Craft for Kids: Book Arts!

Artist Felicia Rice‘s work explores how to draw the viewer into a story contained within the pages of a book. Artist books must be handled in order to be fully experienced, and can contain many different forms of media! This activity teaches us about one of the most versatile artist book styles – the accordion book.

Watch the video below to learn all about the incredible craft of book arts & Felicia’s work, while keeping an eye out for the treasure hunt clues. Then, get creative telling your own story with the activity below!

Treasure Hunt: Watch closely! Check off these visual clues as you find them in the video.

  • Leopard print in a book

  • Pink armchair

  • Purple ink

  • A doctor’s stethoscope

  • A face on a metal plate

—————

Hands-on Activity: Make your own accordion book!

Materials:

  • Blank paper – any type or size will do.

  • Scissors

  • Glue or tape

  • Any art supplies you have – crayons, pencils, markers, etc.

  • Cardstock or cardboard – cut out cereal boxes work too!

  • Decorative scrap or wrapping paper (optional)

  • Decorative materials – stickers, feathers, fabric, sequins, etc. (optional)
An example of an accordion book
Craft at Home: Accordion Book
Material needed
Gather your materials

How to: 

1 . Cut (or fold and tear) a piece of paper in half lengthwise to make two long, skinny rectangles.

2 . Fold each piece of paper in half widthwise.

3 . Fold the top flap in half again, with the bottom edge of the paper meeting the first top crease.

4 . Flip over the paper and do the same fold. Your paper should now look like a W.

Cut (or fold and tear) a piece of paper in half lengthwise to make two long, skinny rectangles.
Cut (or fold and tear) a piece of paper in half lengthwise to make two long, skinny rectangles.
Fold each piece of paper in half widthwise.
Fold each piece of paper in half widthwise.
Fold the top flap in half again, with the bottom edge of the paper meeting the first top crease.
Fold the top flap in half again, with the bottom edge of the paper meeting the first top crease.
Flip over the paper and do the same fold. Your paper should now look like a W.
Flip over the paper and do the same fold. Your paper should now look like a W.

5 . Repeat this with the other rectangle of paper so that you have 2 Ws. (You can begin with more sheets of paper, and make more Ws for an even longer book!)

6 . Glue your Ws together to make an accordion (or use tape if you don’t have glue). If you are using a thick type of paper, you might want to use a heavy object like a book to press down on top of it for a few minutes.

Repeat this with the other rectangle of paper so that you have 2 Ws. (You can begin with more sheets of paper, and make more Ws for an even longer book!)
Repeat this with the other rectangle of paper so that you have 2 Ws. (You can begin with more sheets of paper, and make more Ws for an even longer book!)
Glue your Ws together to make an accordion (or use tape if you don’t have glue). If you are using a thick type of paper, you might want to use a heavy object like a book to press down on top of it for a few minutes.
Glue your Ws together to make an accordion (or use tape if you don’t have glue). If you are using a thick type of paper, you might want to use a heavy object like a book to press down on top of it for a few minutes.

7 . To make your book cover, take two pieces of cardboard or cardstock (you can cut up cereal boxes too!) and cut them to the same size as the accordion. 

8 . Take your decorative or scrap wrapping paper and cut two pieces a little larger than the cardboard, about an inch or two bigger on each side.

9 . Glue your cardboard in the center of the scrap or wrapping paper, decorative side out. Clip the corners of the paper, then fold and glue in the excess paper on the sides.  Repeat for each cover.

10 . Glue the covers to each end of the accordion. You might need to press the book under something heavy again for a few minutes.

To make your book cover, take two pieces of cardboard or cardstock (you can cut up cereal boxes too!) and cut them to the same size as the accordion.
To make your book cover, take two pieces of cardboard or cardstock (you can cut up cereal boxes too!) and cut them to the same size as the accordion.
Take your decorative or scrap wrapping paper and cut two pieces a little larger than the cardboard, about an inch or two bigger on each side.
Take your decorative or scrap wrapping paper and cut two pieces a little larger than the cardboard, about an inch or two bigger on each side.
Glue your cardboard in the center of the scrap or wrapping paper, decorative side out.
Glue your cardboard in the center of the scrap or wrapping paper, decorative side out.
Clip the corners of the paper, then fold and glue in the excess paper on the sides.
Clip the corners of the paper, then fold and glue in the excess paper on the sides.
Repeat for each cover.
Repeat for each cover.
Glue the covers to each end of the accordion. You might need to press the book under something heavy again for a few minutes.
Glue the covers to each end of the accordion. You might need to press the book under something heavy again for a few minutes.

You’re all set! Now you can decorate your beautiful book however you decide! You can add decorations to your cover, like ribbon, glitter, feathers, rhinestones, or anything else you can think of. You can use the pages of the accordion to tell a story, create drawings, collect pictures…the possibilities are endless! Be as creative or as colorful as you want, and have fun!

Happy Crafting!
Happy Crafting!