Abstract: A book with improved binding including a front cover page and a back cover page constructed of a non-foam material, at least one center page constructed substantially of a foam material, at least one external binding sheet and at least one internal binding sheet for binding the front and rear cover pages and the at least one center page in book format. In one embodiment, the external binding sheet attaches to at least a portion of one side of the first and last center pages and wraps around both sides of the front and back cover pages. In another embodiment, the external binding sheet attaches to a portion of one side of the front and back cover pages and wraps around to the other side of the front and back cover pages. In still another embodiment, the external binding sheet attaches to at least a portion of one side of the front and back cover pages. Internal binding sheets bind the remaining pages in book format.

Abstract: A printed article containing a plurality of pages disposed between a front cover page and a rear cover page. An object is disposed on and protrudes from one or more of the plurality of pages. At least a portion of the object contains a soft flexible exterior forming an interior pocket. A plush material is disposed in the pocket so that at least a portion of the object is compressible. One or more of the pages that are bound between the object and the front cover page contains a cut-out region that is aligned with the object so that when the printed article is closed, the object extends through the cut-out region.