Children's Hardcover Book Printing: 5 Things to Consider
Children's books must be designed to captivate and sustain a child’s attention. Unlike traditional books, children’s books often feature minimal text and rely on vibrant pictures and illustrations to drive the story and spark imagination.
Equally important is the physical construction of the book—it needs to be durable enough to endure frequent use and rough handling.
As a book printer, I’d like to share five key considerations for producing a professionally printed kid book for children.
1) The Cover
Children’s books are typically produced with a sturdy hard cover, printed in full color. This thick, durable cover extends the book's lifespan and safeguards it from the wear and tear of frequent handling.
Vibrant, full-color designs are ideal for attracting and retaining a child’s attention. Additionally, the cover is often laminated with a high-gloss, matte, or soft-touch finish. This laminate coating provides extra protection against spills, stains, and scuffs.
2) Interior Pages
Just like the cover, the interior pages of a children's book should be printed in full color. Some printers may only offer black-and-white options, so it's important to choose a printer that provides full-color printing. After all, a picture book in black and white lacks the same appeal and marketability as one printed in vibrant colors. Additionally, the thickness and finish of the pages impact the overall quality of the book, so be sure to discuss these details with your printer beforehand.
When writing for children, it's crucial to keep the page count low due to their shorter attention spans and the need for a straightforward story. Ensure that the printer you select can handle binding hardcover books with a relatively small number of pages, as some may not offer this service.
3) Artwork
As highlighted earlier, the use of full color is essential in children’s books. Colorful pictures and illustrations serve as the focal points of the story, conveying meaning more effectively than text, especially for young children who may not yet be able to read. This is why many children's books feature large, vibrant illustrations to capture and communicate the story's key elements.
While some authors are skilled at creating their own artwork, others may need to seek the help of a professional graphic artist. Don't let subpar illustrations detract from an otherwise captivating story. Choosing the right illustrator can bring your story to life and enhance the overall appeal of the book.
4) Size and Orientation
Choosing the physical size of your children's book is an important decision to make early in the design process. Certain sizes may be more common and cost-effective to produce. Popular sizes include 8.5" x 8.5", 8.5" x 11", and 11" x 8.5". It is generally not recommended to create a book for young children in a small size. Medium or large books are easier for young readers to handle and for small hands to manipulate.
Consider also the orientation of the book—portrait, landscape, or square. In portrait mode, the book's height is greater than its width, with the spine running along the taller dimension. In landscape mode, the height is shorter than the width, and the spine runs along the shorter dimension. Square books have equal width and height dimensions.
While all three orientations are popular, landscape mode is often better suited for young children’s books. It provides easier handling during shared reading sessions, such as when a parent reads with a child. However, not all printers may offer hardcover production in landscape mode, so it's important to confirm this with your chosen printer.
5) Quantity to Order
Once your children's hardcover book is ready for printing, deciding on the number of copies to order largely depends on the book's intended purpose and target audience.
For instance, if a grade school teacher is creating a storybook for a specific school or community, the distribution will be limited. In this case, ordering a relatively small number of copies—rather than thousands—would be sufficient.
For books intended for a broader audience, such as those planned for commercial distribution, starting with smaller production runs can be advantageous. This approach allows you to gauge demand and adjust accordingly.