Avid readers often take pristine care of their beloved books. But sometimes, accidents just happen. Like when the page in your favorite novel becomes victim to your 2-year-old. Thankfully, there are a couple of ways to save the book. The first, which I dub "The Simple Repair", is usually used as a quick fix or for books that aren't of high importance. Because let's face it...your little one just can't get enough of "Curious George" and isn't exactly careful each time he yanks the book from the shelf.

What you'll need:

-Scotch tape
-Scissors
-Bone folder

Turn to the page where the tear is and center a piece of scotch tape over it, making sure the words match up correctly. Cut away any excess tape that goes beyond the page's edge. Next use the bone folder to smooth over any bumps in the tape. To do so, take the bone folder and press its edge against the tape. Firmly slide the bone folder over the tape. On the other side of the page, repeat this process and your page will look great.

"The Perfectionist's Repair" is used for books that mean something to you or just can't be mended with "The Simple Repair." The line from the tear is minimal in this fix so it will look as close to how it did before as possible.

What you'll need:

-Wax paper
-Paint or paste brush
-"Bind Art" or other binding adhesive
-Heavy object, such as a paper weight

Open the book to the torn page and place a piece of wax paper underneath the rip. Make sure that the piece of wax paper is bigger than the tear itself. After making sure the words line up on the page, dab a brush with the adhesive and apply it along the tear. Put the second piece of wax paper on top of the place you just pasted together. Lastly, close the book and place a heavy object on it. When it is dry, slowly remove the wax paper. If it still sticks to the page, give it more time to completely dry. When it's finished, your page should look almost as it did the day the book was bound together.

To ensure that you will not have to perform surgery on one of your adored books again, put it in a safe place after every reading session. If you have children, a high shelf should do. Of course accidents happen even when we are most careful, so in case it does ever happen again, now you are prepared!

Learn more about this author, Kelly A. Mello.
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