From Concept to Print

What Are the Stages and Costs That Go Into Printing a Children’s Book?

Publishing a book that excites bookstores and little readers is an exciting journey, and involves several important steps along the way. By understanding the tasks required at each stage and the estimated costs, you can plan your project with confidence and avoid unnecessary bumps in the road.

Let’s take a closer look at the stages and the tasks required to create a beautifully printed children’s book.

1. Preparation Stage: Laying the groundwork

“Failing To Prepare Is Preparing To Fail” – Benjamin Franklin

The Preparation stage is where the creative magic begins, yet it’s often the most overlooked when it comes to planning and budgeting. By dedicating time and resources at this stage, you can save yourself from costly mistakes down the line when you are ready to print your book.

Writing and Development

• Brainstorming ideas and developing your story line
• Writing your age-appropriate story
• Re-writing multiple drafts
• Developing your characters and refining your story arc

Cost? Your labor of love

Professional Editing

• Working with 3-5 beta readers for feedback
• Copy editing for grammar and style
• Line editing for flow and clarity
• Using tools like ProWritingAid for initial checks
• Developing your final version for an editor’s review

Cost: Beta readers typically involve your friends and family. It’s a smart move to put some money aside to hire a professional editor. On our Hire a Pro page, you’ll find a list of experienced children’s book editors, including Brooke Vitale, Bublish, and others. You can reach out to them for a quote.

Illustrating

• Determining optimal book size for your audience
• Planning page count and content flow
• Creating professional illustrations

Cost: The cost of illustrating a children’s book can vary depending on the illustrator’s experience, the complexity of the illustrations, and the number of pages. You can pay anywhere between $1,000 and $15,000. Highly experienced or well-known illustrators may charge more. It’s always a good idea to get quotes and to be clear on the scope of work; including rights, revisions, and timelines.

2. Formatting Stage: Getting your files ready for print

Laying Out Your Book

• Obtaining printer templates from your printing partner
• Laying out design with proper bleed and safety margins

If your illustrator does not have print production experience, we recommend hiring a professional formatter. Our Hire a Pro page has a list of print designers and book formatters who do a great job and are affordable!

Preparing Your Files

• Converting all colors to CMYK
• Ensuring proper resolution (minimum 300 DPI)
• Setting up proper bleed areas (typically 0.125″ or 3mm)
• Embedding all fonts
• Creating print-ready PDF files

Cost: Generally speaking, formatting is not terribly expensive for children’s picture books. The price of formatting and preparing files for print can vary from being included in the illustration fee to a couple of hundred dollars or more, depending on the complexity of the project.

3. Pre-Press Stage: Physical Proof Review

Proofing. Proofing. And More Proofing

• Examining color accuracy
• Checking binding quality
• Verifying page sequence
• Making final edits before bulk printing

Cost: MCRL INCLUDES the cost of one physical bound proof in your quote. Many printers don’t. More often than not, a printer will include a digital PDF proof and charge an additional fee for a hard copy to proof – at a cost upwards of $250 for an offset proof.

If your chosen printer does not include a physical proof, pay for one. Don’t cut corners at this stage. We can’t stress enough how often small edits and changes are noticed when an author has a physical book to review. It’s all about peace of mind. Plus you can use photos of your proof for your Kickstarter or pre-sales campaign.

4. Production Stage: Bringing your book to life

Printing Process

• Scheduling your book for print
• Setting up your book
• Printing with child-safe, non-toxic ink
• Checking quality throughout the production
• Assembling and binding

Quality Assurance

• Color consistency verification
• Binding strength testing
• Safety compliance checks
• Durability testing

MCRL includes quality assurance and project management services in your quote. We’re happy to send you a complimentary photo or short video of your first books coming off the press. Some printers will charge for this.

Printing Cost: Several variables influence the cost of printing your book, here are a few of the drivers:

Quantity

• When you print with MCRL, the larger your print run, the less you pay/book
• When you print POD, the volume does not really impact the price/book

Specifications

• Trim size selection
• Number of pages
• Paper weight and finish
• Board thickness

Special Features

• Die-cutting
• Spot UV coating
• Foil stamping
• Embossing or debossing
• Gift boxes
• Special finishes and add-ons

Get an accurate, all-in quote for your printed product HERE.

5. Shipping and Delivery

This final stage in the process involves:

• Kitting and labeling, if required
• Preparing your order in protective packaging for transit
• Customs documentation (for international shipping)
• Insurance coverage
• Delivery tracking

Cost: MCRL includes sea shipping and logistics in your quoted price. Overseas shipping and freight forwarding can be tricky, and the last thing you want is to be hit with unexpected bills or paperwork issues. That’s why we include this service in our quotes!

Cost-Saving Tips

1. If your budget permits, order in larger quantities to take advantage of better per-unit pricing.
2. Choose an industry standard book size.
3. Plan ahead and allow a buffer to ensure your deadline is met.
4. Get multiple quotes – be sure to compare apples to apples – list what’s included and what isn’t —check that the quotes include a physical proof, tariffs, duties, taxes, and shipping to the final destination.

Getting Started

To get an accurate estimate for printing your children’s book, you’ll need:

• Final page count
• Desired trim size
• Quantity needed
• Special finishing requirements
• Shipping destination

Remember: While it’s tempting to rush to print, taking your time and investing in professional help is money well spent—and will pay off in a bookstore worthy children’s book!

Have Questions? We are happy to answer your questions and share printing best practices. Book a call with one of our printing specialists!