How to Save a Picture Book

So, your child's water bottle leaked all over his library book... again? If you're like me, you'd do anything to save the book to avoid having to admit that your family is rather organizationally challenged.  There MAY be a way to save the book, if:

• The book is paperback OR the hard cover wasn't completely waterlogged,
• The papers have water damage, but are not mangled or matted, AND
• You have gotten to it before the water started to dry and the pages got stuck together. 

Here's what you'll need:

1. Wax paper
2. Scissors or paper cutter
3. Something heavy to place on top of the book

To begin, take a long piece of wax paper off the roll, or 5 or so sheets of smaller deli style wax paper sheets.  Cut into 1 to 2 inch strips.  Then, gently place the strips between the pages wherever you see water.  Some pages may need up to 3 or so pieces to ensure there is an adequate barrier between the adjacent pages.  After you have separated all of the pages with water damage, simply place on a smooth flat surface, and put something heavy on top to keep the pages from curling.  After a few days, the pages should be dry enough to remove the heavy object and wax paper.  Leaf through the pages a couple of times a day after just to make sure they don't stick together.

There you go! The book is saved and can be enjoyed by many more kids to come!  Checkout the pictures below!

WAX PAPER AND STRIPS INSIDE BOOK:

THIS WORKS BEST FOR THOSE SLIGHTLY SHINY COLOR PAGES, THAT STICK TOGETHER SO EASILY.

ABOUT ONE TO TWO INCHES IS BEST FOR THE WAX PAPER STRIPS.