Don’t Toss That Board Book! Transform It into Something Wonderful

# Why reuse board books Board books wear out: pages separate, bindings break, copies are withdrawn. Instead of discarding them, their thick, colorful pages can be repurposed into materials that are safe, tactile, and inexpensive for children's programs, outreach, and craft supplies.

# Simple projects that require minimal tools

Turn a single page into a simple puzzle by cutting it into a few large pieces. Add a craft stick and a cut-out character becomes a puppet. Punch holes at the edge of a sturdy shape and provide yarn to make a lacing card. These projects need only scissors, a hole punch, and glue.

# Use a die cutter for repeatable, polished pieces

# Art materials that invite experimentation Cut pages into circles, squares, strips, or irregular shapes and add them to the art cupboard. Combine with craft sticks, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, yarn, tape, and glue to make puppets, wands, masks, collages, or mixed-media creatures. Because board book pieces are sturdier than paper, they hold up in process-art settings where children can experiment without a detailed sample project.

# STEM and engineering uses

# Short list of reuse ideas to keep on hand

• Bookmarks: cut long strips and distribute at circulation or craft tables.
• Board book blocks: die-cut slot pieces for building sets.
• Storytelling pieces and puppets: save characters and settings for imaginative play.
• Loose parts for makerspace: circles, triangles, squares for open building.
• Matching/sorting materials: cut pieces by color, shape, or subject for early-learning games.
• Lacing cards and simple puzzles: durable shapes for fine-motor practice.
• Gift tags or ornaments: die-cut shapes reused for seasonal craft sales or program giveaways.

# Practical tips for library staff and volunteers Keep a simple toolkit: sharp scissors, hole punch, glue sticks, craft sticks, yarn, and a small paper trimmer. If you have access to an Ellison die cutter, plan small, repeatable shapes that store flat until needed. Package sets for outreach in resealable bags so pieces don't get lost in transit. Label containers with intended uses (bookmarks, STEM parts, loose parts) to speed prep during busy program days.

# Final point