Procedure
Have students interview family members and create written biographies of their family members. The biographies can be incorporated into one story or fictional narrative.

Incorporating text into tusk book: After students have typed an biography or fictional narrative into the computer, justify the printed area to 7" x 5.5". This will allow each page of text to be cut and adhered to the bottom corresponding page of book. The print that accompanies the text will be printed in the remaining area above the text.

Preparation: Cut tusk shape out of each piece of 10.5" x 22"mat board. It should look like a tusk with the base of tusk 10.5" and curving upward 22" with tip of tusk a little to left of center. Each student needs two, one for front cover and the other for back cover. The students can trace this shape onto the drawing paper and cut each text sheet out to be this shape.

Students will have completed a written story and biography on the computer and organized it into pages. Print out story; justify page to portrait format with a paragraph width of 7". The biography of each family member should be on different page and story should be printed out as it wants to be read.

Discuss with students artistic features of African tusks: how people are represented, side or frontal view, holding symbolic object, simple facial features and repeated pattern that spirals up tusk shape. Show them variety of simple linear patterns. Remind them that a "print" prints opposite the way it is created, so don't use words or letters in design because they will backwards.

1. Have students create preliminary drawings of each member of their family, these should be 3"x 2" in size to correspond to block size. Remind them that what is carved away will remain the color of the paper and what remains will be the color of the printing ink. Have them color in solidly what they plan to carve away. Double-check this, so that they don't end up with a big blob. Transfer completed figure onto block by rubbing ebony pencil on back of sketch paper and tracing over figure outline with ball point pen.

2. Demonstrate how to use block cutters properly to gouge away relief design. Have students cut away all they have indicated on their preliminary design.

3. Distribute strip of paper 10.5" x 2". Have students create a repeating linear pattern that will serve as their underlining border pattern to their figure hierarchy. Again, have students color in solidly areas that they will carve out, negative space is suggested.

4. Distribute flexible block strips 10.5" x 2". Transfer design and gouge out area that is indicated on design.

5. Cut out written information and glue neatly to bottom of tusk-shaped drawing paper.

6. Print corresponding figure to the top area of each sheet. One possibility for the layout is to print the figure or figures in the center portion and outline with a patterned strip design. To print, have students use brayers to roll on ink carefully over flexible block design/image. Place ink-side down onto desired printed area; rub with even pressure with side fist of hand over entire back surface. Peel up block. Allow inked paper to dry.

Students can use different ink colors (if available) for each figure/image or all could be black or brown. This is up to you, what's available. After these prints are dry, students can always go back and add color with markers or colored pencil.

7. Create cover: Draw each band area on the tusk, the top two, 3" bands are for the grandparent figures, the next level for the parents, the next for the siblings and self, and the bottom (optional depending on space and visual organization) could be for pets. These bands will be separated by ½" strip of their repeat pattern.

8. Adhere figure blocks to designated areas by peeling off adhesive backing and pressing them firmly into place. Aesthetic decision: By now the blocks will have at least one color if not more of residue ink "stain", it might look more "primitive" to allow this color to remain and act to enhance visual quality of the cover, OR you can have the students clean them off so they will return, as much as possible, to their original cream color (more "tuskesque").

9. Cut the 10.5" x 2" strip into ½" in length pieces. Adhere each to the ½" band that separates each figure area. Begin at bottom and work up. These will need to be cut as the band narrow as they go up the tusk shape, just cut to fit with scissors.

10. Begin binding the book. Measure evenly along bottom of tusk beginning ½" from either side of tusk edges and ½" up from bottom. Because of the tusk-shape of the board which bows out about ½", your base measures a width of 10"- the two ½" marks will be placed at the ½" and the 9½" mark, then measure two more holes every three inches. Total of marks and holes created will be four. Place all text pages in order and place the other tusk-shape mat board piece on the back. Make sure all pages are facing the same way, they should be because the students printed on the same side of the pages. Clip this together on both right and left sides of tusk-shaped book with binder clips.

11. Using nail and hammer on top of wooden board, nail through to create holes at each indicated mark. Make sure nail goes all the way through, but be careful not to nail so that you can't remove nail after each hole is created.

12. Keep book clipped. Cut five about 5" pieces of binding ribbon. Thread individually through eye of tapestry needle and "sew" through hole. Tie each ribbon in a loose, but firm bow.

13. Unclip the binding clips. Sign and date the back cover. Book is completed!

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