Creating Children's Pop-up Books
A course by Silvia Hijano Coullaut (Libracos)Editorial Designer
A course by Silvia Hijano Coullaut (Libracos), Editorial Designer
Learn how to create a pop-up book step by step for the little ones to enjoy, from the initial concept to assembling the pieces
Build a book that allows the little ones not only to play, but also to actively participate in the story. Learn how to create a children's pop-up book with the designer Silvia Hijano Coullaut, founder of the publishing design and production company, Libracos.
In this online course, he will show you step by step how to develop a complete pop-up book from the creative process to its construction. At the end, you will have in your hands a game book to enjoy with the little ones.
Do you want to delve into the universe of pop-ups? Take a look at the other courses taught by Silvia: Creation of pop-up books, Advanced techniques for the creation of pop-up books, Interactive pop-up books: create paper worlds.
What will you learn in this online course?
22 lessons & 43 downloads
Explore: Designing a Children's Book in Dimension
7 minutes, 26 seconds
Invent: shape your ideas 1
11 minutes, 28 seconds
Invent: shape your ideas 2
11 minutes, 19 seconds
Decide: the final structure in dimension
11 minutes, 26 seconds
Build: technical preparation 1
13 minutes, 35 seconds
Final model and digitization
20 minutes, 33 seconds
What's included in this course?
You will start the course by meeting Silvia Hijano, who will explain her process when it comes to creating and seeking inspiration. He will also talk to you about the importance of the book at different ages.
You will learn how to get a good idea for your book, for characters and locations, and how to bring them to life with simple turning mechanisms. Then, you will plan what engineering and interaction elements will be on each page.
You will define the graphic style and fill in an emotion map so that the reader creates a link with the book. Next, you will create a first mockup and explore the types of paper. You will develop the first pieces and Silvia will teach you how to digitize and trace them in Illustrator in a simple way.
Let's do it! You will build each page of your book. Once you have all assembled, you will assemble them. You will see how to join the pages with gussets that will help you supplement the difference in thickness that you will have between the spine and the back cut of the book.
It was time to bind, starting with the covers and using a Dutch binding. When you finish the covers, you will discover how to assemble them with the book in a flawless way.
What is this course's project?
You will create a game book that will consist of a scenario where the character will need the reader to complete the story.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
To all the people who are curious about creating stories through paper.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is required, but patience and manual dexterity are required.
Of materials, you will need cutting tools, a printer, cardboard, double-sided tape, cardboard and binding cloth.
Reviews
- 1 month ago
Excelente el curso
- 1 month ago
Excelente. Silvia es una excelente instructora.
- 3 months ago
Estoy muy entusiamada con este curso, con explicaciones sencillas y probadas en papel. Hermosa propuesta del proyecto final; un privilegio aprender con esta profesora.
- 3 months ago
Super treści, ciekawe przykłady, przydatne szablony.
- 3 months ago
Corso estupendo
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
From flat ideas to ideas in dimension
- Explore: Designing a Children's Book in Dimension
- Invent: shape your ideas 1
- Invent: shape your ideas 2
- Decide: the final structure in dimension
- Build: technical preparation 1
- Build: technical preparation 2
- Final model and digitization
- U3
Production: The fish that wanted to be a singer
- Page 1: Seabed
- Bottom of the sea: accessories
- Page 2: Fair
- Fair: accessories
- Page 3: House of music 1
- Page 3: House of music 2
- House of music: accessories
- Page 4: Grand Theater
- Great theater: accessories
- Return to the sea: structure and elements
- U4
Finishes
- Assembly
- Binding 1
- Binding 2
- FP
Final project
- Creación de libros pop-up infantiles
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FAQs
You’ll learn how to design and build pop-up children’s books, activity books, and interactive books—from choosing materials and mechanisms to creating characters, structures, and binding—blending creativity, storytelling, and both hands-on and digital techniques.
This course is aimed at people with intermediate skills in design, crafts, or illustration, though all key techniques are explained step-by-step to help those with basic experience follow along.
You’ll need paper of various weights, cardboard, a craft knife or scalpel, double-sided tape, glue, a ruler, scoring tools, and basic illustration supplies (digital or traditional). Access to Illustrator is also recommended for the digital phase.
You’ll be able to design and build pop-up books, star-shaped books, house-shaped books, educational activity books, books with moving parts, 3D scenes, and interactive models for children.
You’ll learn to create mechanisms like V-folds, central spins, trapdoors, flaps, and articulated figures, integrating these into the illustrations and book structures to bring movement and interaction.
Yes, the course covers handmade bookbinding techniques, assembly and reinforcement of parts, as well as proper alignment and joining of pages and covers for pop-up and interactive books.
The course introduces augmented reality integration and digitizing components in Illustrator, allowing you to combine manual and digital processes to create innovative children’s books.