[LM_NET] HIT: Student Authored Books

[Toni Buzzeo <tonibuzzeo@TONIBUZZEO.COM>]

ORIGINAL TARGET:
I'm working with a group of gifted fourth and fifth grade writers who 
have finished their final drafts of the picture books I've helped 
them to write.  The next process is illustration.  Before we begin 
that (and some of them are "hiring" illustrators among other 
classmates), I wanted to ask about "publishing" options.  We know 
that we can do the spiral bound route, of course, but are there any 
other affordable options?  Are there 32 page blank books?  Is there 
an affordable company that might bind them.  I suspect that if it 
were possible, each child would like two copies of her book.

REPLIES:
I used my local University.  Tuscaloosa Bindery (U of AL) bound a book
written by students.  They did suggest after the fact that our next book
should leave margins for binding.  Students had filled the entire page.

***
Yes, there is a company called Nationwide Learning.  They give you a kit
with paper.  When completed, they will bind the book in HB.  The
original book is free, as is the kit.  If you order copies, they cost
$18 each (which is how they make money). I have a big Young Authors and
Illustrators conference every other year and use this company.  The
books turn out great. If you want to call their number is: 800-867-2292

***
   Teachers in my district have used  Nationwide Learning, Inc.  PO 
Box 19244  Topeka, KS 66619

<http://www.studentreasures.com/>http://www.studentreasures.com/

The quality of the books they get back is good and it is relatively 
inexpensive.

***
There are several books and kits available:
<http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102-4244493-2060968?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=make+your+own+book>http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102-4244493-2060968?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=make+your+own+book

I had a friend you used regular paper for inside the book, then went 
to Home Depot or Lowe's and asked for an old book of wallpaper 
samples, which they made into covers.  If you have a binding machine, 
you can use it to make the holes, then sew the wallpaper covers 
on.  If you copy the contents, you can make as many books as you want.

***
I'm not sure what your budget is, but what about Lintor Publishing's 
Create-A-Book? I saw a demonstration at a convention and was very 
impressed with the speed and ease of binding, as well as the 
sturdiness of the hard cover. If you have time to spend and not 
budget, you could probably do something along these lines with covers 
your students create and contact paper, I guess...

Anyway, their website is 
<http://www.lintorpublishing.com/index2.html>http://www.lintorpublishing.com/index2.html
 


***
Kinko's here does a binding that is glued , like a cloth tape down 
the spine of the book - there are a minimum number of pages as the 
book has to be thick enough to make a thick enough end to hold the glue.

Now given that -- might I suggest that you go the whole  route and 
bind the books yourself.  I've done that a dozen of times with whole 
classes actually and it was such fun.  Need stiff cardboard -- about 
the thickness of a cereal box or a little heavier (can even use the 
cereal box.)  Cover the cardboard -- cut about 1/4 - 1/2 inch wider 
on the  top, bottom, and outside edge of the paper, with cloth or 
heavy paper (wallpaper?).  Fold it over the inside edges about an 
inch or more.  Cover the raw edges with paper.  Staple or  sew the 
pages by hand -- on the outside of the guts make sure you have put a 
stiffer (like 90 wgt) piece of blank paper.   Use marbelized or 
otherwise decorated end pages to glue to the book cover and to the 
first page of the guts; repeat but gluing the final page to the back 
part of the book.  (I'll explain better if you are really interested).
Any way there you have it.

Maybe you could form a publishing company -- maybe their classmates 
who are not involved in the writing etc. want to be the publishing 
company so all could share the  joy.

Thanks to all!
Toni


Toni Buzzeo, MA, MLIS <mailto:tonibuzzeo@tonibuzzeo.com>
Maine Library Media Specialist of the Year Emerita
Maine Association of School Libraries Board Member
Buxton, ME 04093
http://www.tonibuzzeo.com
Collaborating to Meet Standards: Teacher/Librarian Partnerships for 
K-6  Second Edition (Linworth 2007) BRAND NEW!

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