Bookmaking · Ages 6-8 · Poets House · Battery Park City · August 2026 .
A book to hold. A story to share.
Small group, quiet focus, and the space to follow an idea through.
A one-week bookmaking camp for ages 6–8. Children move from an idea to printed book, then share their stories at a final reading and book signing.
Designed for early storytellers
Ages 6–8 are a sweet spot: children are full of story, but their ideas often move faster than their handwriting. Story Bound gives them multiple ways in—talking, drawing, writing, movement, and guided bookmaking—through a curriculum led by a creative team, including a professional illustrator.
The team guides children through writing, reading, listening, drawing, and revision as part of making a book. The skills are not separated from the story; they serve the story.
Story first. Mechanics in context
Children bring the ideas, characters, and scenes. Illustrator guidance turns early ideas into visual direction while keeping the story theirs.
Illustrator guidance, child ownership
At the final reading and book signing, children choose how to share and sign their work. The autograph matters: it turns penmanship into expression, ownership, and authorship.
Authorship takes shape
How the story takes shape
A story imagined, shaped, and told.
Story Sparks
Children begin with an idea, character, drawing, question, or scene. The story starts with what already interests them.
Original idea
Create characters
Build the story
Tinker with illustrations
Give it shape
The group listens, asks questions, builds pages, and returns to the work each day. The story gains structure without losing the child’s voice.
Finish one thing
Story circle
Move + shake it off
Seed tomorrow
Into the world
The week ends with a reading and book signing, where children share their finished books with family and friends.
Printed book in hand
Read aloud to an audience
Sign their name
Share with community
Good to know
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Story Bound is for children ages 6–8 who enjoy stories, drawing, making things, or imaginative play. Children do not need to think of themselves as writers to participate.
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Story Bound begins this August at Poets House, 10 River Terrace in Battery Park City. Registration will open for two one-week cohorts beginning August 24 and August 31. Each cohort is limited to 8 children. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Tuition is $1,250 for the one-week bookmaking camp. One printed softcover book is included.
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Each child will make a finished printed softcover book based on their own story. One printed copy is included.
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Yes. Additional copies will be available for an added cost.
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No. Ages 6–8 are a moment when children often have richer ideas than they can easily write down. We support children through conversation, drawing, dictation, page-building, and writing at their level.
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Each day includes story circle, guided making time, drawing, writing, book-building, movement breaks, and time to return to the work. The week builds toward a final reading and book signing.
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Story Bound is guided by a creative team, including a professional illustrator. Grown-ups provide structure, prompts, feedback, and visual guidance. The story remains the child’s own.
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Weather permitting, we may use nearby outdoor space for supervised movement breaks and reset time.
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At the end of the week, children share their finished books with family and friends and choose how to sign their work. The autograph matters: it turns penmanship into expression, ownership, and authorship.
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Story Bound is a one-week program. Families will choose either the August 24 week or the August 31 week when registration opens.
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Join the first-access list. We’ll send first notice when registration opens for the August 24 and August 31 cohorts.
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Yes. Future Story Bound programs may include added seats, new dates, school-holiday workshops, neighborhood readings, and special bookmaking projects. Join the list for first notice.