Book Design Ideas for the Young Author Program

Each year my grandson participates in the Young Author Program at his school. This is a writing contest sponsored by the Illinois Language and Literacy Council and the Illinois Reading Council. Children in grades K through eighth, who participate in the program write a story and present it in book form for judging on local, district and state levels. Each grade level has different requirements, but all must present their writing in book form with a back and front cover. My grandson, having never participated in the contest before, asked his teacher what type of material was required to create the book's cover. She told him that any type of material could be used, that some students even used a simple theme book.

After my grandson wrote his book, complete with hand drawn pictures, we discussed what materials to use for a book cover and how to make it. Poster board was one option, as well as construction paper. We thought of using painted cardboard or covering cardboard with a printed fabric related to what the story was about, Godzilla. Some other options we thought of using were a three-ringed binder or a folder. We also had to consider how we were going to attach the book's cover to the five written pages.

If a folder or notebook were not used, stapling the pages to the book's cover was one option, as well as using brads, glue or tape. We even considered punching holes through all the pages and cover, threading the yarn through them, and securing all with a knotted bow. If we used staples, we would need to hide them with something such as duct tape, which comes in many different colors.

My grandson decided to use colored poster board because it was sturdier than construction paper, and it allowed him to draw a picture and the title on the front cover. He stapled all the pieces together and then used masking or paper tape to bind the book back and hide the staples.

When we attended the local ceremony for the judging of the Young Author contest, we were able to see how other students constructed their books. Although some were fashioned in the same way as my grandson's book, a few were very different. Several children had purchased blank books and inserted their text and pictures on the blank pages. One child had their story in a book that was professionally bound, and yet another child covered their book in a piece of vinyl that had a jagged edge.

The children were able to show their creativity not only in their writing, but also in the book covers.

Source: illinoisreadingcouncil.org