To craft one book in Minecraft, combine 3 paper and 1 leather in a crafting grid. You can make the paper from 3 sugar cane, so those ingredients are enough for a single book.
What you need to craft a book
- 3 paper
- 1 leather
Minecraft’s official paper guide gives this recipe and notes that paper can also be found in some shipwrecks, strongholds, and village cartographer chests.
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Step-by-step: make a book
- Get 3 sugar cane. Arrange all three in a crafting grid to make 3 paper. This supplies the paper needed for one book. If you already have paper, skip this step.
- Get 1 leather. Leather is the other recipe ingredient. Its acquisition can vary with edition and available game content, so check the in-game recipe or item guide for options in your world.
- Open a crafting grid. Use the crafting area in your inventory or open a crafting table. Minecraft’s crafting guide explains that the recipe book is available in the inventory or at a crafting table; in Java Edition, it is also available at a furnace and smoker.
- Make the book. Follow the book recipe shown in the recipe book, place the 3 paper and 1 leather in the grid, then collect the book from the result slot.
Use the recipe book if the grid looks different
Select the book recipe in Minecraft’s recipe book to see the required supplies in the grid and identify ingredients you are missing. Recipes do not accept ingredient substitutions, so use the items the recipe specifies. Interface details can differ by edition or version; follow the in-game recipe display if its layout differs from these directions.
What you can make with a book
Book and quill
Combine a book with a feather and ink to make a book and quill. Minecraft’s Book and Quill article says ink is most easily obtained from a squid. It reports writing limits of up to 100 pages with 1,023 characters per page in Java Edition, and up to 50 pages with 256 characters per page in Bedrock Edition.
#1 Best Overall
Bookshelves
A regular bookshelf uses 3 books and 6 planks. Minecraft’s bookshelf article says regular bookshelves enhance nearby enchanting tables. A chiseled bookshelf is a different block: it is crafted from 6 planks and 3 wooden slabs, stores up to 6 books, and does not increase enchanting-table power.
Quick Recap
Best Value
| Block | Purpose | Recipe materials | Capacity or effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular bookshelf | Enhances nearby enchanting tables | 3 books and 6 planks | Enchanting-table enhancement |
| Chiseled bookshelf | Stores books | 6 planks and 3 wooden slabs | Stores up to 6 books; no enchanting-table enhancement |
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