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[Handmade Picture Books] A curated selection of recommended ideas perfect for early childhood education
The mysterious world of picture books we encountered in childhood.
Even now as adults, many of us can still vividly recall the stories and characters.
That’s how powerful the picture books we meet in our early years can be.
In this article, we’ve gathered lovely ideas for handmade picture books you can create using familiar materials like construction paper, cardboard, and felt! Picture books that you can experience by “touching,” “pulling,” and “pinching” are perfect for early learning, too! If you’re considering a handmade picture book as a gift for your child, or if you’re a teacher looking for read-aloud ideas for your class, we hope you’ll find this helpful.
[Handmade Picture Books] A Roundup of Perfect Educational Ideas (1–10)
Pop-up book
How about making a pop-up book that springs to life using accordion-folded paper? Try incorporating lots of unique, exciting mechanisms like a bird’s beak, raindrops, and umbrellas.
Depending on the content, you can enjoy creating picture books tailored to ages from preschoolers to elementary school children.
The basics are to take a long, narrow sheet of construction paper, fold it in half by matching the corners, fold it in half again, then accordion-fold it to create a two-page spread.
Once you’ve made spiral mechanisms and triangular mechanisms, try challenging yourself with a cake-shaped mechanism as well.
It’s a project you’ll enjoy making together with your child.
An educational picture book made with 100-yen store materials
Let’s make an educational activity book using 100-yen shop items! There are lots of ideas, like counting with magnets and pipe cleaners, lacing with cardboard, a sensory bag made by putting slime in a pouch, and color matching “juices” made with color film.
This kind of activity book uses lots of fine finger movements, so it should help with children’s hand and finger development.
With a bit of creativity, you can make all sorts of educational activity books, so try coming up with ideas your child will love!
A picture book to make with children
A picture book about bread that also promotes food education—what a wonderful idea you can make with your child.
On the left page of the book there are short phrases, and on the right there’s a slice of bread.
For the bread, you can layer a slightly smaller white sheet over an orange sheet.
The toppings change from page to page—ham, cheese, strawberry jam, and more.
It looks easy to make by cutting construction paper or origami paper.
Blank picture books are sold on online shops, so check them out.
Interactive educational picture book
How about making a felt activity book where kids can enjoy fine-motor tasks like pulling strings and attaching or removing buttons? You could include a page for counting with beads and a crocodile toothbrushing page where a toothbrush attaches with a snap—great for learning through play.
A clever idea is to use a zipper for an animal’s mouth and have kids “feed” it by putting food inside.
The textures of snap buttons and hook-and-loop fasteners are new and exciting for children, and they’re sure to be totally absorbed!
Sketchbook Theater
Little kids love games like “Who could it be? Who could it be?” This picture book is basically a fun back-and-forth using a combination of “doors” and “animals”: knock, knock, knock—“Who is it?” The method is simple—just draw in a sketchbook—so it’s easy and fun to try.
Cut out the window part of the door drawing.
On the next page, draw an animal or an object so only a small part shows through.
Start with easy ones, then make them gradually harder to guess—that’s the key.
As children think, “What could it be?” their imagination just keeps growing!
A flip-through picture book
Here’s an idea for a “flip-through picture book” made by folding rectangular drawing paper in half and connecting several of them.
This example is for making an album, but it can be adapted for a picture book as well.
Decide the number of pages based on the content of your book.
You can also use items like craft punches that round corners or cut flower shapes.
Try making the cover and back cover a different color, or make each page a different color for a bright, colorful result!
Miniature picture book
Miniature books are so cute and charming, aren’t they? How about making a handmade mini book with a warm, crafted feel? You can use reduced copies of your favorite picture book pages, or draw your own illustrations.
It’s also fun to collect your child’s drawings and create a story from them! Cut the pages to a small size, align the edges, then brush on a mixture of glue and paste, and press gauze over the spine.
Cut some thick paper for the cover and attach it carefully.
And there you have it—your own original picture book that you can carry with you anywhere!