Creative book cover and wrapping ideas for back-to-school

Covering schoolbooks can sometimes be a mammoth task depending on the number of textbooks you have, as parents prepare for back-to-school.  

Many schools ask that all books be covered and clearly labelled as not only do you want to protect them from wear and tear, but you also want them to be easily identifiable for the student.  

While brown paper is the age-old wrapping of choice for schoolbooks combined these days with clear contact paper, other types of paper can also be used to get the job done if needed.  

Here are some ideas, however, some schools demand on their booklist that certain paper be used and some prefer no clear plastic or contact paper, so check first before covering.  

Gift paper  

Don’t have any brown paper? Gift paper offers two options for parents either looking for a colourful way to personalise their children’s schoolbooks or flip the paper over onto the side without any pattern or pictures.  

Calendar paper 

If you have large old calendars to spare, you also have an option for covering schoolbooks without spending any extra money on paper. Just flip the calendar page onto the side without the months of the year and you have an empty canvas to jazz up with collages, stickers or DIY art.  

Newspapers 

Now hear us out. We know newspapers can leave ink on your fingers, but this can be counteracted by finishing the book wrapping with clear contact paper.  

The print can give those books a vintage look once the newspaper is in good shape.  

Coloured paper  

Don’t mind spending money to liven up those text and copybooks? If your school allows it, your imagination can go wild with the myriad of coloured paper available to cover books, allowing the full expression of the book owners’ personality.  

Customised wrapping paper

If you don’t want your covered books looking like all the other books in class, then consider designing your own unique wrapping paper, printed with your choice of photos from video games, movies or other interests, making it a truly personalised back-to-school project.