Books

Books are an essential part of how we keep information. Before the book was invented, people wrote things down on clay tablets, papyrus, or cloth. It wasn’t until the Gutenberg Printing Press was invented in 1447 that bookbinding became important. There are many different ways to bind a book and many uses for books. The book’s content usually determines its binding. A textbook might have a different type of binding than a portfolio or a personal journal. Even though there are many other ways to bind a book, each has some of the same parts. For example, the pages of a book are called the signature, and the cover is called the board. The binding is how the signature is attached to the board. Binding is the most essential part of the book and the most varied of different types. Some books have exposed bindings, meaning you can see them when it is closed. The materials used in the binding can also change how it looks and works. There are very simple and complex bindings, but their functions are all the same. Draw or take a photograph of a book, and label the following parts:

1. Case Cloth
2. Board
3. Endpaper
4. Shoulder
5. Signatures

Visit this glossary of book terms if you need some help!

Although there are many different ways to bind a book, each has similar parts. For example, the pages of a book are called the signature, and the cover is called the board. The binding attaches the signature to the board. Binding is the book’s most important part and the most varied of different types. Some books have exposed bindings, which allows one to see them while the book is closed. The materials used in the binding can also change how it looks and works. Some bindings are simple, while others are complex. But their functions are all the same. The book’s content usually determines its binding. A textbook might have a different type of binding than a portfolio or a personal journal. Visit a library and see how many different binding techniques you can find on the shelves. Ask the librarian to see some rare books on a subject that interests you. Find out which one you like, and make a book! Take a look at the books in your house. See how many different binding examples you can find. Look until you find an example of each of the following binding types. Make a list of binding types in your journal. Diagram each of the following binding types by using the resources.

Cover bound
Belgian
Chinese (butterfly, folded leaf, stitched, stab stitched)
Screw Post
Signature bound
Be aware of bindings!

The design of the cover of the book is very important. It catches our eye, raises our sense of curiousity, and invites us to explore further. Design of a book cover can include design of the front cover, the binding (what is visible when on a shelf), and the back cover. Think of one of your favorite stories. Create a book cover or book jacket that would entice others to read the story. Choose scenes from the chapters or create a graphic or pattern that communicates the emotional content of the story. Think about what font the titles should use. Think about the size of the authors’ name. Cover your book with your artwork.

A book is a sequence of spaces. Imagine your sketches, photographs, or writings coming together to form your very own book, a unique story waiting to be told. Explore different binding types - stitched, folded, butterfly, signature, and more. Experiment with various paper types and cover materials. Use the available resources to choose a binding type that best fits your narrative. Create a book that narrates your art. Choose a theme, a story, or daily picture-making. Experiment with different media such as ink, watercolor, pencil, or cut paper collage. Spend time with your book, crafting it into a story of your own. Once it’s complete, consider sharing your story by gifting the book to a friend or family member.

Leave your story in the world!

gutenberg printing press - The first printing machine to use moveable type

signature - the set of pages in a book

board - the pieces of a book that make up the front and back covers

binding - the piece that holds the entire book together, either the signature or the boards

A person who does not read lives only one life!

Books are written to be read. Do you have books in your home? Suppose you do not have books in your home or are looking for another adventure, fiction (imaginary story), or nonfiction (history based on past events and real people) text. In that case, you can check them out for free at your public library! You can review the history of libraries and find that cultures all over the world collect books in specific places, usually for the kings and leaders of their countries. Benjamin Franklin, one of the founders of the United States, established a library company in Philadelphia in 1731, first for shareholders and then for non-shareholders. By 1800, 40 more lending libraries had been established. Public libraries continue to offer books and to remind us that “we learn best when we learn together!”

*Find and visit your closest public library and check out some books!!!***

• What is the cover of a book called?
  • a. binding
  • b. board
• Signatures are pages in a book.
  • a. true
  • b. false
• Which Chinese binding became so popular that it ended the scroll and started the folded leaf book?
  • a. butterfly binding
  • b. stitched binding
  • c. stab stitching
• The Galileo Press was the first printing press invented.
  • a. true
  • b. false
• . Scrolls were early forms of books.
  • a. true
  • b. false