Looking for a creative way to get kids excited about books and storytelling? This Design Your Own Book Cover Activity gives kids a blank book cover they can turn into their very own creation.
Kids can add a title, draw a picture for the front cover, and write their name as the author. They can create a cover for an imaginary story of their own or use the activity alongside a book they are reading.
This printable book cover activity is easy to use at home, in the classroom, during homeschool lessons, or as part of a reading or writing activity. Just print the page and provide crayons, markers, or colored pencils so kids can start designing.
Why You’ll Love This Design Your Own Book Cover Activity
This printable gives kids plenty of room to use their imaginations while practicing reading, writing, and creative thinking skills.
- Encourages creativity: Kids get to decide on the title, illustration, colors, and overall look of their book cover.
- Makes writing more exciting: Kids can design a cover for a story they wrote themselves and see their idea come to life.
- Works with books they’re reading: Use the printable to let kids create an alternate cover for a favorite book or a book they recently finished.
- Easy to prepare: Simply print the page and provide crayons, markers, or colored pencils.
- Great for different settings: Use it at home, in the classroom, during homeschool lessons, at the library, or as part of a reading or writing activity.
What’s Included in the Design Your Own Book Cover Printable
This printable includes one Design a Book Cover activity page featuring a large blank book where kids can create their own cover design.
Kids are encouraged to:
- Create a title for their book
- Draw an illustration for the front cover
- Add their name as the author
- Use crayons, markers, or colored pencils to add color and details
The open-ended design gives kids plenty of space to make the book cover their own, whether they’re creating an original story or designing a new cover for a book they’ve already read.
Get the Design Your Own Book Cover Printable
Ready to let kids create a book cover of their own? Grab the Design Your Own Book Cover Activity and print a copy for your next reading, writing, or creative activity.
Printable Design Your Own Book Cover Activity
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Ways to Use the Design Your Own Book Cover Activity
There are several ways kids can use this printable depending on what you’re working on at home or in the classroom.
- Create a cover for an original story: After kids write their own story, have them design a book cover that includes the title, an illustration, and their name as the author.
- Redesign the cover of a favorite book: Let kids imagine that they’ve been chosen to create a brand-new cover for a book they love.
- Use it after finishing a book: Instead of a traditional worksheet, kids can create a cover that represents important characters, events, or themes from the story.
- Add it to a book report: A custom book cover can be a creative addition to a larger book report or reading project.
- Include it in a writing lesson: Use the printable when teaching kids about the different parts of a book or preparing to write a story.
- Use it as a library activity: Pair the page with a library visit, reading challenge, or other book-themed activity.
- Create a cover before writing: Kids don’t have to wait until their story is finished. Designing the cover first can help them brainstorm a title, characters, setting, and ideas for what happens in their story.
Supplies for the Book Cover Activity
You only need a few basic supplies to get started:
- Printed Design Your Own Book Cover Activity
- Crayons
- Markers
- Colored pencils
- Pencil and eraser, if kids want to sketch their ideas first
Kids can use whichever art supplies they prefer. They can keep their book cover simple or add lots of colors, patterns, and details to make their design stand out.
Creative Book Cover Ideas for Kids
Sometimes kids know exactly what they want to draw, while other times they may need a little inspiration. If they’re not sure where to start, encourage them to think about what would make someone want to pick up their book and find out more.
Here are a few ideas they can try:
- Draw the main character from the story.
- Illustrate an important or exciting scene.
- Draw the setting where the story takes place.
- Create a mysterious cover that gives a clue about the story without giving away the ending.
- Add animals, people, places, or objects that are important to the story.
- Use colors that match the mood of the book.
- Add borders, patterns, shapes, or other decorative details.
- Create a completely different cover for a book they’ve already read.
Remind kids that there’s no single right way to design a book cover. The goal is to create something that represents their story or their own interpretation of a book.
Who Is This Book Cover Activity For?
This book cover activity can work well for a variety of ages and skill levels. Younger kids can focus on drawing a picture and creating a simple title, while older kids can put more thought into how their cover represents the characters, setting, or events in their story.
Depending on the child’s age and abilities, the activity can help encourage:
- Creativity and imagination
- Drawing and coloring
- Storytelling
- Writing and spelling
- Reading comprehension
- Making connections between a story and its illustrations
- Thinking about characters, settings, and important events
You can make the activity as simple or detailed as you’d like, making it easy to adapt for individual kids, small groups, or a classroom.
Tips for Using This Activity at Home or in the Classroom
A little preparation can help kids get even more out of this book cover activity. Try these tips when using the printable:
- Talk about real book covers first. Look at a few books together and point out the title, author name, illustrations, and other details kids notice.
- Ask questions before they begin. What is the most important part of the story? Who is the main character? Where does the story take place? These questions can help kids decide what to include on their cover.
- Let kids sketch with a pencil first. They can lightly plan the title and illustration before adding crayons, markers, or colored pencils.
- Encourage original ideas. If kids are redesigning an existing book cover, encourage them to create their own interpretation instead of copying the original.
- Let kids explain their finished covers. Ask why they chose a particular picture, color, or detail. This can turn the activity into an opportunity to talk about the story and their creative choices.
- Display the finished designs. Hang the covers on a bulletin board, refrigerator, or classroom wall to celebrate their work.
Most importantly, give kids plenty of freedom to make their covers their own. The finished designs don’t need to look like professionally illustrated book covers—the fun is seeing the different ideas kids come up with.
Design Your Own Book Cover Activity FAQs
What should kids include on their book cover?
Kids can include a book title, their name as the author, and an illustration that represents the story. They can also add colors, patterns, and other creative details to personalize their cover.
Can kids use this activity with a book they’ve already read?
Yes. Kids can redesign the cover of a favorite book or create a new cover after finishing a book. Encourage them to think about the characters, setting, or an important part of the story when deciding what to draw.
Can kids use this for a story they write themselves?
Yes! Kids can write their own story and then create a cover to go with it. They can also design the cover before they begin writing and use their drawing and title to help brainstorm ideas for their story.
Can I use this for a book report?
This activity can be used as a creative addition to a book report or reading project. Kids can design a new cover that shows their understanding of the book they read.
What art supplies work best?
Crayons, markers, and colored pencils all work well. Kids may also want to use a pencil and eraser to sketch their design before adding color.
Can this activity be used in the classroom?
Yes. It can be incorporated into reading, writing, literacy, and book-themed classroom activities. It can also be used after independent reading or as part of a larger book project.
Ready to Design a Book Cover?
Give kids a chance to turn their ideas into their very own book cover! Whether they’re creating an original story, redesigning a favorite book, or completing a reading project, this printable is an easy way to combine reading, writing, and creativity.
Grab the Design Your Own Book Cover Activity and have crayons, markers, or colored pencils ready for designing.
Buy now on Etsy | Teachers Pay Teachers
More Design Your Own Activities for Kids
If your kids enjoyed creating their own book cover, keep the creativity going with these fun Design Your Own printable activities:
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