/collections/origami
Type: /type/page
title: Origami: The Art of Paper Folding
body: value: <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Origami.png" alt="Crane made by origami" title="Origami" width="253" align="right" />

Welcome to the **Origami Collection**, an Open Library collection dedicated to books on [origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/origami), the ancient and amazing art of paper folding.

[Origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/origami) consists of folding paper without using scissors or glue to obtain figures of various shapes. You don't need previous experience to start enjoying origami. Browse through the books we have selected for you and discover all the possibilities origami has to offer. Watch this [video](https://archive.org/details/coatx-DIY_-_Origami_Butterflies) from the librarians at the Allen Public Library to see origami in practice.

Most books in this collection are in English, but remember that even thought the language may be foreign, the symbols are the same as in English books, so you should be able to follow the instructions. You can read or borrow a book if the bar underneath the cover says "Borrow" or "Read." If a book says it is "Not in Library" or "Checked Out," a copy might still be available! Click on the book's cover to see if you can borrow one of the other editions. Enjoy!

<p align="right"><small>Image credits: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Origami.png" target="_blank">Origami</a> by Kendime ait (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>).</smal></p>

{{QueryCarousel('subject:"collection:origami"', title="All Books in this Collection", search=True)}}

{{QueryCarousel('key:(/works/OL187807W OR /works/OL16643634W OR /works/OL5362556W OR /works/OL1800483W OR /works/OL187799W OR /works/OL5965074W  OR /works/OL3359290W OR /works/OL17736346W OR /works/OL5717069W OR /works/OL2588189W OR /works/OL3464386W OR /works/OL4970073W OR /works/OL8196355W OR /works/OL1800470W OR /works/OL187805W OR /works/OL18569460W OR /works/OL8686738W OR /works/OL8607044W OR /works/OL19277695W OR /works/OL8251181W OR /works/OL8884000W)', title="Featured Books")}}

{{QueryCarousel('subject:("collection:origami" "aerogami") OR ("collection:origami" "paper airplanes")', title="Aerogami (mostly paper airplanes)")}}

**Looking for origami that floats?** Learn how to make [paper sailboats](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22paper+sailboats%22).

{{QueryCarousel('subject:"collection:origami" "paper animals"', title="Paper Animals")}}

**Looking for specific models?** Learn how to make [paper birds](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22paper+birds%22), [paper dinosaurs](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22paper+dinosaurs%22), [paper insects](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22paper+insects%22) (including [paper butterflies](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22paper+butterflies%22)), [paper marine animals](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22paper+marine+animals%22) or [paper reptiles](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22paper+reptiles%22).

{{QueryCarousel('subject:("collection:origami" "decorative origami") OR ("collection:origami" "paper flowers")', title="Decorative Origami")}}

**Looking for holiday decorations?** Learn how to make origami for [Christmas](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22Christmas+decorations%22), [Halloween](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22halloween+decorations%22), and [other holidays](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22holiday+decorations%22). You may also be interested in making [paper flowers](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22paper+flowers%22) to decorate all year round.

{{QueryCarousel('subject:("collection:origami" "practical origami") OR ("collection:origami" "origami cards")', title="Practical Origami")}}

**Looking for a particular use?** Many people love [origami boxes](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22paper+boxes%22) and [origami cards](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22origami+cards%22) (e.g. for gift boxes and greeting cards).

{{QueryCarousel('subject:("collection:origami" "action origami")', title="Action Origami")}}

{{QueryCarousel('subject:("collection:origami" "modular origami")', title="Modular Origami")}}

{{QueryCarousel('subject:("collection:origami" "mathematical origami")', title="Mathematical Origami")}}

{{QueryCarousel('subject:"collection:origami" "advanced origami"', title="Advanced Origami")}}

**Looking for less complex designs?** Find [easy origami](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22easy+origami%22) and [intermediate origami](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22intermediate+origami%22) level books. [Origami for children](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22origami+for+kids%22 -%22origami+in+literature%22) includes many simple designs for beginners. 

<!--{{QueryCarousel('key:(/works/OL17459958W OR /works/OL6224795W OR /works/OL17317035W)', title="Origami & Science Fiction")}}-->

{{QueryCarousel('subject:("collection:origami" "paper monsters") OR ("collection:origami" "halloween decorations")', title="Creepy Origami")}}

{{QueryCarousel('subject:"collection:origami" "origami in literature"', title="Origami in Literature")}}

{{QueryCarousel('subject:("collection:origami" "juvenile literature") OR ("collection:origami" "origami for kids")', title="Origami for Kids")}}

**Looking for fun designs to make with kids?** Find out how to make [paper monsters](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22paper+monsters%22) and [paper toys](https://openlibrary.org/search?q=subject%3A%22collection:origami%22+%22paper+toys%22).

<!--{{QueryCarousel('subject:("collection:origami" "napkin folding") OR ("collection:origami" "towel folding")', title="Origami... Without Paper!")}}-->

<small>**MEET THE AUTHORS** ([see all](https://openlibrary.org/people/dcapillae/lists/OL202608L))</small>

[Akira Yoshizawa](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL230527A) · [David Mitchell](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL6592490A) · [Didier Boursin](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL2893032A) · [Duy Nguyen](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL1388765A) · [Eric Kenneway](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL1073102A) · [Florence Temko](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL455260A) · [John Montroll](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL216097A)  · [Jun Maekawa](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL7330551A) · [Kunihiko Kasahara](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL2103938A) · [Megumi Biddle](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL794461A) · [Michael G. LaFosse](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL1390477A) · [Nick Robinson](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL296161A) · [Nicolas Terry](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL7574228A) · [Paul Jackson](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL4819076A) · [Rick Beech](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL2727388A) · [Robert Harbin](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL220643A) · [Robert J. Lang](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL7643957A) · [Samuel Randlett](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL2179514A) · [Steve Biddle](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL577309A) · [Tomoko Fuse](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL2936917A) · [Toshie Takahama](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL2936854A) · [Toshikazu Kawasaki](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL7215387A) · [Vicente Palacios](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL237009A) · [Yoshihide Momotani](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL714397A)

<small>**BROWSE BY SUBJECTS**</small>

[Action origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/action_origami) · [Advanced origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/advanced_origami) · [Aerogami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/aerogami) · [Decorative origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/decorative_origami) · [Dollar bill origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/dollar_bill_origami) · [Easy origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/easy_origami) · [Erotic origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/erotic_origami) · [Geometric origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/geometric_origami) · [History of origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/history_of_origami) ·[Intermediate origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/intermediate_origami) · [Kirigami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/kirigami) · [Kusudama](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/kusudama) · [Mathematical origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/mathematical_origami) · [Modular origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/modular_origami) · [Napkin folding](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/napkin_folding) · [Origami cards](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/origami_cards) · [Origami in education](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/origami_in_education) · [Paper animals](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/paper_animals) · [Paper airplanes](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/paper_airplanes) · [Paper birds](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/paper_birds) · [Paper butterflies](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/paper_butterflies) · [Paper dinosaurs](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/paper_dinosaurs) · [Paper insects](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/paper_insects) · [Paper marine animals](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/paper_marine_animals) · [Paper monsters](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/paper_monsters) · [Paper reptiles](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/paper_reptiles) · [Paper sailboats](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/paper_sailboats) · [Paper toys](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/paper_toys) · [Paper vehicles](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/paper_vehicles) · [Practical origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/practical_origami) · [Origami for kids](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/origami_for_kids) · [Towel folding](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/towel_folding) · [Traditional origami](https://openlibrary.org/subjects/traditional_origami)

<small>**LINKS** (outside Open Library)</small>

* [USAOrigami](https://origamiusa.org/). The largest origami organization in the United States.
* [Origami Canada](https://www.origamicanada.org/). A federal non-profit organization in Canada, devoted to the art of paper folding.
* [British Origami Society](https://britishorigami.info/). A registered charity in United Kingdom, devoted to the art of paper folding.
* [Origami Australia](http://origami.org.au/). Find local origami groups around Australia.
* Find other organizations around the world: in [Argentina](http://origamiargentina.org/), [Austria](https://www.origami.at/en/), [Czech Republic](http://www.origami-cos.cz/), [France](https://mfpp-origami.fr/), [Germany](https://www.papierfalten.de/), [Hungary](http://ori-gami.hu/), [Israel](https://www.origami.co.il/), [Italy](https://www.origami-cdo.it/), [Japan](https://origami.jp/), [Netherlands](https://www.origami-osn.nl/), [Poland](http://www.pto.art.pl/), [Singapore](https://sites.google.com/site/origamisingapore/) or [Spain](http://pajarita.org/).

**Want to donate a physical book to make it borrowable?** See the <a href="https://openlibrary.org/bookdrive">Internet Archive Book Drive</a>.


<p align="right"><small>Curated by <a href="https://openlibrary.org/librarians">Open Librarians</a>.</small></a>
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