Like many authors, you also want to start your book publishing journey by writing a children's book. But one question keeps coming to your mind, how much will this cost me? The answer depends on many things like how are you publishing your book? Is it through traditional publishers or self publishing on Amazon? Don't worry. We have answers to all of your queries. By the end of this guide, you will know the cost to publish a book on Amazon and other platforms, how much you can earn with this career and cheap ways to publish a book.
When it comes to publishing a children's book through traditional publishers, one name always comes to mind, Scholastic. This isn’t an advertisement for Scholastic, but the truth is the truth! Many famous authors publish their children's books with Scholastic, making it a top choice. However, the competition is tough, and authors need strong qualifications to get published. But don’t worry. We’re here to guide you through its submission guidelines:
Step One: Write a High-Quality Manuscript
Most people say an idea is enough to write a book story. However, there are alot things that matter in book writing. First, no grammatical errors, then professional editing and proofreading. In short, you need to create a high quality manuscript to go for Scholastic.
The good news is children's books don't need lengthy chapters or characters to get published. A simple yet powerful theme can help you as well. If you are not a professional book editor then hire one from Ace Book Publishers.
Step Two: Find a Literary Agent
One drawback of publishing on Scholastic is that they prefer authors with literary agents. Or in simple words, they publish books through literary agents. So you also need to find one. Some websites like Association of Authors' Representatives (AAR), QueryTracker, Reedsy, Reddit and more alike can help you with that. If you want a literary agent that is reliable and is professional in its work then get one from Ace Book Publishers.
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Step Three: Prepare a Strong Book Proposal
Now, you need a strong book proposal. You can get ideas with this link. It has steps on how to write a good book proposal. You can also work with your literary agent to write a children's book proposal.
Step Four: Submit Through Your Agent
Let your agent submit your book proposal to Scholastic on your behalf. Make sure to sign a contract with your agent for confidentiality.
Note: if you are directly submitting your book proposal to Scholastic then make sure to include introductory letters, synopses, chapter guides, and character descriptions. However, they usually do not accept direct manuscripts.
How much money can you make publishing a children's book
Reading books is important for children. However, they are often more attracted to picture books or books with illustrations. It makes writing a children's book easy [with a professional illustrator of course]. But, how much can you actually earn from it? That’s a tricky question! Let's see some examples of authors who have made a high income from children's books.
Example 1:
According to research, there is one author who earned like $7000 per month after self-publishing seven children's picture books on Amazon KDP. He did this by using multiple strategies. Like, he first hire book illustrator, targeted the same age group and used services of Amazon marketing.
Example 2:
Another example is of an author who earned $12000+ per month after he self publish a children's book on Amazon in series. He used some techniques like strong promotions on holidays like Children Day, Mother Day and Father Day.
Example 3:
Let's see an example of an author who worked with a traditional publisher. Usually, they earn less per book but can benefit from advances and licensing fees. One author Laura Sala earned almost $2000 with one book plus licensing fees.
Note: You can see with these examples that self published authors earn more as compared to traditional ones. If a self publisher works with a company that provides book publishing services like Ace Book Publishers then they're production cost will be recovered in one to two months.
How much can you make selling children's books on Amazon
Publishing a book and selling a book are two different things. Simply publishing a children's book won’t generate much income, but actively selling it through marketing will. This shows how important marketing is to boost your sales.
One best way to earn money with children's books is to publish and market in multiple formats.
Format 1: Kindle eBook (Amazon KDP)
Digital publishing is the safest and cheapest way to publish a book on Amazon. You can earn 35% or 70% royalty (depending on price and region) by using Amazon's marketing services like Amazon Ads. Like if you price your children's book at $4.99 you can earn around $3.49 per sale at 70% royalties. If you sell 500 copies per month, you could earn $1,745/month.
Format 2: Paperback (Print-on-Demand via KDP)
If you publish in Paperback format then you will earn 60% royalty after deducting printing cost. The cost to print a book can differ from size and length. Like, 32-page book printing costs $2.5 to $4 per copy. So price your book wisely. Using Amazon KDP for Paperback is best, because they only print when your book receives orders. Let's say you price a Paperback at $10.99 then you will earn about $3.00 to $5.00 per sale after minusing printing costs. If you sold 300 copies per month then you will earn $900–$1,500/month.
Format 3: Hardcover (Amazon KDP & IngramSpark)
Another format is Hardcover. You will get the same 60% royalty on Amazon, but printing cost will be high. Like, $6 to $10 per book. If you priced the hardcover $19.99 then you will get $5–$7 per sale. You use this format for schools, libraries and bookstores as they order in bulk.
Format 4: Audiobooks (via Audible & Amazon ACX)
Many readers love to listen to audiobooks especially if we are talking about children. With this format you can get 25% royalty on Audible exclusive and 40% on non-exclusive. You can publish an audiobook on Amazon through its platform ACX.
Work with one of the best audiobook company, Ace Book Publishers and get the best quality audiobook to boost your income and sales.
If we talk about selling a children's audiobook priced at $6.99, then your earnings will be $1.75–$2.80 per sale.
After publishing your book in multiple formats, you can earn $2000 to $5000 per month with just one book.
How to publish a children's book on Amazon in 10 minutes
Decades ago authors used to publish books for years. But now you can publish a book in minutes with Amazon. Amazon KDP is the fastest way you can publish a book and we will show how you do it in 10 minutes!
- Open Amazon website or download app on phone.
- Log in with your account or create a new one.
- Tap on Create a New Title.
- Now, choose Kindle eBook or Paperback [or both]
- Fill in your book title, subtitle, description and your name.
- Add keywords that are relevant to your book [ like children book, kids book, friendship, kindness etc.]
- Upload your book [make sure it is in AZW3, MOBI or PDF form.]
- Add your book cover [you can hire professionals for book cover design services.] Make sure it in JPEG or PNG form
- Select the price of your book.
- Now, click on Publish and your book will be live in 24 to 72 hours.
Cost to Publish a Book on Amazon
Best thing about Amazon KDP is that it has no upfront costs. You only pay for printing and advertising if needed.
5 Platforms for Self-Publishing a Children's Book with Illustrations
If you have already written a children's book and are looking for ways to self publish it. Here are five different platforms for you.
Platform 1: Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
If you want to publish your book in eBook, paperback and hardcover form then Amazon KDP is for you. It is the most popular self-publishing platform. Self-publishing a book on Amazon does not require fees. KDP supports full-color illustrated children's books through print-on-demand.
Platform 2: IngramSpark
Another way to publish a children’s book is through IngramSpark. It is ideal for authors who want to distribute their children's books to bookstores, libraries, and online retailers. It has small upfront fees but also it has high-quality printing, hardcover options, and expanded distribution than Amazon.
Platform 3: Apple Books
If you want to release your book for iOS users then go for Apple Books. It allows authors to publish digital children's books. It is free to publish and provides global reach. It fully supports illustrated eBooks with interactive features.
Platform 4: Barnes & Noble Press
If you want your book available on Nook eBooks then Barnes & Noble Press is a great option for you. It provides wide distribution within Barnes & Noble stores, and is free for publishing with high royalties.
Platform 5: Kobo Writing Life
You can publish children's eBooks and audiobooks through Kobo Writing Life. It is a great choice for international distribution and it offers high royalties (up to 70%) with Kobo Plus feature.
Pro Tip : You can write a children's book and publish it on all five platforms through Ace Book Publishers professional services.
Cheapest Way to Publish a Children's Book
Let's see how you can publish a children's book on the cheapest platforms.
- Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
Amazon is one of the biggest and cheapest publishing platforms. It provides:
- No upfront cost
- Printing on demand.
If you are publishing a paperback or hardcover, you can spend $3.65 for short colour books to print them and $14.85 for longer ones.
- Blurb
Another option is Blurb. It has no upfront fees and printing cost differs according to length and size of your book.
- Lulu
It is free to publish a book on Lulu and is best for illustrated children's books.
For other services like writing, editing, formatting, proofreading, publishing and marketing, you can hire Ace Book Publishers. They offer expert quality services at affordable prices.
Wrapping Up
In short, you can self publish a children's book on Amazon for free but you need to invest in other things like writing, editing, etc. So spend your time and money wisely. Hire professionals to get the best of your book.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best low cost platform to publish a book is Amazon KDP. You can publish a children's book in digital format for free. To reduce production costs, you can use Canva for illustrations, Kindle Creator for book cover design, and handle editing, formatting, and proofreading yourself. For marketing, we recommend hiring a professional marketer, as it doesn’t have to be expensive but can boost your book’s sales.
You can publish a children's book on Amazon KDP for free. However, you’ll need to invest time and effort in the rest of the process, including writing, editing, formatting, proofreading, book cover design, and marketing. While this won’t cost you money, it will take months or years to make your book a success.
If you want total control over your book's content, pricing, and earnings, self publishing for you, but be prepared to handle all the costs. Conversely, if you want professional guidance from start to finish, a traditional publisher is the better fit. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, so make your choice thoughtfully.
When it comes to children's books, there's no magic number for pages. Instead, the length of your book should naturally flow from the story you want to tell and the age of your readers. Your main goal is to create a story that's engaging and just right for your audience, so let the story itself decide how many pages it needs.