Children's Hardcover Book Printing: Five Things to Consider
Books for young children require different features and construction elements than other types of printed books
Equally important is the physical construction of the book - it must be hard-wearing to withstand heavy use and rough handling.
As a book printer, I wanted to pass along five things to consider when you are planning to produce a professionally-printed book for children.
1) The Cover
Children's books are generally made with a durable hard cover that is printed in full color. The thick, hard cover extends the life of the book and protects it against the rigors of frequent handling.
Vibrant full-color is the most desirable choice for the cover of a child's book because it attracts and maintains attention. Also, the cover is often laminated with either a high-gloss, matte or soft-touch finish. This laminate coating helps protect the book against spill, stains, and scuffs.
2) Interior Pages
Like the cover, the interior pages of a kid's book should be printed in full color. Some book printers only offer the option of black and white interior pages, so make sure you find a printer that offers full-color printing. Let's face it, a picture book in black and white just won't have the same allure (or marketability) as one printed in full color. The thickness and sheen of the pages will also affect the quality of your finished book, so be sure to discuss these options with your printer in advance.
Also, when writing for children, the page count is intentionally kept low because of a child's short attention span and the need for a simple story. So make sure the printer you choose can bind hardcover books with a relatively small number of pages - some can't.
3) Artwork
As mentioned earlier, the use of full color is crucial when writing a book for kids. Using colorful pictures and illustrations as focal points will convey more meaning than text to a young child, especially if they are not yet able to read. This is why many children's books are designed using large pictures and illustrations to convey the distinct elements of the story.
Many children's book authors possess the ability to create expert artwork themselves. But if your drawing skills are lacking, find a graphic artist who can professionally illustrate your book. Don't let poor illustrations hinder an otherwise enchanting story.
4) Size and Orientation
Determining the physical size of your children's book is something you should research during the early stages of design. There will likely be certain sizes that will be more prevalent and more economical to produce than others. For example, 8.5" x 8.5", 8.5" x 11" and 11" x 8.5" are popular sizes. It is not recommended that a book for young children be created in a small size. A medium or large book is much easier for young eyes to survey and for small hands to manipulate.
Another consideration is whether the orientation of the book should be portrait, landscape, or square. Portrait mode refers to a book with a height greater than its width and the spine of the book runs along the greater dimension. Landscape mode refers to a book with a height shorter than its width and the spine runs along the shorter dimension. Of course, Square books have the exact same dimension for both width and height.
All three orientations are popular, but in my opinion Landscape mode is the orientation better suited for a young child's book. This is because it provides easier handling when the book is shared - such as when a parent sits with the child to read the book. However, not all printers can produce hard cover books in landscape mode.
5) Quantity to Order
Once a children's book is ready to be printed, determining how many books to order will depend largely on the book's intended purpose and target audience.
For example, a grade school teacher may wish to create a story book based on his/her school or community. In this instance, the book's distribution would be limited. So, the teacher will likely only need a relatively low number of books, not thousands of copies.
Even if a book is planned for a much wider audience - like a book to be distributed commercially - there are benefits to starting out with smaller production runs until the demand for the book becomes more apparent.
My general recommendation is to find a printer who can economically produce your custom hardcover book in smaller quantities - like 100 or 500. This will allow you to market your book and develop sales outlets without tying up too much money upfront. Then as sales climb, the book can be purchased in larger quantities to meet demand.
Formax can economically print your hardcover children's book using full-color throughout, with a durable laminated cover, in just about any popular size or orientation, and in production runs as low as 100 books.
So if you've authored a book, have your specifications finalized, and are ready to go to print, give Formax a call at 866-367-6221. Or, submit our easy quote request from by clicking
Take care! Rick
must be designed to capture and hold the attention of a child. Unlike traditional books, books for children have minimal text and rely on colorful pictures and illustrations to guide the story and encourage imagination.Equally important is the physical construction of the book - it must be hard-wearing to withstand heavy use and rough handling.As a book printer, I wanted to pass along five things to consider when you are planning to produce a professionally-printed book for children.Children's books are generally made with a durable hard cover that is printed in full color. The thick, hard cover extends the life of the book and protects it against the rigors of frequent handling.Vibrant full-color is the most desirable choice for the cover of a child's book because it attracts and maintains attention. Also, the cover is often laminated with either a high-gloss, matte or soft-touch finish. This laminate coating helps protect the book against spill, stains, and scuffs.Like the cover, the interior pages of a kid's book should be printed in full color. Some book printers only offer the option of black and white interior pages, so make sure you find a printer that offers full-color printing. Let's face it, a picture book in black and white just won't have the same allure (or marketability) as one printed in full color. The thickness and sheen of the pages will also affect the quality of your finished book, so be sure to discuss these options with your printer in advance.Also, when writing for children, the page count is intentionally kept low because of a child's short attention span and the need for a simple story. So make sure the printer you choose can bind hardcover books with a relatively small number of pages - some can't.As mentioned earlier, the use of full color is crucial when writing a book for kids. Using colorful pictures and illustrations as focal points will convey more meaning than text to a young child, especially if they are not yet able to read. This is why many children's books are designed using large pictures and illustrations to convey the distinct elements of the story.Many children's book authors possess the ability to create expert artwork themselves. But if your drawing skills are lacking, find a graphic artist who can professionally illustrate your book. Don't let poor illustrations hinder an otherwise enchanting story.Determining the physical size of your children's book is something you should research during the early stages of design. There will likely be certain sizes that will be more prevalent and more economical to produce than others. For example, 8.5" x 8.5", 8.5" x 11" and 11" x 8.5" are popular sizes. It is not recommended that a book for young children be created in a small size. A medium or large book is much easier for young eyes to survey and for small hands to manipulate.Another consideration is whether the orientation of the book should be portrait, landscape, or square. Portrait mode refers to a book with a height greater than its width and the spine of the book runs along the greater dimension. Landscape mode refers to a book with a height shorter than its width and the spine runs along the shorter dimension. Of course, Square books have the exact same dimension for both width and height.All three orientations are popular, but in my opinion Landscape mode is the orientation better suited for a young child's book. This is because it provides easier handling when the book is shared - such as when a parent sits with the child to read the book. However, not all printers can produce hard cover books in landscape mode.Once a children's book is ready to be printed, determining how many books to order will depend largely on the book's intended purpose and target audience.For example, a grade school teacher may wish to create a story book based on his/her school or community. In this instance, the book's distribution would be limited. So, the teacher will likely only need a relatively low number of books, not thousands of copies.Even if a book is planned for a much wider audience - like a book to be distributed commercially - there are benefits to starting out with smaller production runs until the demand for the book becomes more apparent.My general recommendation is to find a printer who can economically produce your custom hardcover book in smaller quantities - like 100 or 500. This will allow you to market your book and develop sales outlets without tying up too much money upfront. Then as sales climb, the book can be purchased in larger quantities to meet demand.can economically print your hardcover children's book using full-color throughout, with a durable laminated cover, in just about any popular size or orientation, and in production runs as low as 100 books.So if you've authored a book, have your specifications finalized, and are ready to go to print, givea call at. Or, submit our easy quote request from by clicking here . As always, we look forward to assisting you!Take care! Rick
Just because children’s books seem shorter and “simpler” doesn’t mean the publishing process is shorter and simpler, too. If you want to self-publish a children’s book, there are certain facts you need to know before you begin, so you can walk into the process with your eyes wide open.
Keep in mind that what follows isn’t a definitive guide to self-publishing a children’s book—there are as many types of children’s books as there are self-help books. This list gives you what to consider when creating a typical children’s book. (e.g., illustrations, full-color printing, coated paper, and type of cover.)
1. You Need a Qualified Illustrator.
The success of a children’s book depends on its illustrations. If the illustrations aren’t engaging, it won’t interest children. And it’s not about finding someone who’s “good at drawing” either. A qualified illustrator understands the industry and knows how to bring your story to life in a way that’ll translate to a printed book.
A quick rundown of how to work with a qualified illustrator: look at potential illustrators’ portfolios, choose someone whose work speaks to you, have a written contract in place, and make sure it’s work for hire, which means you—the author—own the work.
2. It Takes Time. A Lot of Time.
Illustrations—good illustrations—take time. If your illustrator has a waiting period, it could be weeks or months before they’re able to get to your project. And that’s just the beginning. You also have things like editing (yes, even children’s books should be edited!), the layout of the interior and cover, and—finally—printing (or ebook creation) that have to happen before your book can be made available for purchase.
That means if you want your book out by Christmas, you have to start the Christmas before. And if you want the opportunity to have your book in bookstores by Christmas, you’ll probably have to start even sooner, since most bookstores make their holiday selections in June or July.
3. Your Purpose for Publishing Influences Your Printing and Distribution Choices.
Distribution is how the book gets from the printer to the reader, whether that’s through bookstores, online retailers, or a direct-to-reader sales page. Your purpose for self-publishing should influence your choice of printing and distribution. Do you want to see your book in bookstores, or do you want to create something to give your family? Do you have a readership established that you can direct to your website, or do you need the distribution options of larger retailers?
Your answers to these questions can make a huge impact on your book’s profitability. For instance, you might make a couple dollars from a sale through a bookstore if you print in large quantities (500 or more). But at the same time, you might make a similar amount through a direct-to-reader sales page, without having to print so many books upfront.
Here’s an example of how print costs can impact your printing choice.
Printing Costs for an 8 x 10 Hardcover, 36-Page, Color Interior Children’s Book* Number of Copies Printed Cost per Book Under 500 $16.46 500 to 999 $5.24 1,000 or more $3.62*Note: These numbers are for example only.
Keep in mind that to get a cheaper cost-per-book price, you’d have to print at least 500 books. If you only want a few copies to give to your family, is it worth the extra books (and costs)? But if you want to see your book in bookstores, having a high per-book cost (the result of printing fewer than 500 copies) will bump the retail price so high that people might be unwilling to buy it.
If you don’t want to print 500 or more copies, but you want to sell beyond your family, consider selling through a direct-to-reader sales page. With the increase of tablet use by kids and adults alike, you can also consider going the ebook only route.
4. Saving Money Now May Cost You Money Later.
Children’s books don’t come cheap. Between quality illustrations, color printing (which is more expensive than black and white), and the number of books you may have to print ahead of time, publishing a children’s book could easily cost you $10,000.
While you might be tempted to find ways to save money now, remember that your decision may cost you money later. Skimp on paying a capable illustrator? Your illustrations may not be unique enough to sell copies of your book. Save money on printing by going print-on-demand? Not only will the quality not be as good, but you might not sell books because they’re priced so high to cover the color printing.
What seems like a huge upfront investment may actually help your chances of success later on, so although you may want to cut costs, make sure you’re not cutting corners.
5. You Don’t Market to Children.
Children’s books may be the only kind of book where you don’t actually market to your target audience. Because children aren’t the ones buying books, you market to the people who buy books for children: the adults in their lives.
That means your job is doubly difficult: not only do have you to write and publish a book that children will love, but you have to write and publish a children’s book that their parents and relatives want to buy. Your book has to appeal to both audiences, which means it’s especially important to publish a book that sets itself apart from other children’s books.
How Mill City Press Helps
Our Publishing Consultants have helped numerous children’s book authors make educated decisions about what works best for them. If you want to publish a children’s book and would like guidance, contact one of our Publishing Consultants.