“Everybody Reads” Week Diorama for Library

My son’s public school has an “Everybody Reads” week where authors come in to speak to the students, and so I created a library diorama for the library.

“Everybody Reads” Week Library Diorama

How I made it

Our local hardware store cut the plywood to my requested size. I made the bookcases out of Balsa wood and matte board.

I made the books with various miniature book printables from friends and from the internet. L’Eggo Waffles also has a free giveaway of books during the summer for points and the packages pictured many of the kids’ favorite books. I also Xeroxed the copies of some of their favorite books and shrunk them to 1/12 size. I then glued those around foamcore or the edges of magazines.

The floor is contact paper glued on top of the plywood. I bought the back white bookshelf and the rocking chair on eBay. The librarian usually sits in a rocking chair and reads them a story before the children search for books to take out. The banner is construction paper with handwritten letters on string.

Close-Up Pictures of the Library Diorama

Here’s a close-up of the books in the white bookcase on the rear wall.

For the left side, I made mostly filler books.

And here’s the right side of the library. It has some favorites like Charlotte’s Web, Dragon Masters, The School for Good and Evil, and of course, Harry Potter.

I want to add mini books by the authors who are coming to give book talks, but I didn’t have time this year. I figure each year I can add a few more shelves and favorite books, so it keeps up with the times.

The kids really love it. They gather around looking at it. It’s fun overhearing them find some of their favorite books in mini, like Harry Potter or the Owl Diaries. I’ve explained how they can make their own mini books. As an example, sometimes even the Scholastic book flyer has pictures of books in the right size.

Let’s Talk

What are some of your favorite children’s books?