I don't know where you live, but the Staples in Frisco, TX where I live has been an inexpensive godsend on more than one occasion. Find an office supply store with a "copy desk" to help you with what you need.
They have a "copy" desk, but it does far more than copies. Take your book down there, let someone look at it. It sounds like you simply need a tabs that are just a little bit wider than the page protectors. Or smaller page protectors. Staples (or any decent office supply store) will have that, and people who can help you.
My son bought a $15 magazine a couple of weeks ago, with all the "tips" for his Pokemon Sapphire game. The pages started coming out. When he returned to the store where he bought it, they were out of stock.
So, we went down to the copy desk at Staples and they cut the non-working glue binder off the magazine, punched holes in it, and put a plastic binder on it. We added clear plastic cover pages on the front and back. The lady even clipped the corners, so he would not "poke" himself. Total cost: $1.88. I would have paid 5 times that.
So, find yourself a good office supply store with a copy desk, and get yourself fixed up. They will help you make it look good!
Glen Austin