Children can write a collection of poetry that they decorate with artwork and bind in a handmade book. Simple structured poems like acrostics, cinquains, haiku, diamantes, list poems, and windsparks can help generate ideas. The artwork to illustrate each poem can feature pencil drawings, pen and ink drawings, pastels, or watercolors.
Select a Theme for a Book of Poems
Before starting to write the poems, children can select a theme, such as sports, animals, seasons, trees, or a favorite movie, to add cohesiveness to the book. If the child is writing the book to give to a teacher as a holiday or year-end gift or to give to a friend or relative, she can focus the poems on that person’s traits, interests, or place in the child’s life.
How to Make a Poetry Chapbook With Kids
Watercolor paper is heavier than drawing paper and has a nice texture for a handmade book. Ninety pound watercolor paper provides a sturdy surface while remaining flexible enough to fold in half. However, watercolor paper won’t go through a printer, so children will either have to handwrite the poems or print them onto paper that they cut out and glue into their book.
Children can decide if they’d like to fold the paper in half to make a small booklet that is stapled or hand sewn along the fold or if they’d prefer to staple full sheets of paper together. The final book shouldn’t be assembled until after all the artwork and poetry is complete; however, the final format will affect the artwork the child creates. In either case, use a pencil to lightly draw a half-inch to one-inch margin where the book will be bound to prevent artwork or text from disappearing.
The book could also be assembled into a presentation binder, perhaps using sheet protectors, or bound with a comb binder.
Another design consideration includes deciding if children want to write a poem on the left-hand side of a double-page spread and a drawing or painting on the right-hand side. Or, would the child prefer to incorporate the poem on the same page as the artwork? Children may decide to avoid using both sides of a piece of paper – that way if a poem or drawing doesn’t work out, it doesn’t ruin the opportunity to use what is on the other side of the page.
Writing Poetry With Kids
The child can write the poems on scrap paper and then rewrite the final poem into their book. There are many short poems that follow structured formats. The formats of the poems still allow for creativity while providing a jumping point for creating a series of written pieces.
The child shouldn’t feel constrained into only following poetic forms; they can write free verse poems if they wish. Also, children could write an entire book of acrostics or list poems, if they prefer that format.
Children Artwork Ideas
Children can add variety to their book by using colored pencil on one page and watercolor paints on another. Any artwork done with charcoal pencil or chalk pastels should get covered by a piece of tracing paper, incorporated into the binding. This overlay will prevent the artwork from rubbing onto the facing sheet of paper.
Making a book combining poetry and art allows a child’s creativity to shine while creating a thoughtful and personalized keepsake for a teacher, family member, or even a friend moving to a new state.
Join the Conversation