3 Reasons Why Kids Shouldn’t Just Read Books… But Make Books Too!

by Heidi Bishop

Every year, the Gaithersburg Book Festival offers kids a chance to get hands-on at the festival and participate in a variety of activities, including a book arts workshop. Book Arts projects go beyond cover design and illustrations to elevate the entire book to an art object. By selecting paper textures, colors, embellishments and innovative structures, handmade books express a story or idea in the artist’s personal style.

Think your kids might be willing to give it a try? Here are three reasons why participating in a Book Arts activity is more than just good fun:

1. Handmade Books Challenge 3-D Design Skills and Problem Solving: One of the best ways to foster STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills is to give kids 3D design challenges. In addition to science or technology focused tasks, art related challenges provide new opportunities for innovation and problem solving. The challenge underlying a tunnel book activity, for example, is to build an image using layers and to consider how the book looks through various vantage points.
2. Book Arts Teach Craftsmanship: In a world increasingly filled with videogames, iPads and phones, books arts provide kids with a small break from the digital age. You’ll be amazed how quickly they become invested in their projects and the great pride they take displaying finished books!
3. Hands-On Activities Stick: Attending a book festival is a great way to instill a love of books in kids and reinforcing the experience with a hands-on activity is a great way to make the lesson lasting. “Learning by Doing” is an especially useful concept with younger kids who may be visual or tactile learners. For many children, the act of discussing and sharing their finished product alone helps them validate and internalize what they have learned.

This year the festival will offer two book arts workshops — tunnel books and pop-up books. Check them out at the festival and see what your kids come up with!

Heidi Bishop is an artist specializing in printmaking and children’s book arts. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in Art with a concentration in Art History and a Masters in Business Administration. She has experience working with arts organizations such as the Cavallaro Cleary Visual Arts Foundation, The Art Institute and Gallery, and Maryland Summer Center for the Arts, and the Kids at Katzen Program.