The Case

The case is the hardcover of a book. All hardcover books have a case underneath the jacket. This case is made of two boards - one on the front and one on the back - which are covered in a cloth or paper wrapper which holds the book together. The case also creates a little pocket in the book between the cover and the spine. This is what allows the book to sit flat on a surface.

A Design Element

While most people may overlook it because it sits underneath the jacket, the case can be given a design as well. It is almost always designed on faux cloth or paper. The front and back covers of the case are often left blank save for the author's name and publisher's logo which is stamped along the spine. This allows the book to be identified even without the jacket. The cases of children's books, however, tend to repeat the design elements of the cover almost exactly. This is due to kids' frequency to just throw the jacket away or tear it. Therefore, the design of children's cases would include a relevant design as well as the title and author name. On occasion, a design will be put on the front of an adult case as well for the few readers who decided to unwrap the book and see what lies below.

What is it made of?

It is almost always made of fabric or paper. However, the fabric is usually fake for economical and preservative reasons. The fake fabric gives the same look as normal fabric, but it is more readily available and more economical than linen or cotton.