DIY printable children’s book:
where is she? let’s go find Mother Nature

by mari

DIY Printable Download Children's Book for Mother's Day, about Mother Nature, with how-to tutorial video

I finally finished the book, and I’m ready to share it with all of you, just in time for Mother’s Day. It’s a little book about Mother Nature, because Birdie keeps asking me the same question over and over again: “Who made that?” For the longest time she asked that question more than “Why?” So I thought it was time to take some of my answers and put them into a book, in the hopes that she’ll finally believe me. Plus, what better time to share a book about Mother Nature than for Mother’s Day? Send this link off to your loved ones and see if they’ll make it just for you and your kiddos to read together.

where is she?

Mother Nature is not the same as you and I.
Her home is the forest and her playground is the sky.
Can you find her?
She’d prefer you spy her when the rain is pouring from above,
letting all her ponds and rivers dance a droplets dance.
Did you see her dancing with the clouds?
They danced so hard they bumped together,
causing the lightning to prance.
Or you can feel her slippery touch when
your toes squish in the mud.
When she stirs the wind,
catch a whiff of her earthy smells: dirt and flowers and leaves!
And when you say “Hello Ms. Ladybug, how wonderful you are!”
It’s Mother Nature who says thank you
with a tickle of those little bug legs.
Where is Mother Nature?
You’ll find her in the things she does and the things she loves.
She’s right there, and here, and over there too.
Do you see her?

So, let’s get started on this project, are you with me?

What you’ll need for your DIY Children’s Book:

  • Thick grey board – use the backs of notebooks, like legal pads, etc. Enough for two 4.25″ x 4.25″ squares
  • Legal-sized paper or larger (8.5″ x 14″) and access to a color printer
  • X-acto Knife
  • Ruler
  • Cutting mat or other safe cutting surface
  • Glue Stick (I used a non-wrinkle stick from 3M, it’s pretty great!)

What you’ll do to make your DIY children’s book:

  • Start by downloading the pdf files below. You’ll need the free Acrobat Reader if you don’t already have it. You can choose to print only the fronts of the pages, but I think it’s the double-sided prints that make this book extra special. (tip, it might take a couple of test runs to get your fronts and backs to line up on your printer, that’s ok! Just have a little extra paper around) I recommend printing the front and back of each sheet as you go, so you don’t get confused. Lord knows I was lost here and there.

        Download the zipped pdf files here!

  • Then, cut out your pages with an X-acto and ruler. There are crop marks on each page (front side only), watch the video to see some tips for working with those crop marks!
  • Now glue the ends of the pages together – page 3 to page 4, page 6 to page 7, and page 9 to page 10. There are tabs on the LH sides of pages 4, 7, and 10. Just line up the images with the tabs.
  • Now fold the pages into an accordion. Start first by folding along the three seams you glued. Then, take a spare piece of paper and cut it 4″ wide. Use that as your template, and fold each accordion fold around that template. See the video for some pointers.
  • Cut out your grey board covers. Covers should measure 4.25″ x 4.25″
  • Cut out and glue the cover art to the grey board.
  • Glue the end pages of your accordion fold booklet to the covers.
  • Press them under a heavy pile of books for a bit, just to set everything up.
  • Read to your children, to each other, and to yourself as needed!

 

{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Jackie Boucher May 4, 2012 at 10:02 am

It’s gorgeous!

Reply

2 mari May 4, 2012 at 3:47 pm

thank you so much! I really needed to hear that ;)

Reply

3 Petra May 4, 2012 at 3:54 pm

Prescious!!!

Reply

4 mari May 4, 2012 at 11:01 pm

Thank you Petra! I love getting your feedback!

Reply

5 Deb May 7, 2012 at 10:34 am

I love it, Mari! I can also see this as a great offering from Chronicle…

Reply

6 mari May 7, 2012 at 12:50 pm

Thank you! That’s a stupendous idea, I suppose you don’t happen to have a contact there, do you? ;)

Reply

7 Alix May 7, 2012 at 8:28 pm

This is LOVELY!!!!!

Reply

8 mari May 7, 2012 at 10:18 pm

Thank you dear!!

Reply

9 Cheryl Wood May 11, 2012 at 6:22 am

Just beautiful!

Reply

10 Miz Big May 11, 2012 at 8:46 am

Thanks!

Reply

11 Pene May 11, 2012 at 8:24 am

W.O.W…thank you so much for sharing such a wonder gift! Can’t wait to make this with my kids!

Reply

12 Miz Big May 11, 2012 at 8:45 am

I’m so glad to hear it, let me know it goes!

Reply

13 Whitney May 12, 2012 at 3:58 pm

Wow – this is beautiful! I will be making asap for my classroom.

Reply

14 mari May 12, 2012 at 9:56 pm

That’s wonderful news! I hope the kids like it too!

Reply

15 Whitney May 13, 2012 at 3:16 am

I have no doubt that they will love it!! Thank you for your generosity in posting something so lovely for free :)

Reply

16 mari May 14, 2012 at 8:47 pm

Happy to do it – it gave me the kick in the pants to get it done!

Reply

17 Organic Cents May 21, 2012 at 6:30 am

I love this! Just posted about it on my blog. If you do more, I would love a printable book that is left for the child to color in. Thanks for sharing!

Reply

18 Mari May 22, 2012 at 3:47 pm

That’s a wonderful idea! I’m hoping to do more soon!

Reply

19 paula February 13, 2013 at 10:23 am

W.O.W…
W.O.W…
W.O.W…
thank you for sharing such a wonder idea!
Can’t wait to make this with my Pola!
Thanks!
You are so inspiring!!!
Kisses from Poland

Reply

20 mari February 13, 2013 at 10:56 am

You’ve just made my day Paula – Thank you!

Reply

21 Alison Wood May 13, 2013 at 8:28 pm

I love making crafts and gifts for my kids! But one thing would be different. I would be able to answer my kids honest questions with truth that they need to hear—there is a God in heaven that loves you and He made all these wonderful things you see! He even made you and me!
I am thankful for a loving Creator that took the thought and time to make the grass green and the skies blue—the colors that are the most pleasant to the eyes. He knew I would have to see these things everyday, and He made the so beautiful for me to enjoy!

Reply

22 Jackie June 3, 2013 at 10:40 am

Mari,

This book is gorgeous!!! I was doing an image search on modern kids books and one of your images caught my eye. I love the illustration. I was delighted to see it was by you, my new friend from Alt for Everyone!

Reply

23 mari June 3, 2013 at 3:06 pm

Oh that is so awesome! Hi dear!!!

Reply

24 Romana Toson May 7, 2014 at 1:07 am

You have done it again Mari. Birdie is one lucky little munchkin. Hope it’s ok to post a link to your Mothers Day blog post from mine. Special!

Reply

25 peters June 19, 2023 at 9:47 am

At all time follow your heart

Reply

26 peters June 19, 2023 at 10:54 am

I`m very happy to uncover this page

Reply

27 peters June 19, 2023 at 11:01 am

dos and don`t of home renovations

Reply

28 peters June 19, 2023 at 11:11 am

thanks for providing this information

Reply

29 peters June 19, 2023 at 11:19 am

the world hopes for passionate writer like you

Reply

30 peters June 19, 2023 at 11:27 am

thanks for sharing your thoughts

Reply

Cancel reply

Leave a Comment

{ 7 trackbacks }

Previous post:

Next post:

Google+ Tag Code: