Let’s write and illustrate a book together!
Rising Youth Theatre, in partnership with the i.d.e.a. Museum and Benedictine University in Mesa, is providing a few activities this summer to promote storytelling. Special thanks to the Arizona Commission on the Arts – which receives funding from the state of Arizona and National Endowment for the Arts – for making these activities possible.
This activity uses a few things around your house and some imagination.
Materials needed:
- Paper
- Pen or pencil
- Something to illustrate story, such as markers or crayons
- Two or more people to take turns writing and illustrating your story
Getting started:
1. Take 2-3 sheets of paper and fold in half. You may staple the pages together, but it’s unnecessary.
2. Open up the book to the first page and let the first person write a sentence in the story. Then the second person illustrates and writes the next sentence. Repeat until finished.
Note: Consider using an improv technique “Yes and …” to build your story. Make sure you pay attention to what is written to build on that theme and move the story forward.
3. After you finish writing, create your book title and illustrate the cover page. This works even if family – such as a grandparent or cousin – lives far away. Just drop the book in the mail to send to the next collaborator.
Suggestions: You can make this a multifamily activity – everyone takes turns.
Learn more about Rising Youth Theatre by clicking this link: risingyouththeatre.org/