A book is a set of sheets of paper , parchment , or similar materials that are fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is a leaf , and each side of a leaf is a page . Writing or images can be printed or drawn on a book's pages. An electronic image that is formatted to resemble a book on a computer screen, smartphone or e-reader device is known as an electronic book or e-book . The term "books" may also refer to a body of works of literature , or a main division of literature (e.g., children's literature ) . In library and information science , a book is called a monograph , to distinguish it from serial periodicals such as magazines , journals , or newspapers . In novels and sometimes other types of books (for example, biographies), a book may be divided into several large sections, also called books (Book 1, Book 2, Book 3,...