http://www.makingbooks.com/accordion.shtml
youtube tutorial
I spend a lot of my time making books and as Thanksgiving is a time of reflection, a simple handmade book seems appropriate to the season. I was inspired by the book Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message. Chief Jake Swamp says in his author's note: "The words in this book are based on the Thanksgiving Address, an ancient message of peace and appreciation of Mother Earth and all her inhabitants. These words of thanks come to us from the Native people known as the Haudenosaunee, also known as the Iroquois or Six Nations."
Since the accordion has four pages, I chose the four seasons and wrote about what I give thanks to. I used the front panel of a grocery bag folded in half the long way with the writing inside. It made an accordion substantial enough to not need a cover. I used cut and torn paper for the illustrations and a fine black sharpie marker. This would be a good project to keep the kids busy on Thanksgiving morning while the adults are involved in cooking.
