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About Klutz
About Klutz Build-a-Book So, we decided to dedicate some space to a build-a-book studio. We filled it with arts and crafts stuff and small blank books. Once we opened it, the field trips spent about two minutes watching us on our phones and about two hours building their own books in the space next door. (Who wants to watch when you can do it yourself?) We soon started seeing some amazing books come out of the studio—far more interesting than our own. And we learned that a glue stick can be a wonderful implement in young creative hands. We saw books with toothbrushes in them, books with shark teeth, feathers, spoons, magnets, spaghetti and, once, a yellow rubber ducky. We saw books on pranks, siblings, school, vacation, dreams, dogs, geese and ghosts. We also learned that no matter how much we liked these books, there was no way we could get the owners to part with them. Hundreds of books were made in the studio. None were left behind. 
It didn't take too long before the obvious dawned on us. After having created books for more than 25 years, it was time to let someone else take a turn. Our book-building studio was soon booked to the gills with field trips. In order to meet the demand, and to enlarge the program, we decided to create a Build-a-Book in a box, a Build-a-Book to go. With that, we began working with classrooms and schools, helping them host Klutz Build-a-Book events in their own auditoriums and multi-purpose rooms, using our materials and experience. To date, more than 100,000 folks have enjoyed the Klutz Build-a-Book experience. Today, we host Klutz Build-a-Book events in schools throughout the country and Canada (in association with our Scholastic partners). Also, we opened a permanent Klutz Build-a-Book store in Manhattan, at 557 Broadway, as part of The Scholastic Store (212-343-6166). The Scholastic Store (914-725-7201) at 450 Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale, New York also hosts a permanent Klutz Build-a-Book studio. These retail Build-a-Book locations are available for birthday parties, classroom field trips and drop-in studio hours. What Folks Have to Say ... "The Klutz Build-a-Book product kept my active 7-year-old son busy for two hours! My 85-year-old Scottish father always wants 'home made gifts.' He hates to spend money. My active sports-minded son never wants to make a present. I decided to use old pictures of my son and his grandfather with the 'build-a-book' package. Steven, my son, cut out the photos and added colorful paper and felt to form a book about the two of them. He added a poem to be the text of the book. Who knew my boy, who is addicted to baseball and soccer, was as creative. The product has become a touching gift and a creative tool for my son." — Carolyn Blatman, Parent "The wonderful part of this activity is that it can be used for different objectives. Parents and children working together as a family activity one time, or in the classroom as an end product for a unit of study or as a writing activity in the classroom that's more than just writing a story on paper—using all the modalities. There are tons of possibilities." — Ginger Harris, Teacher Mentor "There is no greater accomplishment for children than to read to you a book that they have written and illustrated themselves. The materials and inspiration children find at the Klutz Build-a-Book studio lead them to discover their own stories, and give them the means to tell them." — Ellin Klor, Children's Librarian  "Using the Klutz Build-A-Book kits was a great way to differentiate instruction for my Kinders. During one whole-class project, the higher-level kids were able to make counting books which involved addition principles, while my lower-level kids made counting books that strengthened their value-recognition and number-recognition. The Klutz Build-A-Book kits also let different students shine in different ways. Though some children have difficulty with drawing and writing because their fine motor skills aren't yet fully developed, I was amazed what these kids could do when working with physical materials like textured paper, fabric, beads, and sticks. The Klutz book building was absolutely my favorite (and I think my kids' favorite!) project of the year." — Katherine Laswell, Teacher  "Words alone cannot describe our 2nd Annual Klutz Build-a-Book Event. With over 150 students, siblings and parents in attendance, the excitement was incredible. Imaginations worked overtime to create just the perfect book (from the authors perspective). It was great to see parents building their own book. They were as excited as their children, if not more so. The Klutz Build-a-Book experience brings families, students and teachers together in a 'hands-on - no one can do wrong - I can do anything' environment. If we didn't make the Klutz Build-a-Book an annual 'Fun Night,' the children and parents would be disappointed." — Lisa Atkins, Librarian "The Klutz Build-a-Book is a visual and conceptual garden of delights! It can provide an avenue of creativity, respite and hope for children who are ill, as well as for their families and the professionals who care for them." — Barbara Sourkes, Director of Palliative Care Program, Stanford |