Have You Ever Handed a Child a Blank Piece of Paper and Heard… “I’m Done” After One Scribble?
If you’ve ever given a preschooler a single piece of paper for writing, you’ve probably seen it—one picture, maybe a few scribbles, and a quick “I’m done!”
But what happens when you hand them a blank book instead?
Suddenly, their ideas grow. They want to add more. They turn the page and keep going.
That’s the power of bookmaking.
Bookmaking isn’t about forcing kids to write words on paper. It’s about giving them a structure for storytelling—one that feels natural, familiar, and exciting.
What is Bookmaking?
Bookmaking is exactly what it sounds like—giving children pre-stapled, blank books and the freedom to create their own stories.
Why is this so powerful?
- Books are familiar—kids see them every day in the classroom and at home.
- A book encourages more storytelling than a single sheet of paper.
- It builds writing stamina—kids work on books over multiple days.
- It creates opportunities for sharing—which builds confidence!
How to Set Up Bookmaking in Your Classroom
1. Create Simple Blank Books
No need for anything fancy! Just:
- Three sheets of copy paper, folded in half.
- A construction paper cover.
- Staple it together. Done!
Place these blank books in the writing center where kids can grab one anytime they’re inspired.
2. Stock Your Writing Center
- Crayons, markers, pencils (because drawing is writing at this stage!).
- Alphabet charts for kids ready to add letter forms.
3. Introduce Bookmaking with a Mini Lesson
- Read a favorite picture book.
- Discuss how the author and illustrator told the story.
- Model how to create a simple book with pictures and words.
If you just throw blank books into the writing center without introducing them, they’ll get ignored (ask me how I know).
How to Encourage Bookmaking (Without Forcing It!)
- Make It Optional—forcing kids to “write a book” will backfire.
- When a child tells a great story, invite them to turn it into a book!
- Make It a Multi-Day Process—kids can work on books over several days.
- Respect Their Work—if they want to take it home, make a copy for their portfolio first!
- Have Students Share their Work– not only will this communicate that you believe what they’ve done is important, it will also encourage others to create books too!
What Does Preschool Writing Look Like?
Preschool writing won’t look like adult writing—and that’s okay. Expect:
- Scribbles and marks that represent ideas.
- Letter-like shapes mixed in with drawings.
- Strings of known letters.
- One letter representing a whole word.
- Stories told verbally (even if they’re not yet written out).
This is all valid writing.
Bookmaking gives young children ownership over their writing journey. It helps them see themselves as authors and illustrators, even if they’re not yet writing conventionally.
Want to learn more about how to build strong early literacy skills?
📖 Sign up for my free literacy training where I’ll walk you through step-by-step strategies for supporting young readers and writers.
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