The children’s program Rad Writers: Zine Making Camp started with one question: What is a Zine?
In its simplest form, a zine is a homemade publication about something the creator is passionate about. Historically, zines have been used to spread information about important issues that may have been overlooked, or to connect people in subcultures with others in their community. However, for the children in this program, I wanted to keep their introduction to this genre of publishing simple by using only two questions to prompt the children.
What is something you like?
The kids came up with a plethora of answers, each one di
fferent from the last. Once they had a list of things they liked, I asked them the second question.
What do you know enough about to fill a book?
Within five minutes, each child had narrowed their list down to one topic and were ready to get started on their own unique zines.
After showing them a sample zine I made about the television show Bluey (highlighting some of my favorite episodes), I provided them with a blank zine to work on. Using a multitude of craft supplies, some magazines and their amazing creativity, our budding authors created zines about:
- Harry Potter
- Chickens that they own
- The basics of gymnastics
- Animals
- Their favorite gymnastic moves
- Ninjago
The grand finale of this program was one that the kids didn’t expect: the six children became published authors on Fountaindale Public Library District’s self-publishing platform, Biblioboard (available in our Local Collection). Celebrating their creations, we had a publication party where the children’s finished zines were projected on the big screen, and they could read their creations aloud to their family and friends.
Fountaindale is very proud of these young published creators and invites you to view their work in the Rad Writers Zines: 2023 collection on Biblioboard!
