With Krea
How to make a book cover people want to open
To make a book cover people want to open, give it three things: a short title in big letters, one big picture that asks a question, and the author's name, then test it on a real reader. In this course your kid learns what a cover promises, draws the moment right before something happens so the surprise stays inside, letters a title that reads from across the room, and tests the cover with one question: what do you think happens inside? Krea hosts four short films for kids 6 to 13, with Leo's book The Giant Egg as the example all the way through, and your kid ends with a finished front cover taped to their own book or comic. Plan about 4 minutes of films and 45–60 minutes of drawing, lettering, and testing. On Kubrio, all four films and the quiz are free, with no account.
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▶ 1:45 tourWhat your kid makes
Your kid ends with a finished front cover for their own book or comic: a short title in letters that look like the story, one big picture that asks a question, and "by" with their name. It's tested on a real reader and taped to the front of the book.
- Ages
- 6 to 13
- Time
- 4 films, about 4 minutes, then 45–60 minutes of drawing, lettering, and testing
- You need
- Paper the size of your kid's book cover, pencil and a dark marker, crayons or colored pencils, glue or tape, a book or comic your kid made (optional)
- Host
- Krea
The 4 lessons
Lesson 1. A cover is a promise
A cover tells readers what kind of story is inside, and every front cover has three things: a title, one big picture, and the author's name.
- Pick a book or comic you made, or one you want to make
- Decide if it's funny, an adventure, or a mystery
- Write what the cover promises in one or two words
Where: Paper
Lesson 2. A picture that asks
A cover that shows the ending gives the story away. A picture of the moment right before something happens makes readers ask what's inside.
- Sketch three tiny cover ideas
- Pick the one that makes you most curious
- Draw it big in the middle, with room at the top and bottom
Where: Paper
Lesson 3. Letters for far away
A short title in big letters that look like the story reads from across the room, and "by" with the kid's name goes at the bottom.
- Write a short title at the top, thin in pencil first
- Make the letters thick and go over the edges in dark marker
- Add by and your name, then stand the cover up across the room
Where: Paper
Lesson 4. Test it on someone
A real reader shows whether the cover works: hand it over without telling the story, and ask what they think happens inside.
- Ask someone what they think happens inside
- If they shrug, change one thing and test again
- Color it and tape it to the front of your book
Where: Paper
Take the quiz
Krea asks 3 questions about the films. Get 2 right and you finish the course.
Transcript
Lesson 1: A cover is a promise
Before anyone reads your book, they see the cover. One look, and they decide. Open it, or not?
A cover makes a promise. It tells you what kind of story is inside. Funny? An adventure? A mystery?
Every front cover has three things. A title. One big picture. And the author's name. That's you!
This is Leo's book. One morning, he finds a giant egg in his garden. And something is inside.
So what does Leo's cover promise? A mystery, and a big surprise.
A good cover makes you pick up the book and open it. Right now!
Your turn. Pick a book or comic you made, or one you want to make. Write what its cover promises, in one or two words. Then press Next.
Lesson 2: A picture that asks
Your cover needs one big picture. Not just any picture. A picture that asks a question!
This cover shows the ending. The egg hatched, and it's a baby dragon. Now we know everything. Why open it?
This cover asks a question. A giant egg, a crack, and a tiny claw poking out. What's inside?
That's the trick. Show the moment just before something happens. Keep the surprise inside!
Sketch three tiny ideas first. Then ask, which one makes me most curious?
Draw that one big, in the middle. Leave room at the top for the title, and at the bottom for your name.
Your turn. Sketch three tiny cover ideas. Pick the one that asks a question, and draw it big. Then press Next.
Lesson 3: Letters for far away
Now the title. It goes at the top, and it's big. Bigger than you think!
Short titles work best. The Day I Found a Very Big Egg in My Garden? Too long! The Giant Egg.
Make the letters look like your story. Wobbly letters for funny. Tall, sharp letters for an adventure.
Leo's letters are round and fat, with spots, just like his egg!
Write the letters thin in pencil first. Then make them thick, and go over the edges in dark marker.
At the bottom, write by, and your name. You're the author!
Now the shelf test. Stand your cover up across the room. Can you still read the title? Yes!
Your turn. Write a short title at the top, in letters that look like your story. Add by and your name at the bottom. Then press Next.
Lesson 4: Test it on someone
Your cover is drawn. Now test it on a real person!
Hand it to someone. A grown-up, a friend, a brother or sister. Don't tell them anything about the story.
Ask one question. What do you think happens inside?
Leo's dad looked and said, something's going to hatch! Can I read it? That cover works!
If they just shrug, change one thing. A bigger picture, or a shorter title. Then test it again.
Last, color it in. Then glue or tape it to the front of your book.
Making a comic in the Comic Studio? Use the same title when you name your comic.
Your turn. Test your cover on someone, fix one thing, and put it on your book. You made a book cover!
Free guides to practise with
Questions parents ask
What makes a good book cover for kids?
A short title in big letters, one big picture, and the author's name. The picture works well when it shows the moment right before something happens, like a cracked egg with a tiny claw poking out, so readers ask what's inside instead of seeing the ending.
Does my kid need a finished book first?
No. Lesson 1 asks for a book or comic your kid made, or one they want to make, so the cover can come first and the pages later. To make the book itself, the course on making a book out of paper folds two sheets into eight pages.
Can my kid use the title in a comic too?
Yes. The same three things work on any comic: a short title in big letters, one big picture that asks a question, and the author's name.