by Warren O. Brennan

Created on: July 19, 2010

This is never a favorite task for a student. They don’t really see the value of it and it, in truth, can be tedious. The easiest solution is to purchase elastic or plastic covers that slide onto books in a snap. However, these cost money and may not be worth it if you are up to the task of constructing a cover yourself. Hopefully, the following helps…

If you have a paper cover that is already sized, perfect. This will save you the time of cutting up a paper bag to act as the cover. Schools often give out these paper covers with cool designs on them, so tell your child to keep an eye out.

First, place the textbook, closed, with the spine of the book dead center on the cover. This means the book will actually be on the right side of the paper, since the spine is the left of the book and acting as your center point.

Make a mark three inches above and below where the book sits on the paper (above and below the book).

Next, cut along that three inch line all the way across the horizon of the book on both the top and bottom. This should leave you with the book (still closed) in the center/right of the long paper, with three inches of paper still above and below the book.

Now, fold that three inches of extra paper under the book, again on both the top and bottom. This should leave the book completely on the paper, with none sticking out of the top and bottom, but only paper still visible on the sides.

Open the cover of the textbook. Fold the left side of the paper onto the inside cover of the book. Close the cover of the book, holding the paper on the cover but allowing it to slide so that the spine can be wrapped as the book closes. Tape the point where the inside end point of the cover rests when the book is closed.

Flip the book over and repeat this step, opening the book, folding the paper to the inside of the book, and taping where the paper rests when the book is closed.

It may take a few times before you get it perfect, but rest assured your book will be safe.

If you don’t have one of the covers I mentioned prior, not a problem. Take a paper grocery bag and cut out the bottom. Next, cut along one side of the bag. This should leave you with one long strip of paper. Use this to complete the steps above.

Learn more about this author, Warren O. Brennan.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.