Make an accordion book by dividing a long paper strip into equal panels, folding each crease in the opposite direction to the previous one, and attaching optional covers to the two outside end panels. The result closes into a compact stack and opens into a continuous zigzag. Fold and test the blank book before adding drawings or words.
Choose paper and a manageable size
Gather plain drawing paper, a ruler, pencil, scissors, a glue stick and two small pieces of cardstock for optional covers. Ordinary paper is easier to crease than heavy card. Very thin tissue can tear along repeatedly opened folds, while thick watercolor paper may resist closing neatly. Make your first version from inexpensive paper so you can test the structure.
For a small practice book, cut a strip 3 inches high and 12 inches long. Divide it into eight panels, each 1½ inches wide. The closed paper stack will be about 3 inches by 1½ inches before covers are added.
These are practice dimensions rather than a required book size. A shorter strip with four wider panels is another useful first attempt. If your available paper is shorter than the example, choose a panel width that divides its length evenly instead of leaving a narrow leftover panel at one end.
Mark equal panels before folding
Place the long strip horizontally on a clean surface. Measure the panel widths along both long edges and make light pencil marks. Connect matching marks with faint lines if that helps you keep the folds straight. Check the final panel against the first before creasing anything. An error in measurement becomes more obvious when the book is stacked.
For the eight-panel practice strip, the internal fold positions are 1½, 3, 4½, 6, 7½, 9 and 10½ inches from one end. There are seven internal creases. Keep the strip in one piece; the marked lines show where to fold, not where to cut.
Alternate the direction of each fold
Fold the first panel over the second along the first marked line. Align the top and bottom edges, then smooth the crease with your fingers. Fold the next crease in the opposite direction, bringing the next panel behind the stack. Continue back and forth, keeping each fold parallel to the last. Viewed from above when slightly opened, the strip should form a regular zigzag.
Avoid wrapping every new panel around the outside of the stack in the same direction. That makes a rolled or nested structure instead of an accordion. If you become unsure, open the strip partway and check that a ridge is followed by a hollow. Reverse an incorrect crease gently before continuing.
Check the stack before adding covers
Close the blank accordion and set it on the table. Its long edges should line up reasonably well. Small handmade differences are normal, but a panel that projects far beyond the others usually signals a misplaced or angled fold. Open to that crease, compare it with your marks and refold carefully.
The Eric Carle Museum’s accordion-book activity offers a related folding approach using repeated halving. Whichever method you choose, begin with a size you can hold comfortably and check the structure before decorating.
Attach two simple covers
Cut two cardstock rectangles the same size as the closed panel, or only slightly larger if you want a small protective border. Test their position without glue. One belongs on the exposed outside face at the front of the closed stack, and the other on the exposed outside face at the back. Keep the interior folds free.
Spread a thin, even layer of glue on an end panel, align its cover and press gently. Repeat at the other end. Follow the adhesive’s drying instructions. Do not glue the sides of the stack together or attach a cover across a moving hinge. Once dry, open the book slowly to confirm every fold still moves.
Plan the page order with a temporary sketch
Decide whether the book will be read by turning through folded sections or displayed as a long scene. Pencil a tiny temporary sequence on scrap paper before making permanent marks in the book. Open the real accordion in the direction you intend to use, identify the front cover and plan where the story begins.
Try a sequence of eight observations, a small landscape that crosses several panels or a collection of related drawings. Keep important lettering and detailed faces away from fold lines. If using markers, test a scrap for show-through before decorating both sides. Let wet media dry fully before closing the pages.
Prevent bulk and protect the folds
Use thin collage pieces and modest amounts of glue. Thick buttons, folded fabric or many overlapping layers can stop the stack from closing evenly. If it springs open after decoration, check for a bulky attachment at a hinge before adding pressure. Avoid forcing it flat: the paper may tear beside the crease.
Store the finished book closed and dry, with no heavy object pressing on a protruding decoration. Support the panels when opening it rather than pulling hard on the covers. For more small paper projects, try a cardstock bookmark or practice a similar back-and-forth motion with a folded paper fan.
Leave a Reply