How to Make a Really Cool Pop-Up Book

Start with paper, scissors and poster board to create your own pop-up book.

A really cool pop-up book can be created with a minimum of supplies. This is a great opportunity for art creativity, as the basic steps for making the pop-up book can be altered and expanded. A pop-up book will also inspire story-telling skills. Making a pop-up book is an appropriate activity for an older child who can handle scissors and glue. A younger child will enjoy the book-making process with the help of an adult.

Things You'll Need

• Poster board
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Crayons, pen and/or markers
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Glitter
• Google eyes
• Fake fur
• Fabric scraps
• Photographs
• Pen
• Rubber band

Instructions

1. Cut the poster board into a long strip measuring 28 inches by 4 1/2 inches. Fold the strip every 4 1/2-inches accordion-style lengthwise to create the book. Cut off any excess poster board with the scissors.

2. Write the title on the first folded section, which is the book cover. It could be something like "Josh's Pop-Up Book" or "Jenny's Pop-Ups."

3. Open the book to the first page. Draw a clown, centered down the first interior fold.

4. Cut a piece of red construction paper to measure 2 inches by 8 inches. Fold the paper accordion-style lengthwise.

5. Glue the two end folds to either side of the fold under the clown chin for the clown concertina, which will lay flat when the book is closed but will "pop up" when the book is opened.

6. Repeat the above steps for a ballerina's tutu and a poodle's fur with different colored construction paper in the following pages of the book.

7. Embellish the ballerina's outfit with glitter and fabric scraps glued to the rest of her outfit. Glue small pieces of fake fur on the poodle and give the clown some google eyes. Cut out friend's faces from photographs and glue them to the faces of the ballerina and clown.

8. Write a story linking the images on the book pages. Add more glitter and embellishments to each page background.

9. Close the finished book and secure it with the rubber band.

Tips & Warnings

• The accordion shaped pop-up could also be used to make the body of a bumble bee or a person holding an umbrella. This method of pop-up construction could also be used to make greeting cards.

References

• "365 Things To Make and Do; Vivienne Bolton; Parragon; 2003
• "McCall's Golden Do-It Book;" Joan Wyckoff; Golden Press; 1967