Altered Books for Kids
Bored with board books {guest post}
I am welcoming again, my friend and fellow creative mom, Julie Lancaster, to this writing space today (you can tell it’s not me because of her first sentence ;))
I love spring cleaning. Anytime of the year. I jump for joy when the kids are ready for the next size of clothes: I like getting rid of stuff as much as the next person likes to get it.
This month, I’ve had my sight set on board books. The kids are getting older (7- and 4-years old), the corners of these square little books have been well loved and sucked-a-plenty, and frankly, they are just occupying space.
Busying myself with decluttering and the promise of repurposed space, I barely noticed that I was wearing only one slipper. (Who has time to find the other one?)
With my frenzy of reorganizing reaching full tilt, I spied my daughter, peacefully at the kitchen counter. Water-coloring. Engrossed in thoughtful color choice and carefully attentive to her work. She and I were on different planes.
Back in my frenzy, (how was I going to preserve all of the magnificent artwork that she creates in her life?) I had had an epiphany and it was too good not to share. I could combine the projects
Altered Board Books:
You’ll need:
- Board books that are no longer destined for greatness
- Water Color Paper
- Glue
- Paint or other art supplies to decorate the pages
What you do: Take your board book and paste cut squares of watercolor paper on each page. After adhered, invite your child to paint two pages. Once the paint dries, have your child dictate or write (depending on age) the scene. Each day they can paint two more pages (two at a time is best for drying properly) of their book. By the end, they have created an entire story!
With this, I allow myself to release the frenzy and just sit. They read their prized self-created stories to me. I delight in listening and they delight in reading. And their precious masterpieces are successfully saved; multitasking at its finest.
Guest Blogger, Julie Lancaster gardens, travels and creates with her husband and two creative kids. She has been published in Mothering Magazine and also leads an online Gardening Community on Facebook.
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I absolutely ADORE this, combination of my love for kids’ art and my love for children’s books. It is sooo true that sometimes they are no longer destined for greatness of reading, and they aren’t in great enough condition to donate or even sell at a yard sale. I wonder if the pages could be painted with magnetic or chalk paint too? Thanks!! I’m still getting up the courage to lovingly alter a children’s book, and I am greatly encouraged and inspired with ideas like this!!
How nice is your article and one day I will give it as an activity to my students in school to boost their creativeness in making an impressive things.
Wondering what kind of glue you used?
You know, it was a contributor who wrote this article, so I’m not certain of the type of glue, but I’m pretty sure it was just white school glue like Elmers – A coating of Mod Podge might do well too. If the pages are still pretty glossy you could rub them a little with steel wool so the glue has something to grab onto.
Hi, I just wanted to add that you can do this with the cardboard from cereal boxes, too. They will be thinner and easier to store. I would like to encourage people to donate their used board books to shelters, food banks, foster care associations, community organizations that provide services for people in lower income brackets, and etc. I know the books may look dogeared and used up to some, but they are expensive and many parents cannot afford any that are new. Having children’s books in the home, along with being read to, is one of the most important factors in children becoming successful readers. I would also encourage your children to make books to donate to other children. With large computer fonts, they can easily make up short stories and illustrate them. They can even use pictures of their own pets. Just cover the self-made books with contact paper or laminate them. My very best to you and I am glad I have discovered your blog. 🙂
To tag onto this amazing idea; the children could also glue/tape in family photos and then paint frames around them. Mom & child could have fun making theme or seasonal little photo books like “Family Halloween”, “Gramma’s Visit”, “2012 Christmas Morning”, etc. Gosh, I can’t wait to have grandkids! Wonderful, wonderful epiphany you had there:)
I think this is a brilliant idea. To pick up some used books at a yard sale and then turn them into a hand painted book written by the same child- the book becomes a priceless keepsake. Thanks for sharing the post Alissa.
I agree with Jenny, a well worn book can still be read and loved. Many people can’t afford to buy even used bargain books so please consider donating! Preschools, women’s centers, libraries, Reach Out and Read is an excellent program. Or post them FREE on craigslist!
while that is a cool idea, it makes me sad. as a mom who would have loved cast off, hard loved, worn out books for my little ones, it pains me to see them repurposed. there are families in every community that cannot afford to buy book for their babies, i hope you will donate some. even if they arent in great condition.
Agree, makes me so sad to think of kids missing out on the likes of Sandra Boynton when paper and other canvasses with no other value are so readily available.
My son has received many a dog eared book with well chewed corners, tears and the odd additional ‘illustration’ from his big cousins and has loved the stories within none the less. I have seen a lot of great ideas to repurpose books but I just can’t bear to deface them. Then again, I was that kid who loved nothing more than words to read so perhaps I’m biased.
This is a great idea! We recently turned a worn out board book into puppets to tell the story ourselves!
I love this idea! We have worn through plenty of board books, but I can’t bear to part with them and can’t really see myself giving a dog-eared, boogered book to the cousins. My daughter loves to make up stories, so this may be just the ticket to give much-loved stories some new, just-as-much-loved life.
I love it! Maryann F. Kohl (the art educator, in her book Primary Art) suggests prepping board books with gesso primer and doing collages, which I think is a great idea, but this is something I already have materials for. Especially since I work in a toddler room and we go through books (even board books) fast!
Awesome idea! I do have several books hanging around the house too! What a well supervised project to with the kids! Thx!
Very cool idea, thanks for sharing!
what a cool idea!
Great idea! My daughter will freak out and probably do 8 of these in one day.
What a lovely idea!
This is soooo smart! Glad to see your site is back up! So cool to know someone before they went viral. hahaha!
What a great idea – reusable creatives are plus!