How to Publish and Market a Children’s Book: A Complete Guide for Authors
Publishing a children’s book is an exciting journey, but it’s also completely different from publishing a novel. While adult books rely on text, children’s books are visual experiences, meaning everything from illustrations, book size, fonts, and format plays a crucial role.
But how do you actually publish a children’s book? Should you hire an illustrator or use AI? Should you focus on hardcover or paperback? And how do you market a book when kids aren’t the ones buying it—their parents are?
If you’ve ever wanted to write, publish, or market a children’s book, this guide will walk you through every step of the process, from choosing the right format to reaching your ideal audience.
Step 1: Writing and Structuring a Children’s Book
Before we get into the publishing side, let’s talk about the basics of writing a children’s book.
What Age Group Is Your Book For?
Children’s books are divided into different categories, each with specific formats, word counts, and illustrations.
| Age Group | Book Type | Word Count | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–3 years | Board Books | 0–200 words | 8–24 pages |
| 3–5 years | Picture Books | 200–1,000 words | 24–40 pages |
| 5–7 years | Early Readers | 1,000–3,000 words | 32–64 pages |
| 7–9 years | Chapter Books | 3,000–10,000 words | 64–100 pages |
If you’re writing a picture book, you’ll need fewer words and stronger visuals. If you’re writing an early reader or chapter book, the text plays a bigger role, but formatting still matters.
How to Structure Your Story
Children’s books typically follow a simple but engaging structure:
- Introduce the main character. (Who is the child following?)
- Set up the problem. (What’s the challenge or lesson?)
- Adventure or journey. (The character struggles, learns, or grows.)
- Resolution. (A satisfying and uplifting ending.)
Think of classics like The Very Hungry Caterpillar—simple, repetitive, and visually engaging.
Once your story is written, it’s time to bring it to life with illustrations.
Step 2: Illustrations—Hire an Illustrator or Use AI?
The illustrations in a children’s book are just as important—if not more important—than the words. You have two main options:
1. Hiring an Illustrator
Professional illustrators bring your book to life with unique, hand-drawn art that fits your story’s tone and age group. However, costs can vary significantly.
- Freelance illustrators charge anywhere from $500–$5,000 for a full picture book, depending on experience.
- Sites like Upwork, Fiverr, 99designs, and Reedsy are good places to find illustrators.
- You’ll need to negotiate the style, number of illustrations, and turnaround time.
✅ Pros: High-quality, custom illustrations. Can make your book stand out.
❌ Cons: Expensive. Takes longer.
2. Using AI for Illustrations
AI art generators like Midjourney, DALL·E, and Adobe Firefly now create stunning, detailed illustrations in seconds.
- AI-generated art is much cheaper—you can create a fully illustrated book for a fraction of the cost.
- Some AI tools allow you to edit and refine images to match your vision.
- However, AI art may lack consistency across all pages, which is crucial for storytelling.
✅ Pros: Fast, low-cost, and easy to experiment with.
❌ Cons: Some platforms (like Amazon) require disclosure of AI-generated content. AI consistency issues.
Which Should You Choose?
If you have a budget, hiring an illustrator is ideal for a unique, cohesive book. If you’re just testing the market or working with a limited budget, AI-generated illustrations can be a smart way to get started.
Step 3: Formatting and Printing Your Children’s Book
Children’s books have specific format requirements, so your book needs to be designed correctly.
Book Size and Layout
Common children’s book sizes include:
- 8.5″ x 8.5″ (square)
- 8.5″ x 11″ (portrait)
- 10″ x 8″ (landscape)
Your format depends on the reading experience:
📖 Square books are great for picture books.
📖 Portrait books feel more traditional.
📖 Landscape books work well for books with wide, scenic illustrations.
Most print-on-demand services will allow you to choose glossy covers (recommended for picture books) and premium color pages for the best visual experience.
Hardcover vs. Paperback
- Paperback: Cheaper to print and ship.
- Hardcover: More durable and better for libraries and gift purchases.
If you’re selling on Amazon KDP, print-on-demand hardcover books can be pricey, but sites like IngramSpark allow wider distribution to bookstores and libraries.
Typography and Fonts
Children’s books require clear, readable fonts that match the book’s tone.
Good font choices:
✔️ Rounded, bold, easy-to-read fonts (like Comic Sans, Century Gothic, or Montserrat)
✔️ Large font size (16–24 pt for picture books)
✔️ High contrast (black text on white pages)
🚫 Avoid: Script fonts, serif-heavy fonts, or anything hard to read.
If your book has dialogue, consider using different colors for different characters’ speech to enhance readability.
Step 4: Publishing Your Children’s Book
Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing
| Self-Publishing | Traditional Publishing |
|---|---|
| Full creative control | Publisher handles editing & marketing |
| Higher royalties | Lower royalties (5-10%) |
| Must invest in illustrations & marketing | No upfront costs |
| Can publish in weeks | Can take years to land a deal |
If you want speed and control, self-publishing is the best option.
Where to Publish Your Book
🚀 Amazon KDP – Best for print-on-demand paperbacks and eBooks.
🚀 IngramSpark – Distributes to bookstores & libraries (best for hardcover).
🚀 Lulu – Great for high-quality, full-color print books.
🚀 Blurb – Ideal for large-format picture books and special editions.
Amazon KDP is the easiest way to get started, but IngramSpark is better for library & bookstore distribution.
Step 5: Marketing Your Children’s Book
Publishing is only half the battle—you need marketing to actually sell your book.
1. Target Parents, Not Kids
Children don’t buy books—parents, teachers, and librarians do. Your marketing should focus on them.
2. Build an Author Website
- Offer a free printable coloring page related to your book.
- Collect emails to build an audience for future books.
3. Use Amazon Ads & Facebook Ads
- Amazon ads can target parents searching for books in your genre.
- Facebook ads can target moms, teachers, and homeschool groups.
4. Get Reviews
- Offer free copies to parenting bloggers and teachers.
- Submit your book to Mom’s Choice Awards or Kirkus Reviews for credibility.
5. Sell on Etsy & Pinterest
- Etsy is great for selling signed copies or bundles with coloring books.
- Pinterest is powerful for visual books—create pins with sample illustrations.
Final Thoughts: Is Publishing a Children’s Book Worth It?
The children’s book market is competitive, but readers are always looking for new, high-quality stories. If you take the time to create a beautifully illustrated book, format it correctly, and market it smartly, you can build a lasting book business.
Whether you go the traditional route or use AI for illustrations, the key to success is understanding what parents want and making your book stand out visually.
Are you thinking about publishing a children’s book? What’s your biggest challenge? Let me know in the comments! 🚀
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