An Island Grows Art Project
A few years ago, while working in the studio, I organized a summer camp where we based a weeklong art project on the book An Island Grows by Lola M. Schaefer. The book’s straightforward text and illustrations made it a great fit for this multi-lesson format, offering both creative and educati
onal possibilities. While we used it in the summer, this project could also be a useful introduction to environmental issues or geography topics, and it’s perfect for Earth Day activities too.
We started by reading the book aloud to the group, page by page. Each child sketched an “island page” inspired by the book, with each illustration mirroring the book’s progression. Following the original pages gave the kids a consistent structure to work from, though this approach could easily be adapted if you’d like them to create more imaginative scenes. For our project, I wanted the kids to create their own book, inspired by the look and feel of the original An Island Grows.
Once the sketches were ready, the children used a super simple printmaking technique to prepare their plates, working only with layers of cardboard to create 3d shapes.
You can find my step-by-step guide on how to create collograph here.
By the second-to-last day, we were ready to start printing.
This was one of the most exciting parts of the project, and collograph printmaking is a technique I love because it’s simple and fast for kids to use, with no need for specialized tools.
Plus, scrap cardboard is easy to come by and work with. Each kid printed multiple copies of their illustrations—some were framed as individual artwork, while the rest we saved for the final step: bookbinding.
On the last day, we assembled the prints into books. We mounted each print on cardboard pages, then bound them with string, letting the kids create their own finished book inspired by An Island Grows.
They also designed colored covers based on the book’s original style. It was a fun, rewarding end to the week, and each child left with a keepsake they could be proud of.
Projects like these are great for introducing children to basic printmaking techniques in a manageable way, and I’ve found that using picture books as inspiration adds a natural structure.
If you’re interested in more ways to blend art into curriculum areas like geography, reading, or environmental studies, you can check out my guide on incorporating art across subjects.
Interested in more picture books-inspired art activities? Check out this directory!
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