What size is a children’s book?

Most books for print are 32 pages or in multiples of 8 (for best printing/binding options) Each printer has a different setup but the industry standard size for printed books are 5.25″ x 8, 5.5″ x 8.5, 6″ x 9″, 7″ x 10″, 8″ x 10″, 8.25″ x 6″ and 8.25″ x 8.25″. When creating a book for print and ebook it is best to work with spreads as they convert better.

Unfortunately, Amazon does not offer hardcover and landscape printing is offered but only bound at the top (like a calendar) which is useless. If you are going softcover and not landscape, I recommend Amazon KDP for its large distribution network. But if landscape or hardcover is your goal (and they do look great that way) there are SO MANY other printers out there, most of which DO offer this type of printing. 

Publisher Name         # of Books | Page Count | Hardcover | Print Time | Landscape | Marketing

Lulu  1-Any             20-740            No              3-5 days            No               Yes

Xpress.lulu                  32-740             32-800           Yes             3-5 days           Yes               Yes

Amazon*                       1-999                 24-                No               2 days               No               Yes

AuthorHouse   Awaiting confirmation

Print Ninja                  250-500*          4-36                Yes              1 week               Yes              No

Book Baby                    25-Any         24-840              Yes             5 days                Yes          limited

Blurb                               1-Any            20-440            Yes              4-5 days            Yes             No

Xulonpress*                 20-200          18-1050            Yes          3-4 Months          Yes             Yes

Barns & Nobles            1-Any                                     Yes              2 days               Yes             Yes

Diggy Pod                    24-9999        16-9999           Yes           2-10 days            Yes              No

Outskirts Press Awaiting confirmation

48 Hr Books                40-1050        16-1050*           Yes           1 -5 days            Yes                No

Morris Publishing      25-Any          40-520*            Yes          2-6 weeks           Yes                No

Ingram Spark             1-10,000        18-1200            Yes              13-19                Yes                No

Publishing Xpress     25-2500           8-300             No             10 days              Yes                No

*48 hour books minimum page-count is 16 for softcover and 40 for hardcover.

*Print Ninja Min. board book order is 500.  min pg  4/saddle, 20/perfect, 12/board.

*Print Ninja also offers 1-150 book orders on their POD (digital) printer.

*Xulonpress specializes in Christian books

*Morris Publishing page counts are 40-520 softcover and 20-90 for hardcover

*Amazon has the largest distribution network.

Full-bleed illustrations extend beyond the edges of the pages so there are no white areas showing when the printed pages are trimmed to size. Let’s say the trim size of your book will be 8.5″ × 11″. Your printer will require a minimum bleed of 1/8″ (0.125″) on all the outside edges of your pages.

A 1-page illustration will have an extra 0.125″ added to the top, bottom, and outside of the page, like this:

If the trim size of this book is 8.5″ × 11″, the final size of a full-bleed illustration for one page will be 8.625″ × 11.25″. (Note that 0.125″ was added to the width and 0.25″ was added to the height—you should add these same dimensions to whatever size your book page is.)

A 2-page illustration will have an extra 0.125″ added to the top, bottom, and outside of both pages, like this:

A 2-page illustration will have an extra 0.125″ added to the top, bottom, and outside of both pages, like this:

If the trim size of this book is 8.5″ × 11″, the final size of a full-bleed illustration for a 2-page spread will be 17.25″ × 11.25″. (Note that 0.25″ was added to the width and 0.25″ was added to the height—you should add these same dimensions to whatever size your book pages are.) 

Note: The center of a 2-page spread is bound into the gutter (or spine) of the book. For that reason, it’s crucial that no important parts of an illustration are placed down the gutter, as they will disappear into the binding of the book. Usually the gutter is an area approximately 1.5″ wide down the spine (see diagram above).

For children’s book illustrations, it’s often helpful for your book illustrator to see the layout of the text on the pages before creating the illustrations. That way, they can leave enough space in the illustrations for the text. The text will ideally be placed over an area of the illustration that isn’t busy and is a light enough color so that the text is easy to read (such as a pale area of sky).

Similarly for your front and/or back cover, any bleed illustrations will have to extend beyond the edges by the same amounts: 0.125″ at top, bottom, and sides. Your book printer will specify the bleed amounts on your cover template. (If you are designing the cover yourself, see part 8 of Book Design Made Simple for all the details on this.)

Read more https://www.bookdesignmadesimple.com/book-illustrator/#pay