AboutMaryAnn F. Kohl Expertise I am an expert in anything about art for children, but not crafts. I have written over ten books of art ideas for kids, using materials found commonly in most homes. I like easy ideas!
maryann@brightring.com
MaryAnn F. Kohl, author
Experience began writing in 1985 after teaching elementary aged kids for ten years
Question A colleague showed me how to make a great, simple "book" out of four pieces of paper and a pair of scissors. I am looking for written directions (with figures to show each step) for this neat staple-less, tape-less, glue-less book. All the 8 1/2" x 11" sheets are folded in half (so the dimensions are now 8 1/2" x 5 1/2". Two of the sheets are cut on the top and bottom of the folds; the other sheets are cut on the fold in the middle. (So the cuts are the opposite on each.) Then half the sheets are bent to fit inside the cut in the middle, reopened, and voila you have a book! Are you familiar with this particular book? Do you know where I can find instructions for making it? (It is so difficult to write clear, concise directions--so I appreciate you may not understand my description!) I am hoping you are familiar with this easy book making project...Thanks! Disa (I am doing a workshop for folks who work with family child care home providers on literacy and writing and will show the participants how to make these books, but would like to be able to give them written instructions to take with them...)
Answer FOLLOWUP
Hi, Disa. I found the book you are talking about, I think. Though it seems it's a bit more complicated than the one you mention...so it might be a different one. It is called "Flexagon"...that is, a folding book without glue etc. http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/jbrubbergeom.htm
Here is one listing I found...click on "jacob's ladder book".
Do some more Google searches for flexagon books and I bet you find the one you need.
I also found a book on Amazon that tells how to make Flexagon books...
The Gallery is a showcase for handmade books about particular school subjects, created in class by students. With detailed photos of book covers and inside pages, they offer an up-close look at what kids can achieve when they see themselves as authors, illustrators and book designers. Each Gallery page also serves as an example of how different teachers have used bookmaking in their classrooms. Enjoy clicking!
Kids’ Book Gallery: Flexagons
A flexagon is a fiendish, folded book structure, made from one piece of paper, that turns and opens in various ways to reveal hidden pages (something like a Jacob’s Ladder, only made with paper). Kids love the book’s element of surprise, and teachers love the creative energy that students lavish on these little books.
It sometimes takes a few tries before kids get the hang of folding, cutting and assembling a flexagon. But then comes the fun of deciding what to do with it: What kind of text and artwork are a good match for a book that conceals and then reveals secrets? The work of these fifth graders shows incredible variety.
One flexagon celebrates different holidays, with pictures and titles on one face of the book, and tiny, detailed descriptions on the next face.
Another flexagon captures a student’s many favorites. It opens with drawings and descriptions of such activities as surfing (Since I have great balance my parents said I should try surfing), drawing, skateboarding (My parents said I can skateboard if I can surf) and writing poetry. Other faces list favorites jokes, books, musical groups, movies, holidays, animals and more.
One student used his flexagon to capture his feelings about books:
I love all kinds of books. Especially ones that are wacky and fun. Especially this book, a flexagon. It’s a book that with some scissors, tape, and your lovely little fingers, it loads of fun!
Another boy showcased his passion for animals by pairing three-word poems with beautifully detailed, colored-pencil drawings. He included tree dwellers (The monkeys screech, The lemurs swing), jungle cats (The tiger pounces, The panthers spy, The lions roar), birds (The eagles soar, The owls watch) and five others.
As with many handmade books, there’s some calculation and planning to be done before students begin writing and drawing. Students must ask themselves: If there are four faces, each with six squares for content, how many panels are there altogether? Do I want to fill all 24 panels? Do I want to separate illustration and text? Do I want to vary the position text and art occupy on each face?
Such design questions give kids a considerable artistic “stake” in their work. And the result is often more thoughtful, painstaking and imaginative artwork and writing.
Here are other Gallery pages you can visit:
• Kids' Book Gallery: Ant Books
• Kids' Book Gallery: Frame Books
• Kids' Book Gallery: Guess Who? Books
• Kids' Book Gallery: Necklace Books
• Kids' Book Gallery: Pop-Up Life-Cycle Books
• Kids' Book Gallery: Pocket Fact Books
• Kids' Book Gallery: Pyramid Books
• Kids' Book Gallery: Rosa Parks Books
• Kids' Book Gallery: Storybook Theater Books
• Kids' Book Gallery: San Francisco Books
• Kids' Book Gallery: Skeleton Books
• Kids' Book Gallery: Tiny Poetry Books
To make inquiries or arrange bookmaking sessions, please contact Cathy Miranker at (415) 565-0545 or by email.
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Sorry, Disa, I've never seen this project.
Wish I could offer some assistance...but I'm coming up empty.
Because I'm more "process art" oriented than "craft" oriented, I don't always have much information on projects that follow directions or have templates, but this sounds like a great base on which process art could take place.
I'll poke around and little and see if I can find anything for you. If I do, I'll write back to you immediately. But don't hold your hat!
Do some internet searches with words like "book template kids", and similar words. It might just pop up for you.
