Make a Zine

Our last family day, in April, celebrated the art of storytelling in honor of International Children’s Book Day. Artist Susan Allix creates and binds her own books of her writings and prints. Each of her books is a work of art. They’re filled with poetry and prose about a range of subjects. They also show colorful pictures of nature and mythology.

If you could write a book about anything, what would it be about? Who would the characters be? Where would it take place?

Zines (short for magazines) are small, handmade booklets made by a single person. They can be about anything and can include writings, poems, drawings, collage, printmaking and more.

If you created a zine to share with others, what story would you tell?

You’ll need the following supplies:

• white paper
• scissors
• art materials like markers, colored pencils and stickers
• optional: collage materials

Directions:

1. Fold your paper in half lengthwise (hotdog style).
2. Fold it in half two more times (hamburger style).
3. Unfold your paper and lay it flat to show 8 folded sections.
4. Fold it once (hamburger style) and rotate it sideways. Use scissors to cut the middle line from the folded edge to the center of the paper. Don’t cut all the way to the end.
5. Unfold your paper and fold it hotdog style again. Push the two ends of the folded paper together until it looks like a plus sign. 
6. Press the pages together. You just made a zine!
7. Decorate the cover of your book using markers or colored pencils. You can also use collage materials like magazines or patterned paper.
8. What will your zine be about? What ideas would you like to share?

Our next Family Day is Saturday, May 30. Come have fun with us.