Making Books That Fly, Fold, Wrap, Hide, Pop Up, Twist, And Turn: Books for Kids to Make [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-An interesting, unusual collection of crafts. Diehn explains that books are containers for messages, information, or ideas, and suggests that there are many shapes they may take. She gives general and specific ideas for making nontraditional books: those for carrying messages, for celebrating and marking occasions, for recording memories and thoughts, and for storing photographs or sketches. Throughout, sidebars provide information on the history of books. Materials needed are listed, and detailed step-by-step directions are provided. When an awl or Exacto knife is required, adult assistance is suggested. Some of the projects are complex, but clear line drawings accompany the instructions and full-color photographs show the finished products. What is wonderful about this title is the author's ability to interest and convince readers that they, too, can become creators. Children will use this title to make books for fun or assignments. Teachers can find ways to incorporate it into their history, science, or math curriculum. Great ideas for inspiring projects.
Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-8. Students familiar with Ed Young's Mouse Match (1997) may be looking for information on how to create their own accordion-folded books. Diehn's latest title is just the ticket. It will also be a valuable resource for classroom teachers and students who need information on the history of books or ideas for creative ways to present their writing or record memories. An introductory section describes how to set up a work space, lists materials, and offers suggestions for displaying text and illustrating books. Clear directions and diagrams and attractive full-color photographs of completed projects will make it easy for readers to duplicate 18 different folded, wrapped, and pop-up books. Historical fact boxes provide a surprising amount of book lore. Unfamiliar terms are defined in the text, and Diehn also supplies a glossary. Chris Sherman

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Sterling; 1st edition (December 31, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579900232
• ISBN-13: 978-1579900236
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #216,576 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super introduction to bookmaking, May 14, 1998

By A Customer

As stated in the title, this is a book for kids but has some pretty neat ideas. The book begins with an introduction touching on the question "what is a book?" with lots to think about. Such as pg 6 - "Can you call it a book if it's big enough to walk through? How about a book that is small enough to be carried in a little pouch that hangs from your belt? Have you ever seen a book made up of five kites, each with part of a poem written on it? Or a book that looks like a window shade, with each page working like one of the slats?..."

Then there are sections on How to Use this Book, Tools and Materials, Setting Up a Book Center, Writing Your Message, and Illustrating. The book project sections are: * Books that Carry Messages across Space and Time (accordian fold with pockets, stabbounds, coptic binding and foldouts, origami, and others). * Books that Celebrate and Mark Things (Japanese ledger binding, scroll books, "pamphlet-bound notebook in a polaire", "pop-ups in a glue book"). * Books that Save Words, Ideas and Pictures ("accordian-folded, with small pamphlet-bound inserts", "Tetratetraflexagon journal that unfolds in two mysterious ways", ring binding, secret compartments and others). * Books that Help Us Think and Make Sense of Experiences (Dos a Dos books, accordians cut into three sections, hardcover/three signature book, stab binding with split pages, lotus book).

Interspersed throughout are water color pics of neat old books and various book history bits. Super reading.

Though written for kids, the book doesn't talk down to readers but rather encourages them to go ahead and try making a book. I'm really looking forward to putting together some of the projects, which are not in the least juvenile.

Oh, did I mention the book is hardcover with a vinyl spine so you can see through it to the mull and stitching? Neato!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A kid again, May 19, 2003

By	Zoe (SW, New Mexico) - See all my reviews

While this book is written for young people, these projects can easily translate into adult projects. The book includes some fundamental book making but also takes you, step-by-step, to more complex design, stitchery and concepts as you go from chapter to chapter. The coptic stitch is woven into pages 28-30 so subtly that you may not immediately realize its intricacy. What is fascinating about Books that Fly is its imagination and introduction to the wonder of books. It takes the reader on a magic tour of books.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun book, September 4, 2003

By	P. Strickland (PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was written for younger readers, but I will find it very useful for my rubberstamping projects. I was glad to find easy to follow instructions for many kinds of books all in one book. Now I won't have to search through my magazines and printouts to find instructions for a project.

The books are fun and easy to do, but the results are impressive.