How to Make an 8-Panel Mini Book with One Sheet of Paper
If you’re looking for a simple way to combine early literacy, fine motor practice, and hands-on fun, try learning how to make an 8-panel mini book from a single sheet of paper! These tiny books are a great fit for PreK through early elementary and can be used for joke books, story starters, sticker books, writing centers, and more.
In this post, you’ll learn how to fold an 8-panel mini book, get classroom tips for using them with young children, and find out how to download a free printable folding guide.
What Is an 8-Panel Mini Book
An 8-panel mini book is a small booklet made entirely from one sheet of paper. With just a few folds and one cut, you’ll create eight pages that can be used for writing, drawing, labeling, or sharing stories. No glue, no staples, and no prep beyond folding!
Teachers love them because they’re low-prep, engaging, and easy to customize with seasonal or subject-specific content.
How to Make an 8-Panel Mini Book: Folding Steps
Here’s a quick look at the steps you’ll follow to make an 8-panel mini book. Full photo instructions are available in my free folding guide (more on that below).
- Fold the paper in half the long way (hot dog style) and unfold it.
- Next, fold it in half the short way (hamburger style) and leave it folded.
- Fold the folded edge down to meet the open edge (like a mini hot dog).
- Unfold the paper completely. You should see 8 rectangles.
- Fold hamburger-style again and cut a slit along the center fold.
- Unfold, fold hot dog-style, and push inward to form the book shape.
- Flatten and crease well. You now have a finished 8-panel mini book!
Classroom Tips for Using Mini Books
Here are some ways to make the most of mini books in PreK–2 classrooms:
- Try larger sizes: Once you’ve learned how to make an 8-panel mini book, you can use the same folding technique with larger paper like 9” x 12” construction paper or 11” x 17” copy paper for oversized books.
- PreK students will need help: Younger children will need support with folding and cutting. Pre-folding the books ahead of time works well for this age group.
- Use in writing centers: Add mini books to a writing center so students can draw or write on each panel.
- Staple the spine: After folding, you can add a staple to the spine to help the book keep its shape—especially helpful for little hands.
Download the Free Mini Book Folding Guide
Want a printable folding guide and a seasonal mini book to try it out?
Sign up for my free resource library to get the folding instructions and my Halloween Knock Knock Joke Mini Book.
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To help you and your students master this fun technique, I’ve created a step-by-step printable folding guide with clear photos. It’s available in my free resource library along with a seasonal mini book and more to come.
Once you’ve learned the fold, you’ll want to use it again and again—for jokes, writing prompts, word families, seasonal themes, and more.
Want More Folding Fun?
If your students enjoy mini books, check out these folding resources in my TPT store. They’re perfect for literacy centers, small group work, or just for fun:
Year-Round STEM Cut-and-Fold Paper Crafts Bundle
Not a literacy set, but great for hands-on fine motor STEM projects using the same folding technique!
Knock Knock Joke Craft | Color, Cut, Fold, Read (Kinder–2nd)
A fun and silly way to practice reading with easy jokes, folding, and fine motor work. Includes full-color and coloring versions.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to make an 8-panel mini book, you’ll start noticing all the ways you can use this format in your classroom or homeschool. It’s a simple fold that sparks creativity, builds fine motor skills, and gives kids a strong sense of ownership over their writing.
Happy folding!
