like an accordion.

Variations

Use wallpaper for the cover. Make a label for the title and glue onto wallpaper cover.

A cardboard cover can have wrapping paper glued on inside back and front. These are called endpapers. Look at picture books with endpapers, discuss.

Vary the colors of paper for inside pages, use stickers, markers to decorate.

Kinds of Books to Make

Alphabet book--make 26-page book and put letter (upper and lower case) in the upper right corner. Collect pictures of things that start with each letter.

All About Me Book--make a book that has your child's picture, family members names and pictures, his age, height (take time to show him how to measure), weight (show him how scales work), favorite food (help him make a list), favorite books, etc.

Other All about books--this is a way to supplement lessons. Pick a topic you are studying. Farm animals can follow units on food, pets could teach about caring for others, photos of your town can underscore a lesson on community, and wild animals can illustrate facts about different countries. Cut pictures out of magazines or catalogs for illustrations.

Story Book--when you have finished an Aesop's fable, rhyme or short story, have your child narrate the story. He can dictate the story and draw pictures. The accordion book works quite well for this.

My Sight Word Book--make a small book with ten or twelve pages. Each day ask your child what special word they would like to put in this book today. Print one word only on each page. Ask your child to point to the word and say it. Then ask you child to say the letters of the word (you might need to demonstrate) and then say the word. As the book grows have the child read his book to another family member.

Publishing your child

Every author wants his or her work published. Your child is no exception. In this case, though, publishing means sharing his books with others and having a shelf where his books are stored, as in a library. Be sure to include this as part of the joy of making books with your child.