I think the three books most conducive to travel bookmaking are:
The Hot Dog Booklet
The Accordion
The Index Card Accordion
If you have access to the internet, look up the directions online while traveling. If not, print them out before you go.
Start with a large resealable plastic bag. I prefer the heavier freezer bags but a thinner weight would be fine. If you have some interesting bag or box you've been saving, use that.
Put inside:
Some sheets of used copy paper with writing on one side. You can also collect papers on your travels. Check out this hot dog booklet made with the program from The Office Convention in Scranton, PA.
Front and back panels from one to two cereal boxes
Scrap paper for gluing. I usually bring a thin catalog.
An Index Card Accordion Book accordion and index cards. I think it's easier to make the accordion at home and write/illustrate the cards and attach them as you go. You might want to plan for a page for each day. You can also have a picture on the front and glue a second card on the back with writing. I used a side panel of brown paper grocery bag for the accordion. You can bring 3x5 or 4x6 index cards.
A small resealable plastic bag filled with papers from the collage box. And do collect papers along the way. Brochures and flyers, chopstick sleeves, candy wrappers, etc.
Glue stick
Small scissors
Some pieces of yarn. I cut mine to be twice the length of the cereal box panel.
Markers and/or Colored pencils. I think I brought colored pencils more often than markers when the kids were small to avoid markers on car seats, clothes, and furniture but I do prefer the vibrancy of markers. Bring whatever you think is best. I got washable markers for this.
This is just a starting point. Add more things if you like but the point of this is not to make a traveling studio, just a simple kit. Sometimes the less you bring, the more creative you are.
Giveaway: Post a comment and be entered into the drawing for the Bookmaking Travel Kit pictured at the top of the post. The giveaway closes Sunday, June 4, at midnight. Winner will be announced on Monday, June 5.
49 comments:
I've been wanting to make books with my children for some time now. Thank you for making it so "do-able." I can't wait to see what they come up with. Of course, I'll have to participate too.
Thank you for reminding me of the "Writing Bags" I used to pack for my children when they were small. I also included blank books made from newspaper of different sizes.
As for your post, I also think the stick and elastic book would work if the holes were made in advance. I love these books for journals as pages can be changed or added.
Susan A great idea and it could also be used in my classroom as a bookmaking kit for free activity time or during our literacy block'
My students love making their own little books - these are easy for them to achieve
Thanks Keryl
Returned last night from a 2 week trip in Florida and quite often I wished I had necessary items with me. Thanks for reminding me and next year I will have my "Writing Bag" with me. Bev
What a great idea. Of course it would be fun to do bookmaking while traveling. I bet one could incorporate postcards somehow.
Thanks!
Making books with children is one of the ways that has turned out ot be the most positive interaction I have had with my children and now with my grandchildren. I can't wait to see what ideas are posted next. Traveling can be quite stressful but adding the book making as part of the trip has turned it into an adventurd
Thank you for this guide to a portable book-making kit. So now I will be creating my Book-Making bag and this will be a grand one to take with me when I travel. THank you for your teaching posts!! I wish you well!!
Thanks for the continuous ideas for making books. I plan to gather supplies now for the bookmaking travel kits. I will be running arts and crafts at a camp this summer and plan to have many on hand to record kids camp experiences. I plan to use many nature inspired things such as tree bark and twigs to add some flair. Again thanks for the great ideas
Sharon
Like the idea, Susan. We need more arts/crafts activities for kids, especially on the road. My twins are being enticed with cell phones,ipads, dvd players and hand-held tech games (Playstation?). Plus, the recycling angle is always preferable.
I took a book making course this spring at UARTS with a teacher who raved about your book. Needless to say I had to have it and have done a series of bookmaking projects with my elementary school. The kids love making books, and I love their enthusiasm while in the creative process. Thanks for your amazing inspirations and posting them to share with all of us!!
I'm sorry my prior post came out as anonymous:)
I agree with Keryl... having a kit readily available in the classroom would make it quick and easy for students to demonstrate their knowledge in a creative manner. No hunting for supplies, no disruption. Great idea! I see it as an augment to their book boxes.
Love the compact kit. My kids and I actually have a small plastic storage tote for our bookmaking "travels" so that the "books in process" won't get crushed! Thanks for all the great ideas and jolting my creativity so I can share with others!
Hi-
I am going to send this link home to the parents of my students. I am certain that it will be used by many.
Thank you so much, Lynne
I love the idea of using brochures! Now we can use them in a more creative way than just putting them in a memory box. Thanks for all your great ideas, especially with reusing material!
As usual your suggestions to use the materials at hand (the convention map!) are both obvious and "why didn't I think of that?" at the same time. Thanks for your constant inspiration.
What fun to read about how everyone will be using this idea. There are no children in my immediate life, but I love making books to record my travels and there are some great ideas here to use for that. Thanks for all of your posts.
Thank you for sharing your ideas for making wonderful books with our children. I love the travel book kit idea! I can't wait to try it!
Excellent idea! I would love to receive the sample you made to help me in making more of the kits for my six children!
Thank you for this great opportunity.
How timely is your post, Susan, and inspiring, as well. Thank you!
It's a super idea when traveling or at home! Maybe you can get bookstores interested in the idea & sell your kits nation-wide! Barbara
What a delight - I've sent this on to family members and friends getting ready to embark on travels this summer with children- I've made many wade meacham journals from the packaging purchased while traveling and paper items picked up during trips interposed with sheets of drawing, writing and water color paper...now it will be fun to see what everyone else comes up with.
Two years ago I put together my "Artist Travel Kit". It is 9x12x2 and I keep it stocked and ready to go at a moment's notice. What a difference it has made in my life! Now, with just the addition of a cereal box panel, a few collage papers, and a bit of yarn I'll be able to make books, too. Thanks Susan.
Didn't realize you had a blog but have enjoyed your emails for years! I recently moved to Boston and saw some of your work at the Allston Library. Lovely! Now I need to save my pennies and take some classes over at North Bennet Street...
I love the hotdog book. I have been using this with students for years. I just watched your video tutorial. I love the idea of the small books within the bigger book. Next year I am going to do this.
What perfect timing--this helps direct my thoughts better than I'd been able to do, and I'm reading it in enough time to actually use the ideas for our upcoming summer trip that's nearly a month long and covers two different places! Thank you so much for sharing this on your blog.
This is great -- I needed to jump start my grandsons' summer survival kit. We do a lot of folded books but they always need some new idea to keep them interested in being indoors.
Love your idea for making a book as you travel. My dad used to write a journal each summer as we camped but he never saved them once we got home.
Putting the memories together after the event isn't as true as recording it at the time.
Thanks for sharing your projects and ideas.
Patti
What a great item to donate to our school's Fall Festival for a raffle prize! I also like the idea of creating a kit for my classroom. It would be far more efficient than gathering the supplies separately when a student wants to create a book. It would also be a reminder that the option is always available.
I am an admirer of your teaching methods and use of recycled material.
I would love to have this kit to use at the city park green house where I volunteer. The GH is on a very limited budget and believes strongly in recycling!!
Tx and keep up the good work@@
Stretch
Thanks so much Susan -- this makes a great list of materials to gather for our art room at the library where I work. Bookmaking is a favorite activity for the kids.
This is a great idea for the classroom, too. Teachers could have individual kits for each student...with the basics in the kits. I work with teachers in Differentiated Instruction and use a lot of your books during instruction. I'm going to put together "travel kits" for each table. It would be so much easier to "travel" to different sites with kits already made...then cleanup would be easier, too! Thanks for the idea!
How nice to have a kit to create a memory book while on the journey! The postcards and brochures always have the most beautiful photographs and are usually free. While traveling, comments and narrative for the book is much simpler than waiting to get home and remember what happened. Tremendous idea!
thanks for all the help this year
Thank you for sharing. Excellent idea for our trip to Florida. I think my boys will have a lot of fun.
Hi Susan,
I'm on my way to Wash DC by train and wish I'd seen this before I left. Great ideas, images & easy encouraging instructions. I like being in a raffle, too. THANK YOU!
I have been poking around other sites for vacation activity ideas. This one will definitely be included! Thanks!
Thank you for all the inspiration I get from your posts. I'd love to be included in the drawing!
I love the idea of using found objects and ephemera from travels as part of the book-making process.
This is a super idea to suggest to my students for summer writing projects. Thanks for sharing.
I've always liked the "kit" idea and use it a lot myself. If you keep your kit in your car, you won't have an excuse not to make art.
Hi
Thanks for such a lovely idea. I have group of children who want to create a scrapbook and this is exactly what we needed. Using all the recycle materials is just great and wonderful idea.
ArtyKids
What a terrific idea! I'd love to win the kit - thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks for all the great comments. We have so much to learn from each other. The drawing for the Travel Bookmaking Kit will be Monday morning.
Hi from Italy Susan, I follow your terrific ideas always with great pleasure. I think the kit is a great idea for my students: next week they start the summer holydays.
Thank you for sharing you ideas, we have already experienced the Haiku book e some others ideas such as the hotdog book
Thanks for the tip. I saved an outdated road map to use for some pages, and can't wait to get started!
I love all the ideas. This would have been great when my kids were younger. I plan to do this on my next trip!
I love the practicality of the travelling kit. I plan to use it myself when travelling. I also plan to use it with my students when we go outside the classroom to write. Thank you!
Thank you for keeping in touch with all who have enjoyed your 'Making Books' seminars.
I'd love to keep in touch via email and the blog.
Susan in Florence, MA.
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