Star books

Arts & Activities, Nov, 2004 by Craig Hinshaw

A star book is a three-dimensional book. It can be hung "in-the-round or displayed on a table, sculpturally. This star book has five pages. Each page has a "window" foreground and a background area for drawing and/or adding text.

Star books work well with a theme or concept. The third-grade class that made these books was studying about California's Channel Islands. On each page, the students depicted a different aspect they were learning about: the ice-age pigmy mammoths, the Chumash Indians, ocean life surrounding the kelp forests, the island fox and seals that inhabit the islands.

The students worked on the pages during art time, as well as independently between classes. (Even though the pages are relatively small, the books take a considerable time to make.) Students first sketched with pencil, then used colored pencils and, finally, traced their sketch lines with a black fine-tip marker.

Each of the pages had a cut construction paper window the students decorated with markers. Some chose to create decorations related to the illustration on that page.

Once decorated, the window was glued to the page. (Note: Glue is used sparingly and only along the sides of the pages, not along the top or bottom or the page won't open properly.)

All five of the finished pages are glued together back-to-back except for one section, which allows the book to be closed. On this unglued section, a tag board cover is glued. We decorated our covers using three shades of green acrylic paint and combs to create an abstract design, simulating kelp swaying in the ocean surrounding the islands.

Books are a big part of school life. I have found it useful to know a variety of innovative bookmaking techniques that lend themselves to the school curriculum. Making this connection adds meaning and relevance to the students' time spent creating these books. And because of the time spent, I imagine they will keep and enjoy them for a long while.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will ...

* realize that books can be an art form.

* learn that good craftsmanship (precise folding, accurate cutting, careful gluing) is important in the completion of an artwork.

MATERIALS

* Five pieces of 7" x 10" white construction or drawing paper (background)

* Five pieces of 7" x 7" colored construction paper (window piece)

* One piece 7" x 10 1/2" tag board (cover)

* Colored pencils and markers

* White glue (stick glue does not hold up well in a book of this type)

* Scissors

PROCEDURE

On the 7" x 10" white paper a picture is drawn, colored, then folded in half.

The 7" x 7" piece of colored construction paper is folded, with a window cut out, leaving approximately a 1-inch border. This window piece is then glued to the drawn piece, gluing only along the edges.

Four of the five sections are glued together, back to back. One section is not glued; the tag board cover is folded in half and glued in this section.

Craig Hinshaw teaches art at Lessenger Elementary School in Madison Heights, Michigan.