Children’s book on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

1. Crafting Your Children’s Book

• Write a Compelling Story: Start with a clear concept suitable for your target age group (typically 3-8 years). Keep the language simple, engaging, and age-appropriate.

• Illustrate: Engaging illustrations are critical for children’s books. Whether you illustrate it yourself or hire a professional, ensure the illustrations are colorful and match the story’s tone.

• Book Layout: Arrange text and images to create a balanced flow, making sure each page tells part of the story and is visually appealing.

2. Format Your Manuscript for KDP

• File Preparation: KDP supports PDF, ePub, and MOBI formats, but children’s books generally look best as PDF files to ensure the layout remains consistent.

• Page Size: Common sizes for children’s books are 8.5 x 8.5 inches, 8 x 10 inches, or 6 x 9 inches. Ensure your illustrations and text are sized appropriately for your chosen format.

• Resolution and Quality: For best results, ensure images are high-resolution (at least 300 DPI) to avoid pixelation on digital devices or in print.

3. Designing the Book Cover

• Front Cover: Capture attention with bright colors and engaging illustrations. Title and author name should be clearly visible.

• Back Cover: Consider adding a short description of the book, age range, a tagline, or a snippet of the storyline.

• File Requirements: KDP requires a full cover file, including the front, back, and spine, sized to your page count and format.

4. Setting Up Your KDP Account

• Create an Account: Go to kdp.amazon.com and create an account if you don’t already have one.

• Set Up Tax and Payment Info: Follow the steps to enter tax information and set up how you’ll receive payments.

5. Upload Your Book to KDP

• Book Details: Enter information such as title, subtitle, description, author name, and target age range.

• Keywords and Categories: Choose keywords and categories carefully, as these impact discoverability on Amazon. For children’s books, categories like “Children’s Fiction” or “Early Learning” may be ideal.

• Upload Interior and Cover Files: Upload your formatted PDF for the interior and the cover file as per KDP’s specifications.

6. Pricing and Royalties

• Set Your Price: Consider your production costs, audience, and competing children’s books to set a competitive price.

• Royalty Options: KDP offers two royalty options: 35% or 70%. Choose the one that aligns best with your goals and pricing.

7. Preview and Publish

• Preview Your Book: Use the KDP Previewer tool to ensure your book appears correctly on both e-readers and print options.

• Submit for Publishing: Once you’re satisfied with the preview, submit your book for publishing. KDP will review it, which usually takes up to 72 hours.

8. Promoting Your Children’s Book on Amazon

• Book Description and Keywords: Optimize your book description with engaging language and keywords.

• Author Page: Set up your Amazon Author Central page with your bio, other published books, and any additional information to connect with readers.

• Amazon Ads: Consider running Amazon Ads to reach a larger audience. Ads can increase visibility, especially for new titles.

9. Gathering Reviews and Building an Audience

• Encourage Reviews: Reviews build credibility, especially for children’s books. Encourage early readers, family, and friends to leave genuine reviews.

• Social Media and Website: Promote your book on social media platforms where parents and educators gather. Set up a website for long-term promotion, making it easy for readers to learn more about you and your books.

10. Track Sales and Adjust Marketing Strategy

• Sales Analytics: Amazon KDP provides insights into sales, royalties, and pages read for Kindle Unlimited.

• Adjust Strategies: Based on the data, adjust your marketing efforts to reach your audience better and keep your book relevant in the market.