book cover assignment pdf

Design a Book Cover

Students create a new cover design for a book they are reading to demonstrate comprehension and explore character, plot, setting, symbolism, and conflict.

Students just aren't checking books out of the school library as often anymore. The librarian is hoping to remedy this situation by making the books that are in the library look more appealing!

After finding a book you enjoy, encourage other students to read it by creating a new cover design to entice other students to read it.

Images can be powerful ways of communicating. People instinctively respond to images based on their personalities, associations, and previous experience. Graphic designers use this instinctive response to visually communicate ideas and information. They work with different tools and mediums to convey a message from a client to a particular audience.

As a class, look at the covers for several books you have read. Does the cover art reflect the content and mood of the book?

Share the librarian's dilemma and ask your students to create new cover jackets for some of their favorite books. Remind them that a book jacket includes:

• A clear title and author name
• A graphic design that reflects the books themes
• A summary of the plot without giving away the ending
• A review (opinion) about the book

Have students choose a favorite book or one they have read recently.

To help students review what they learned about the book, have them complete a character sketch or character web about the main character. This will help them develop details about the main character, so they communicate information about the character linguistically before trying to do so visually.

You may also find it useful for them to complete organizers that show characters, setting, and events in the beginning, middle, and end or even a more elaborate plot diagram.

Graphic designers need to think about the goal of the images they create. A book cover design should not only give the viewer an idea of the content and mood of the book but should also be eye-catching to encourage students browsing in the library (like customers in a bookstore) to pick up a book they may not be familiar with.

Have students think about the message they want to convey with their book cover and write a short proposal about what they hope their book cover will convey.

For example, in Esperanza Rising, a proposal might look like:

Pam Munoz Ryan’s Esperanza Rising is a story about a well-to-do Mexican girl who had to begin a new life in the farm fields of California. Despite all of her misfortune and hard work, Esperanza Rising is a story about hope for a bright future. The book cover for this story should show her background in Mexico and her hard work in the fields, but the mood should still be uplifting.

Have students share their proposal with a partner who has read their book and discuss the merits of the idea.

• Do you agree with their summary of what should be included on the cover?
• Do you agree with the mood they have chosen?
• What images might they use?

Have students revise and submit their proposal for your review.

Once the students have their proposal written, they should begin looking for potential images they can use in their cover design. Using the descriptive words in their character sketch and cover design worksheets, have them use a digital camera to capture appropriate images and the Internet to explore and download copyright-friendly images from Pics4Learning .

You may also want to give them access to a paint program or art supplies, so they can also create original illustrations and artwork.

Once students have collected all of their image resources, have them use a tool like Wixie to combine them into a front and back cover design or book jacket.

When the cover designs are completed, have students work in small teams to evaluate them. Collect all of the evaluations and then distribute them to the cover designers.

Print the new cover designs and display them around school to promote reading. The librarian may choose to display them in the library to help visiting students connect with literature that interests them.

You could also ask local graphic designers to evaluate student work. Make sure the designers evaluate the work for both design skill and how well the design reflects the content of the book. In other words, bring in designers who love to read!

Create a rubric or checklist to help guide student work during research, writing, and final book cover design. Use the Rubric Maker to create a rubric for free. If you use Wixie, use the embedded rubric-making tool. The book cover design templates in Wixie each have a rubric already attached.

Use the character sketch to evaluate how well students understood the content of the book, as well as their skill at describing the characters and events in the text. Use their cover proposal to evaluate how well they can translate their content research into a design that shares this information visually.

The cover design is a great summative assessment helping you evaluate student's comprehension and skill communicating in a visual medium.

Powers, Alan. (2001) Front Cover: Great Book Jacket and Cover Design. Mitchell Beazley. ISBN: 1840004215

Powers, Alan. (2003) Children’s Book Covers: Great Book Jacket And Cover Design. Mitchell Beazley. ISBN: 1840006935

Poggenpohl, Sharon Helmer. (1994) Graphic Design: A Career Guide and Education Directory . Watson-Guptill Publications. ISBN: 0823062988

Common Core Anchor Standards for English Language Arts - Grade 4-10

Writing standards.

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

Speaking and Listening Standards

Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

5. Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.

Reading Standards

Key Ideas and Details

1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

10. Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.

ISTE NETS for Students 2016:

6. creative communicator.

Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals. Students:

a. choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.

b. create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.

d. publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.

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book cover design

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Book Cover Worksheets

Customize book cover templates.

If you're assigning this to your students, copy the worksheet to your account and save. When creating an assignment, just select it as a template!

What Is A Book Cover And How Are Book Cover Templates Best Used In Teaching?

In book design, an eye-catching book cover is the primary visual representation of a book that aims to catch the attention of potential readers. It usually includes graphics, images, and/or illustrations that represent the contents of the book. A book cover maker or generator can be an excellent tool for students learning book cover design. Using book cover templates in a classroom setting is highly relevant for teaching lessons in graphic design, creative writing, marketing, and advertising. By utilizing book cover templates, students can learn how to create a stunning and perfect book cover design. There are many free book cover templates available online that can be customized to create a professional-looking book cover.

By using a book cover generator or free book cover templates, teachers can encourage students to create stunning book covers for their writing assignments. This not only allows students to customize their work to fit their own unique visions but also teaches them how to use a book cover creator tool to create a professional-looking book cover that effectively represents their writing, a useful skill if they decide to pursue self publishing in the future. Incorporating graphics and images can help students create a visual representation of their work that engages readers and conveys the book's themes and messages. They can also explore other creative elements like using bold typography to make their design interesting.

Book Cover Design Lesson Ideas

Book cover analysis.

In this activity, students will analyze a range of book covers in a particular genre, identifying common elements and trends. They can use their findings to design their own book cover for a book in the same genre. This activity can help students understand the importance of visual design in marketing and advertising.

Book Trailer and Cover Design

The activity involves creating a book trailer and book cover design, using multimedia tools to make an engaging trailer and a matching cover that highlights the book's themes. Students will learn how to use various media to tell and market a story effectively.

Using Storyboard That Book Cover Maker

Storyboard That can help you create a good book cover template for your next project. Simply pick from the existing templates, or create your own. The StoryboardThat book cover creator allows users to customize each element of the template. The design experience is seamless. You can even select custom sizes for your designs. Once finished, the user can save and print the worksheet or keep it in their storyboard library for future use. Additionally, the tool offers free icons, pictures, and different file formats to choose from.

How to Make a Book Cover Worksheet

Choose one of the premade templates.

We have lots of templates to choose from. Take a look at our example for inspiration!

Click on "Copy Template"

Once you do this, you will be directed to the storyboard creator.

Give Your Worksheet a Name!

Be sure to call it something related to the topic so that you can easily find it in the future.

Edit Your Worksheet

This is where you will include directions, specific questions and images, and make any aesthetic changes that you would like. The options are endless!

Click "Save and Exit"

When you are finished with your worksheet, click this button in the lower right hand corner to exit your storyboard.

From here you can print, download as a PDF, attach it to an assignment and use it digitally, and more!

Create Your Own Book Cover Design Using These Simple Tips

Designing their own book cover can be a rewarding and exciting experience for students learning book cover design. Students can easily access a range of free templates online and use the book cover maker or generator of their choice to create a book cover that suits the genre and tone of their book. When choosing a template, it's important to consider how it aligns with the content of their book, as this can help readers better understand what the book is about. Students should also aim to incorporate high-quality images that reflect the themes of their book, and experiment with colors, fonts, and layouts to create a stunning and perfect book cover design. There are many free book cover templates available online that can be customized to create a professional-looking book cover they can download that captures the essence of their story. By following these tips and using the right book cover creator, students can easily design a beautiful book cover that will impress their classmates and showcase their writing skills.

Even More Storyboard That Resources and Free Printables

• Worksheet Templates
• Poster Templates
• Journal Cover Worksheet Templates
• Book Report Planning

Happy Creating!

Frequently Asked Questions About Book Cover Templates

Can book cover templates be used for e-books as well as print books.

Yes, book cover templates can be used for both e-books and print books. Many book cover maker tools provide customizable templates that are specifically designed for e-books and can be easily converted into the appropriate file format you choose when you want to make your own book cover. You don’t have to spend the time figuring out from scratch how to design book covers, instead you mainly focus on your best book cover design ideas since the editable templates are already there.

How can book cover templates be used to improve student writing and teach design experience and skills?

By creating book covers for their writing assignments, students can better visualize the themes and messages of their work. This can help them to write more clearly and effectively, and can also inspire them to think more creatively about their writing since they will have to spend the time and figure out how to fill their cover space. Using printable book covers and more templates in the classroom can provide a practical application for teaching design skills such as color theory, typography, and image placement. This can help students to develop their visual literacy and communication skills.

Can book cover templates be used to promote cross-disciplinary learning?

Yes, free book cover templates available online can be used to promote cross-disciplinary learning by integrating them into lessons across multiple subjects. For example, students could use book cover templates to create covers for a historical fiction novel in a language arts class, then research the historical events and figures featured in the book in a social studies class.

How can book cover templates be used to promote collaboration in the classroom?

Using book cover templates from book cover makers online in group assignments can encourage collaboration and teamwork among students. By working together to create a shared vision for their book cover, and then producing them with the help of online book cover creator tools, students can learn to communicate and compromise effectively.

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Book Cover Redesign

Book covers usually give us our first clue of what a book will explore. From a book cover, we can often tell what genre of book, the age level of the reader, the information that the book will discuss, and even what other readers think about the book.

Every book has a front cover, back cover, and a spine . Because they help protect the paper pages of the book, these parts are usually made of have your paper or cardboard. In addition, these parts of the book's cover help readers identify the book as well as persuade potential readers to consider the title.

The Front Cover The front cover of a book typically feature is the title of the book in a clear and obvious way. The letters usually stand out in some way from the other details that may be included on the cover. Normally, the names of the author and illustrator in smaller size to text than the title.The front cover of a book includes a picture that illustrates any of the following:* one or more characters

* the setting

* a specific event

* an important symbol in the book.

The Back Cover The back cover of a book can include any information that might interest readers in the book. The example back cover can list the names of the poet whose poems are included in the book, or other books that the author has written for reference. On another book you might find an excerpt from the story, a short summary of the book's contents, or reviews by other readers.

Some books have the illustration from the front cover wrap all the way around the book, so you can see a continuation of this scene from the front of the book extended across the back. Back covers may also include Graphics that highlight important text such as a box that highlights a review . Back covers also sometimes include the book's title, authors, illustrators, and publisher as well. You are likely to see the barcode symbol used for pricing and inventory. The retail price may also be included on the back cover.

The Spine A book spine is the smallest part of the cover, but it is often the most important part. The spine is the first thing that a reader sees when browsing in group of books lined up on a bookshelf or stacked in a pile. The spine typically includes the basic identifying information about the book. The books author, the book's title, the book publishers. Sometimes the spine will also include a small icon or trademark associated with the publisher.

You will be recreating your own book cover of a book you have previously read/heard.

The Art of Cover Design

STEP 1: Review components of a book cover in class; Glue note sheet into your sketchbook.

STEP 2: Pick the book you will be redesigning. Fill out note sheet according to your book choice.

STEP 3: In your sketchbook, use a RULER to draw a rectangle that measures 9in x 6in. This is your full cover.

STEP 4: Using a RULER, draw a 1 inch-wide section 4 inches in from the long edge. You should have 4 inches on either side of your 1 inch spine.

NOTE: Your BACK cover is on the LEFT side. Your FRONT cover is on the RIGHT side.

STEP 5: Draw out your cover recreation with full color. Be sure to include all pieces of necessary information and any writing you plan to include. Have me check your work.

FRONT COVER: Book title, Author, Picture/Illustration, Your Name as illustrator

BACK COVER: Picture/Illustration, More information (summary of 5-11 sentences, 1-2 reviews), Barcode/price, publisher logo

SPINE: Book title, Author, Publisher logo

STEP 6: Write your Summary/synopsis for your back cover by completing the document assigned in Google classroom.

Have the teacher check your work before moving on.

STEP 7: Open Photopea & create a New canvas with dimensions 9in x 6in, titled LastName_BookCover

STEP 8: Utilize your tools to create the same book cover design you had created in your sketchbook.

To show your RULER tool (in order to draw straight lines with the shape tool), press Ctrl R.

STEP 9: Upload your book cover to your website on a new page called: Book Cover

STEP 10: Once finished, upload your JPEG to Google Classroom & fill out a rubric.

STEP 11: PRINT your project to the ARTTECH printer, mount it, and turn in with your rubric.

April 9, 2024

U.S. Postal Service Recommends New Prices for July 2024

%news-subheading%

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the U. S. Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission of mailing services price changes to take effect July 14, 2024. The new rates include a 5-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 68 cents to 73 cents.

The proposed adjustments, approved by the governors of the Postal Service, would raise mailing services product prices approximately 7.8 percent. If favorably reviewed by the commission, the price changes would include:

The additional-ounce price for single-piece letters increases from 24 cents to 28 cents. The Postal Service is also seeking price adjustments for Special Services products, including Certified Mail and money order fees. Notably, there will be no price increase for Post Office Box rental fees, and the Postal Service will apply a price reduction of 10 percent for postal insurance when mailing an item.

As changes in the mailing and shipping marketplace continue, these price adjustments are needed to achieve the financial stability sought by the organization’s Delivering for America 10-year plan. USPS prices remain among the most affordable in the world.

The commission will review the changes before they are scheduled to take effect. The complete Postal Service price filing, with prices for all products, can be found on the commission’s website under the Daily Listings section . The Mailing Services filing is Docket No. R2024-2. The price tables are also available on the Postal Service’s Postal Explorer website at  pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index .

Postal Products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps , by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon .

The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 167 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America , to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom . Follow us on X , formerly known as Twitter; Instagram ; Pinterest ; Threads and LinkedIn . Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook . For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com .

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NPR defends its journalism after senior editor says it has lost the public's trust

David Folkenflik

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust.

NPR's top news executive defended its journalism and its commitment to reflecting a diverse array of views on Tuesday after a senior NPR editor wrote a broad critique of how the network has covered some of the most important stories of the age.

"An open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR, and now, predictably, we don't have an audience that reflects America," writes Uri Berliner.

A strategic emphasis on diversity and inclusion on the basis of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, promoted by NPR's former CEO, John Lansing, has fed "the absence of viewpoint diversity," Berliner writes.

NPR's chief news executive, Edith Chapin, wrote in a memo to staff Tuesday afternoon that she and the news leadership team strongly reject Berliner's assessment.

"We're proud to stand behind the exceptional work that our desks and shows do to cover a wide range of challenging stories," she wrote. "We believe that inclusion — among our staff, with our sourcing, and in our overall coverage — is critical to telling the nuanced stories of this country and our world."

NPR names tech executive Katherine Maher to lead in turbulent era

She added, "None of our work is above scrutiny or critique. We must have vigorous discussions in the newsroom about how we serve the public as a whole."

A spokesperson for NPR said Chapin, who also serves as the network's chief content officer, would have no further comment.

Praised by NPR's critics

Berliner is a senior editor on NPR's Business Desk. (Disclosure: I, too, am part of the Business Desk, and Berliner has edited many of my past stories. He did not see any version of this article or participate in its preparation before it was posted publicly.)

Berliner's essay , titled "I've Been at NPR for 25 years. Here's How We Lost America's Trust," was published by The Free Press, a website that has welcomed journalists who have concluded that mainstream news outlets have become reflexively liberal.

Berliner writes that as a Subaru-driving, Sarah Lawrence College graduate who "was raised by a lesbian peace activist mother ," he fits the mold of a loyal NPR fan.

Yet Berliner says NPR's news coverage has fallen short on some of the most controversial stories of recent years, from the question of whether former President Donald Trump colluded with Russia in the 2016 election, to the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19, to the significance and provenance of emails leaked from a laptop owned by Hunter Biden weeks before the 2020 election. In addition, he blasted NPR's coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

On each of these stories, Berliner asserts, NPR has suffered from groupthink due to too little diversity of viewpoints in the newsroom.

The essay ricocheted Tuesday around conservative media , with some labeling Berliner a whistleblower . Others picked it up on social media, including Elon Musk, who has lambasted NPR for leaving his social media site, X. (Musk emailed another NPR reporter a link to Berliner's article with a gibe that the reporter was a "quisling" — a World War II reference to someone who collaborates with the enemy.)

When asked for further comment late Tuesday, Berliner declined, saying the essay spoke for itself.

The arguments he raises — and counters — have percolated across U.S. newsrooms in recent years. The #MeToo sexual harassment scandals of 2016 and 2017 forced newsrooms to listen to and heed more junior colleagues. The social justice movement prompted by the killing of George Floyd in 2020 inspired a reckoning in many places. Newsroom leaders often appeared to stand on shaky ground.

Leaders at many newsrooms, including top editors at The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times , lost their jobs. Legendary Washington Post Executive Editor Martin Baron wrote in his memoir that he feared his bonds with the staff were "frayed beyond repair," especially over the degree of self-expression his journalists expected to exert on social media, before he decided to step down in early 2021.

Since then, Baron and others — including leaders of some of these newsrooms — have suggested that the pendulum has swung too far.

Author Interviews

Legendary editor marty baron describes his 'collision of power' with trump and bezos.

New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger warned last year against journalists embracing a stance of what he calls "one-side-ism": "where journalists are demonstrating that they're on the side of the righteous."

"I really think that that can create blind spots and echo chambers," he said.

Internal arguments at The Times over the strength of its reporting on accusations that Hamas engaged in sexual assaults as part of a strategy for its Oct. 7 attack on Israel erupted publicly . The paper conducted an investigation to determine the source of a leak over a planned episode of the paper's podcast The Daily on the subject, which months later has not been released. The newsroom guild accused the paper of "targeted interrogation" of journalists of Middle Eastern descent.

Heated pushback in NPR's newsroom

Given Berliner's account of private conversations, several NPR journalists question whether they can now trust him with unguarded assessments about stories in real time. Others express frustration that he had not sought out comment in advance of publication. Berliner acknowledged to me that for this story, he did not seek NPR's approval to publish the piece, nor did he give the network advance notice.

Some of Berliner's NPR colleagues are responding heatedly. Fernando Alfonso, a senior supervising editor for digital news, wrote that he wholeheartedly rejected Berliner's critique of the coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict, for which NPR's journalists, like their peers, periodically put themselves at risk.

Alfonso also took issue with Berliner's concern over the focus on diversity at NPR.

"As a person of color who has often worked in newsrooms with little to no people who look like me, the efforts NPR has made to diversify its workforce and its sources are unique and appropriate given the news industry's long-standing lack of diversity," Alfonso says. "These efforts should be celebrated and not denigrated as Uri has done."

After this story was first published, Berliner contested Alfonso's characterization, saying his criticism of NPR is about the lack of diversity of viewpoints, not its diversity itself.

"I never criticized NPR's priority of achieving a more diverse workforce in terms of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. I have not 'denigrated' NPR's newsroom diversity goals," Berliner said. "That's wrong."

Questions of diversity

Under former CEO John Lansing, NPR made increasing diversity, both of its staff and its audience, its "North Star" mission. Berliner says in the essay that NPR failed to consider broader diversity of viewpoint, noting, "In D.C., where NPR is headquartered and many of us live, I found 87 registered Democrats working in editorial positions and zero Republicans."

Berliner cited audience estimates that suggested a concurrent falloff in listening by Republicans. (The number of people listening to NPR broadcasts and terrestrial radio broadly has declined since the start of the pandemic.)

Former NPR vice president for news and ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin tweeted , "I know Uri. He's not wrong."

Others questioned Berliner's logic. "This probably gets causality somewhat backward," tweeted Semafor Washington editor Jordan Weissmann . "I'd guess that a lot of NPR listeners who voted for [Mitt] Romney have changed how they identify politically."

Similarly, Nieman Lab founder Joshua Benton suggested the rise of Trump alienated many NPR-appreciating Republicans from the GOP.

In recent years, NPR has greatly enhanced the percentage of people of color in its workforce and its executive ranks. Four out of 10 staffers are people of color; nearly half of NPR's leadership team identifies as Black, Asian or Latino.

"The philosophy is: Do you want to serve all of America and make sure it sounds like all of America, or not?" Lansing, who stepped down last month, says in response to Berliner's piece. "I'd welcome the argument against that."

"On radio, we were really lagging in our representation of an audience that makes us look like what America looks like today," Lansing says. The U.S. looks and sounds a lot different than it did in 1971, when NPR's first show was broadcast, Lansing says.

A network spokesperson says new NPR CEO Katherine Maher supports Chapin and her response to Berliner's critique.

The spokesperson says that Maher "believes that it's a healthy thing for a public service newsroom to engage in rigorous consideration of the needs of our audiences, including where we serve our mission well and where we can serve it better."

Disclosure: This story was reported and written by NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by Deputy Business Editor Emily Kopp and Managing Editor Gerry Holmes. Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no NPR corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly.