Create a Book-Inspired Collage

March is National Reading Month and the perfect time to encourage readers of all ages to get lost in the pages of a great book. For our youngest readers, picture books tell rich and powerful stories with very few words. The images we see, the subtle expressions on faces, the body language of characters, and even the colors all convey meaning, emotion, and purpose

Explore Collage Art

Collage is considered an important medium for artistic expression. It may be used alone or combined with other media as artists create and visually communicate their ideas. Collage work can be done using different papers, surfaces, fabrics, hand-painted or hand-drawn elements, and even 3D objects.

Many artists use collage as a technique for illustrating children’s books. Eric Carle, Leo Lionni, Lois Ehlert, Ezra Jack Keats, and Bryan Collier are just a few well-known authors and illustrators who do. 

Discover Your Inner Artist

Take a close look at your favorite picture books. Can you identify any collage-style images? Let’s create a book-inspired collage to get a feel for the process of layering images and materials to tell a story.

Our friends, Declan (9), Brittyn (8), Cullen (6), and Graedon (2½), gathered supplies and books from their collection at home to spark a crafting session powered by imagination. The four siblings chose three books: Whistle for Willie, An Extraordinary Egg, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Watch as they share their unique interpretations of the artwork and then create your own!

Use any supplies you have on hand! Some simple ideas include:

• Colored or patterned paper
• Safety scissors
• Glue sticks or tape
• Found materials
• Crayons or markers
• Paints and paintbrushes

Explore the materials, embrace creative expression, and experiment with ideas. This is an open-ended project led by curiosity and wonder.

As Brittyn said, “Thanks for crafting with us today!” Be sure to share your collage projects with our online audience to inspire other kids to get creative. Tag your school so we can see your inspired masterpieces!

Need More Book Ideas?

The following list of suggested books includes impressive collage-style illustrations:

• How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander and Melissa Sweet 
• A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston
• Leila in Saffron by Rukhsanna Guidroz and Dinara Mirtalipova
• Look by Gabi Snyder and Samantha Cotterill
• Why is the Sky Blue? by Ladybird and Amy Schimler
• This Is the Nest That Robin Built by Denise Fleming