Lesson 74: Design a book cover

📖 READING (40 Lessons) • 🟠 E. Reading Projects

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Objective

Design a book cover that matches a story's title, characters, setting, and mood.

Materials

Mini-lesson — What makes a strong book cover?

A book cover is the front of the book. It is the first thing a reader sees.

A strong cover:

  • shows the title in clear letters
  • includes the author's name
  • has a picture that matches the story
  • shows the mood (funny, calm, spooky, exciting)

The picture should fit the characters and setting:

  • If the story is at the beach, you might draw sand and waves.
  • If the story happens at night, you might show a dark sky or stars.

Good book covers make readers think:

  • "I wonder what happens in this story?"
  • "This looks like a book I want to read."

You can use these frames:

  • "My title is…"
  • "I will draw… because…"
  • "The mood of my cover is…"

Today, you will design a cover that fits a story and tells readers what kind of book it is.

Picture strip: A book cover that fits the story

Guided Practice — Mini-book: Planning a book cover

How to use this mini-book:

  • Read the tiny story and cover plan.
  • Notice how the title, picture, and mood fit the story.
  • Use the ideas when you create your own cover.

On your paper, draw a big rectangle for the cover. Add the title, author, and a picture that matches the story.

Cover words
title author cover picture mood setting

Frames: "My cover shows…" "I chose this picture because…"

Mini-Book: Planning a book cover

1

The tiny story

The story is called The Nighttime Picnic. Two kids and their dad have a picnic under the stars.

They spread a blanket, share snacks, and look for shapes in the sky.

Everyone feels cozy, calm, and a little bit excited.

2

Planning the cover

The title on the cover is The Nighttime Picnic. The author's name goes near the bottom.

The picture shows a dark sky, bright stars, and a small blanket with three people sitting close together.

3

Showing the mood

The cover uses deep blues and soft yellows to show a calm, warm night.

The faces on the kids look relaxed and happy.

The stars and moon hint that the book will feel gentle and peaceful.

4

Checking the match

You can ask, "Does this cover fit the story?"

It should match the title, the setting under the stars, and the cozy feeling of the story.

A strong cover makes readers want to open the book and read more.

Reading Practice — Does the cover fit the story?

Read each cover idea. Drag the best sentence to explain if it matches the story or how to improve it. Chips stay in their own question. Then press "Check sentences."

The story is about a nighttime picnic, but the title on the cover says The Racing Car.
A good reminder is:

The title should match what the story is really about. Any random title is fine for any story. The title does not matter on a cover.

The story takes place under the stars, but the cover picture shows a busy grocery store.
A good tip is:

The cover picture should show something important from the story. The picture can show anything, even if it is not in the story. You never need a picture on a cover.

The story feels calm and cozy, but the cover shows wild lightning and scared faces.
A good tip about mood is:

Colors and faces on the cover should match the mood of the story. The cover should always look scary, no matter the story. The mood on the cover never matters.

You remember the title, but you forget to add the author's name on the cover.
A helpful reminder is:

The author’s name belongs on the front cover near the title. We should never put the author's name on a book. Only the back cover can have writing on it.

Your teacher asks, "What is one job of a book cover?"
A strong answer is:

A good cover makes readers curious and excited to read the story. A cover should hide what the book is about so no one reads it. A cover is only for holding the pages together.

In the story, the family has a dad and two kids, but your cover shows five grown-ups only.
A good fix is to remember:

I should draw the main characters in a way that fits the story details. I can draw any random people and ignore the story. I should not draw any characters at all.

The story's setting is outside at night, but your cover only shows a blank wall.
A good idea is:

Showing the setting on the cover helps readers know where the story happens. The setting should never appear on the cover. Covers should only show walls and floors.

You finish drawing your cover and want to check it.
A smart question to ask is:

I can ask, “Does my cover fit the title, story, and mood?” I can ask, “Is my cover the fastest one in the class?” I can ask, “Does my cover have the most colors, even if it does not match?”

You are showing your cover to a friend.
A helpful way to explain it is to say:

I chose these colors and pictures because they match the feeling of the story. I picked these pictures at random and did not think about the story. I copied a cover from a different book that I have not read.

When someone says, "Design a book cover," the most important thing to remember is to .

make a cover that matches the story and invites readers to open the book draw anything you want and ignore the story hide the title so no one can read it

Quick Check — Design a book cover

What is one main job of a book cover?

Which detail is most important to match on the cover?

Why should your cover picture fit the story?

What can colors on a cover show?

What question can you ask to check your cover?

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)

I will practice…

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