Before a book is published, there are some things that must be planned and done.

• Choose type of lettering
• Create front and back cover
• Make end papers
• Decide where the writing will go on the page

Follow each step:

Step 1: Type of lettering

There are different kinds of writing you can use for your story:

• Printing
• Writing
• Block letters
• Fonts (if you're using a computer)

Remember: even if you have a computer, typing can take a long time.

When you decide which style to use, the writer must use a line guide to copy the writing onto plain paper. You will cut out the writing later and glue it on the pages of the book, so leave lots of space between the writing for each page!

Step 2: Front and back cover

You should have finished the picture for your front cover already. Remember that the front cover should have:

• The title of the story.
• The name of the author(s) and illustrator(s).

Decide what you will draw and write on the back cover. The back cover usually tells something about the book. For example:

"When Zoom wakes up from an afternoon nap and discovers that his friend Maria has gone off in search of his uncle, Captain Roy, he follows her muddy boot prints to the banks of a dark river. Not just any river, it turns out, but a tributary of the Nile -- Zoom is in Egypt! With the help of his trusty gardening shears, he manages to free Maria from her mummy's clothes. A trail of silver buttons seems to lead the way, but will they be able to find Captain Roy in time?"

(From the back cover of Zoom Upstream, A Meadow Mouse Paperback, Toronto: Groundwood/Douglas & McIntyre, 1993)

Step 3: End papers

Pick paper for the inside cover of your book. You could use:

• Wrapping paper
• Coloured paper
• Pictures on plain paper
• Wallpaper

Use your imagination!

Step 4: Where the writing will go

You could put the writing

• On the page facing the picture
• At the bottom of the picture page
• At the top of the picture page

Note: The writing doesn't have to be in the same place on each page. Try different arrangements to see which works best!