6 Things to Know about Self-Publishing Your Children’s Picture Book

I wrote and illustrated my first children’s picture book in August 2022. This wasn’t my first attempt at writing a book. I tried non-fiction books several times but always seemed to get stuck. I was editing my work in circles. I was taking myself so seriously. But writing a children’s picture book was fun! It helped me get beyond the limitations I was setting for myself. Writing and illustrating picture books helped me see that I could create books that were just as easy and fun to make as they are for readers to enjoy.

If you are thinking about writing and self-publishing your first children’s book, these tips can help.

1. A Deadline is a Friend

When I first started trying to write a book, I wrote about my experience with holistic health. I was a new Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and wanted to share what I discovered about health, happiness, and wellness. But I wrote. And then I wrote. And then I rewrote. As a creative without a deadline, I expanded on stories and takeaways and edited repeatedly. I never let the process come to completion. It was frustrating, to say the least.

With my children’s book, I didn’t have time for excuses, flexibility, or perfection. I had six weeks to create a product. I got out of my head. And now, as I create new books, I love having a deadline in mind. It keeps me focused and prevents me from dwelling too much on small stuff or too many options.

2. Accountability is Crucial

Find one or two people who can cheer you on. Join a writing community. However you do it, get good people in your corner. Not everyone is interested in writing or illustrating a book. (And that’s ok!) But the people who share similar goals and aspirations as you know what it’s like to put in the work. They know what it takes to commit to moving forward. These allies will have your back when you want to quit or feel uncertain about your next steps. You’ll get to support them too. Don’t go through this process alone.

3. Done Feels Better than Perfect

The world needs your book, or you wouldn’t feel called to create it. That said, the things we ought to do aren’t always easy. We resist them. We come up with excuses. And believing that we can’t do it right or our circumstances need to be different are big ways perfectionism gets in the way. Your idea doesn’t have to be perfect. Neither does your schedule. Or your wording. Or your illustrations. People are waiting for the very thing you are yearning to create. Forget the lie that it has to be a certain way. Let yourself get it done already.

4. The Right Page Specifications or “Specs” Save Time and Money

Publishing “I’m Getting New Glasses!” was a whirlwind. It got me out of my head. It got my project finished. But I wish I had known a few things.

Page size, the number of images in your book, and color settings affect your book’s price. The right choices can keep your costs down, increase your profit margin, and keep your book competitively priced.

Page and Trim Size

I chose an 8×8 trim (page) size for my first children’s picture book. I thought this book size was cute (it is!) But if I could do it again, I likely would have chosen a different page size. A custom size was a bit more expensive to print than more common sizes but also prevented me from enrolling in Amazon’s Expanded Distribution program, which I wanted to do then. (Expanded Distribution is one way to make your book available for distribution through major retailers.)

Image Count

Whether hiring a graphic designer or illustrating your book yourself, having one image per spread saves you time and money. My first book had text on the left page and a picture on the right.

My second book, “When I Take Care of Me,” was an ABC book that required more illustrations. I love those illustrations. I’m very happy with them. But from a production standpoint, they took more time to design than my other books.

Graphics on each page would also have significantly kicked up my production costs had I hired a designer.

Color and Bleed Settings

Most of my children’s picture books are full-color and full-bleed. They are for kids, so I like them to be bold and colorful. These settings, however, can increase your print cost.

When you publish with Amazon KDP, for example, you can choose from basic and premium color. I use premium, which is more expensive. This, along with full bleed, meaning colors runs through to the end of the page, requires the paper to be trimmed. Although they increase my production costs, they also help me produce a higher-quality product. I will continue to use these settings for my children’s picture books.

5. You’ll Never Know It All

If you’re anything like me, you want all the information. You want to know exactly how things will go down before you get started. Don’t do this. You will run into things you do not know, even if you continue publishing children’s picture books beyond your first and fifth! Think about how fast and frequently technology changes. Accept the truth now. You won’t ever know it all. Whew! Now that that’s out of the way, you can write and publish your children’s picture book!

6. Creating Children’s Picture Books is Fun!

I grew up believing in the power of hard work. Working hard in school and in my career served me well for a very long time. But the mentality that I must work hard to produce good work has also been a barrier. Yes, put in the time and effort. Do the work. But especially if you’re writing a children’s picture book… Have fun! Kids (and parents!) are far more likely to smile and enjoy reading your book if you have fun creating it!

Have you written a children’s picture book? What would you add to this list? Still working on yours? What’s standing in your way?

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