Children’s books are their own craft
Writing for children looks simple and isn’t. A picture book has to hold a four-year-old’s attention, be a pleasure for an adult to read aloud for the hundredth time and tell a complete story in a few hundred words. The text and illustrations must work together across page turns. The reading level must match the age group exactly.
Our children’s book team includes editors, illustrators and designers who work only in this category. They know the formats, the conventions and what parents, teachers and librarians look for.
Our children’s book services
Manuscript editing
Your editor checks age-appropriate vocabulary, rhythm and rhyme, read-aloud flow and story arc, and makes sure your word count and page count fit the format.
Illustration
Character design, storyboards and final full-color art from an illustrator matched to your vision. Learn more on our book illustration page.
Layout and design
Text and art are combined into a 24-, 32- or 40-page layout with careful page turns, readable type and bleed for printing. Front cover, spine and back cover are designed to match.
Printing and publishing
We prepare files for full-color print on demand through Amazon KDP and IngramSpark in paperback and hardcover, plus fixed-layout ebooks for Kindle and Apple Books.
What’s included
- Children’s editorAge-level, rhythm and story structure review.
- Illustrator matchPortfolios chosen for your story’s tone.
- StoryboardPage-by-page plan of text and images.
- Print layoutFull-color interior with bleed and page turns.
- Cover designFront, spine and back for print editions.
- Publishing setupPrint and ebook live on major retailers.
Common formats: 8.5 × 8.5 inch square and 8 × 10 inch landscape are popular picture book sizes. We’ll recommend the trim size that suits your illustrations and printing budget.
Books that sell to parents, schools and libraries
Children’s books are usually bought by adults, so packaging and positioning matter. We help you write a description that speaks to parents, choose the right age range and categories, and prepare materials for school visits and library submissions. Then our book marketing team helps you build momentum.
