Why Book Formatting Matters for Your Children’s Book
You’ve written a fantastic children’s book—one that sparks the imagination, teaches valuable lessons, or entertains young readers. But before you can successfully publish and sell your book, you need to ensure it looks professional and engaging. That’s where children’s book formatting comes in.
Proper formatting is more than just arranging words and pictures on a page—it ensures your book meets industry standards, displays correctly across print and digital platforms, and provides a smooth reading experience. Poor formatting can lead to misaligned images, unreadable text, or even rejection from major publishing platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark, and Apple Books.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about children’s book formatting, including:
- The key differences between print and digital children’s book formatting
- Common formatting mistakes to avoid
- DIY vs. professional book formatting services (and which option is best for you)
- The best tools and platforms to help you format your book, including Vellum, Fiverr freelancers, and Canva
- How proper formatting can help you sell more books
Throughout this guide, we’ll recommend tools and services to help you professionally format your children’s book. Many of these links are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost—if you decide to purchase using the links. We only recommend products we trust and believe will genuinely help you create a book that stands out. This helps us continue to add information to help writers like you
Whether you’re looking to format your book yourself or hire an expert, this guide will help you make the best choice for your publishing goals. Let’s dive in!
Print vs. Digital Children’s Book Formatting: What You Need to Know
Before you start formatting, you need to decide how you’re publishing your children’s book—print, digital, or both. Each format has different requirements, and understanding these differences can save you a ton of frustration later.
Print Formatting: Perfect for Physical Book Lovers
If you want kids (and parents) to hold your book in their hands, you’ll need a print-friendly format that meets the requirements of platforms like Amazon KDP Print, IngramSpark, and Barnes & Noble Press.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Trim Size Matters – The most common sizes for children’s books are 8.5” x 8.5” (square), 8” x 10”, and 6” x 9”. Each platform has its own accepted sizes, so check before designing.
- Bleed vs. No Bleed – If your illustrations go all the way to the edge of the page, you’ll need to format them with “bleed.” Otherwise, your book will have a white margin around the edges.
- Print-Ready PDF Required – Unlike eBooks, print books require a high-quality PDF with embedded fonts and proper margins to ensure pages look perfect.
- CMYK Color Profile – Most print-on-demand services require CMYK color mode, not RGB, for accurate color printing.
💡 Pro Tip: Formatting for print can get tricky, especially when dealing with images, margins, and bleeds. Hiring a professional can be a smart investment if you’d rather not struggle with it yourself. We recommend checking out Fiverr’s Children’s Book Formatting Experts (affiliate link)—you’ll find experienced freelancers specializing in KDP and IngramSpark formatting at various price points.
Digital Formatting: Optimized for Tablets & E-Readers
Ebooks for kids are a whole different game! Instead of fixed pages like print books, digital books need to adapt to different devices, from Kindles to iPads.
Here’s what you need to know for a smooth eBook experience:
- Fixed Layout vs. Reflowable Text – Most children’s books use a fixed layout so that images and text stay in place. However, reflowable text (where words adjust to screen size) is better for text-heavy books.
- Image Resolution – For crisp images, your illustrations should be at least 300 dpi and formatted in RGB color mode for screens.
- ePub & MOBI Formats—Amazon KDP accepts reflowable ePub for most books, but if you want a fixed-layout eBook, you’ll need KPF (Kindle Package Format), which you can create for free using their Kindle Create software. In 2024, Amazon KDP stopped accepting MOBI files.
💡 Want an easy way to format your eBook without a steep learning curve? We recommend Vellum, a user-friendly book formatting tool that lets you create beautifully styled eBooks and print books at once without needing coding or design skills. If you prefer an expert to do it for you, check out Fiverr’s eBook Formatting Services for professional help.
Should You Publish in Both Formats?
Absolutely! Many successful children’s book authors offer both print and eBook versions to maximize sales. Parents love having a physical book for bedtime, but they also appreciate a digital version for travel or on-the-go reading.
If you want to sell more books, give your audience both options. You can format one version yourself and hire a pro for the other, or use a tool like Vellum for eBooks and a Fiverr freelancer for print.
Common Children’s Book Formatting Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Formatting a children’s book isn’t just about making it look pretty—it’s about ensuring a smooth reading experience, whether in print or digital format. Unfortunately, many first-time self-publishers run into frustrating mistakes that can lead to poor reviews, rejected files, or books that don’t sell as well as they should.
Here are some of the most common children’s book formatting mistakes—and how to avoid them:
1. Choosing the Wrong Trim Size
Your book’s trim size (final dimensions) affects how it looks, how much it costs to print, and how it competes with similar books in your genre. Many self-published authors make the mistake of picking an unusual trim size, only to realize it won’t work on platforms like Amazon KDP or IngramSpark.
How to Avoid It:
- Stick to industry-standard sizes like 8.5” x 8.5” (square), 8” x 10”, or 6” x 9”.
- Check the trim size guidelines for each publishing platform before finalizing your design.
💡 Need help choosing the right trim size? A professional book formatting freelancer from Fiverr can ensure your book meets industry standards before you hit publish.
2. Text and Images Too Close to the Edge
Many first-time authors make the mistake of placing text or illustrations too close to the edge of the page, leading to awkward cropping in print books or readability issues in eBooks.
How to Avoid It:
- Use a safe margin of at least 0.5 inches from the edges for text and essential elements.
- If your illustrations go all the way to the page edge, make sure you select the bleed option when formatting.
💡 Tip: Tools like Canva (affiliate link) offer pre-set book templates that help you align your text and images correctly.
3. Low-Resolution Images That Print Blurry
Illustrations are the heart of a children’s book, but using low-resolution images can make your book look unprofessional—especially in print.
How to Avoid It:
- Print books use at least 300 dpi resolution to ensure clear, vibrant images.
- Keep illustrations in RGB color mode for eBooks and CMYK for print to maintain accurate colors.
💡 Working with an illustrator? Before uploading your final manuscript, make sure your illustrator provides high-resolution files. If you need to check or enhance image quality, tools like Adobe Photoshop or Canva Pro can help.
4. Poorly Formatted eBooks That Don’t Display Correctly
Digital children’s books require different formatting than print books.
Many authors struggle with:
- Images shifting out of place on e-readers
- Text appearing too small or too large
- ePub files not passing validation for Amazon KDP
How to Avoid It:
- Use a fixed layout format if your book relies heavily on illustrations.
- Test your eBook on multiple devices before publishing.
- Use Vellum for a simple, high-quality eBook formatting experience.
💡 Feeling stuck? If formatting an eBook sounds overwhelming, hiring an expert on Fiverr can save you time and frustration.
5. Not Embedding Fonts in Your Print Book PDF
If your chosen font isn’t embedded in your PDF file, the print-on-demand service might replace it with a default font—ruining your carefully designed book layout.
How to Avoid It:
- When exporting your final PDF, check the “Embed Fonts” option in your design software.
- Use fonts that are licensed for commercial use to avoid copyright issues.
💡 Pro Tip: Tools like Adobe InDesign, Affinity Publisher, or Vellum make exporting print-ready PDFs with embedded fonts easy.
6. Forgetting to Check Your Book on Different Devices
Just because your book looks perfect on your laptop doesn’t mean it will display correctly on a Kindle, iPad, or phone. Many authors forget to test their eBook across different screen sizes.
How to Avoid It:
- Use Amazon’s Kindle Previewer to see how your book will appear on various Kindle devices.
- Before publishing, test your ePub file in Apple Books, Google Play Books, and Kobo.
💡 Want a second pair of eyes? A professional children’s book formatting expert from Fiverr (affiliate link) can ensure your book displays beautifully on all devices.
Final Thoughts: Format Your Book Right the First Time
Formatting might not be the most exciting part of publishing, but getting it right can make or break your book’s success. Avoiding these common mistakes will save you time, money, and potential frustration down the road.
💡 Need help with formatting? If you don’t want to struggle through the learning curve, check out these recommended resources:
✔️ Fiverr (affiliate link) – Affordable freelance book formatting services for print and digital books.
✔️ Vellum (affiliate link) – The best DIY formatting tool for self-published authors.
✔️ Canva (affiliate link) – Easy-to-use templates for designing your book layout.
By using the right tools and getting expert help when needed, you’ll create a professional-looking book that kids (and parents) will love.
DIY vs. Professional Children’s Book Formatting: Which One is Right for You?
Now that you know the basics of children’s book formatting, you might be wondering:
👉 Should I format my book myself or hire a professional?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—it depends on your budget, skills, and how much time you want to spend on formatting instead of writing or marketing your book. Let’s break down both options so you can make the best choice.
Option 1: DIY Children’s Book Formatting
If you love learning new skills and want full creative control, formatting your children’s book yourself can be a great choice. It’s cost-effective, and there are plenty of tools available to help—even if you have zero design experience.
Best DIY Tools for Formatting a Children’s Book
- Vellum (affiliate link) – A user-friendly formatting tool for creating professional-quality eBooks and print books without coding.
- Canva (affiliate link) – Great for designing fixed-layout eBooks and print books, with easy drag-and-drop features.
- Adobe InDesign – A powerful tool for professional book formatting, but it has a steep learning curve.
- Kindle Create – Amazon’s free tool for formatting children’s eBooks with a fixed layout.
- Apple Pages – A free alternative for Mac users that allows basic eBook formatting.
Pros of DIY Formatting
✔️ More control over your book’s final look
✔️ Save money on hiring a formatter
✔️ Learn a valuable skill for future books
Cons of DIY Formatting
❌ Time-consuming, especially for beginners
❌ Learning curve for professional-looking results
❌ Mistakes can lead to publishing delays or poor reviews
💡 Best for: Authors on a tight budget or those who enjoy the challenge of designing their own books.
Option 2: Hiring a Professional Formatter
If you’d rather focus on writing and let an expert handle the formatting, hiring a professional book formatting expert is a smart investment. Expert children’s book formatting ensures your book meets publishing standards, looks polished, and is free of technical errors.
Where to Find Professional Children’s Book Formatters
- Fiverr – A great place to find affordable, experienced children’s book formatting experts for print and digital books. You can browse freelancer profiles, check reviews, and choose one that fits your budget.
- Reedsy – A marketplace for high-end book professionals, including formatters. Prices are higher but come with top-tier expertise.
- Upwork – A freelancing platform where you can hire children’s book formatting experts at an hourly or project-based rate.
Pros of Hiring a Professional Formatter
✔️ Saves time and stress – You won’t have to figure out margins, bleed, font embedding, or eBook formatting errors.
✔️ Guaranteed professional results – Your book will be polished and error-free.
✔️ Avoids formatting headaches – A pro knows how to meet KDP, IngramSpark, and other distributor requirements.
Cons of Hiring a Professional Formatter
❌ More expensive than DIY formatting
❌ Less control over small details
💡 Best for: Authors who want a polished, hassle-free book, save time, avoid new tech, and are willing to invest in professional help.
Which Children’s Book Formatting Option is Right for You?
Still unsure whether to DIY or hire a professional?
Ask yourself these questions:
❓ Do I have the time to learn formatting software?
❓ Am I comfortable handling file types, trim sizes, and layout adjustments?
❓ Is my book illustration-heavy (which can make formatting more complex)?
❓ Can I afford to hire a professional to save time and stress?
Quick Decision Guide:
| If You… | Go DIY | Hire a Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Have a tight budget | ✅ | ❌ |
| Want full creative control | ✅ | ❌ |
| Have time to learn formatting | ✅ | ❌ |
| Want to publish quickly | ❌ | ✅ |
| Prefer a stress-free process | ❌ | ✅ |
| Have complex formatting needs | ❌ | ✅ |
Final Thoughts: DIY or Hire a Pro? Choose What Works for You
There’s no right or wrong choice—it depends on your goals, budget, and comfort level with book design.
👉 If you love learning and want full creative control, try Vellum or Canva to format your book yourself.
👉 If you want a polished, professional-looking book without the headache, hire an expert on Fiverr.
Either way, getting your formatting right is crucial for selling more books. A beautifully formatted children’s book does more than make you look like a professional author. It’s easier to read, more appealing to buyers and gives you the best chance of success in self-publishing.
How Proper Formatting Helps You Sell More Books
At first glance, formatting might seem like just a technical step in the publishing process. But here’s the truth: proper formatting directly impacts how many books you sell. A well-formatted children’s book enhances the reading experience, attracts better reviews, and increases your chances of landing more sales.
Let’s break down exactly how great formatting = more book sales.
1. Professional Children’s Book Formatting Makes Your Book Look Trustworthy
Imagine you’re a parent browsing Amazon for a bedtime story.
You check out a book’s “Look Inside” preview and see:
❌ Text running into the margins
❌ Misaligned images
❌ Weird spacing or tiny font
Would you buy that book? Probably not!
Poor formatting screams amateur, and in a world where traditionally published books set the standard, self-published authors need to match that level of quality. A polished book, on the other hand, instantly looks professional and credible—which leads to more purchases.
💡 Want your book to look just as good as the bestsellers? A professional children’s book formatting expert from Fiverr (affiliate link) can ensure your book is flawless and market-ready.
2. Better Formatting = More 5-Star Reviews
Book reviews make or break your success on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other platforms. Many authors think reviews are all about the story—but formatting plays a role, too.
📉 Bad formatting leads to negative reviews:
- “The text was too small to read.”
- “Images didn’t line up right on my tablet.”
- “Looked unprofessional—wish I hadn’t bought it.”
📈 Good formatting leads to positive reviews:
- “Beautifully formatted—my kids love reading it!”
- “The illustrations were crisp and clear on my iPad.”
- “Looked just like a traditional publisher’s book.”
💡 Need a review-friendly book? A polished format gives readers one less thing to complain about! If you’re unsure where to start, Canva makes it easy to create a stunning, error-free book without major design skills.
3. A Well-Formatted Book Sells Better on Amazon & KDP
Amazon’s algorithm favors books that sell well and have positive reviews. That means if your book looks great, sells, gets good reviews, and keeps parents happy, Amazon is more likely to recommend it to new buyers.
Here’s how formatting plays into this:
✅ “Look Inside” Preview: A clean, professional layout makes buyers feel confident about purchasing your book.
✅ Fewer Returns: Readers will request refunds if a book is formatted poorly. Too many returns can hurt your rankings.
✅ Higher Conversion Rates: A beautifully formatted book convinces more buyers to hit that “Buy Now” button.
💡 Want to increase your Amazon sales? A properly formatted book gets better visibility and more conversions. Fiverr has experts who can fine-tune your formatting so you don’t lose sales over small mistakes.
4. Makes Marketing & Distribution Easier
If you plan to promote your book through multiple channels—Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Apple Books, Google Play, etc.—proper children’s book formatting makes distribution seamless.
Each platform has different file requirements, and a poorly formatted book might get rejected. If your book isn’t formatted correctly:
❌ Amazon might flag your eBook for formatting errors
❌ IngramSpark could reject your print book due to margin issues
❌ Apple Books may decline your file if it’s not in the correct ePub format
💡 Want to distribute your book everywhere? Tools like Kindle Create can make platform-friendly files that work on KDP, Apple Books, and more. If you need a done-for-you solution, a Fiverr children’s book formatting expert can ensure your files are approved.
Final Thoughts: Formatting is an Investment in Your Book’s Success
If you want to sell more children’s books, proper book formatting is a must.
It helps you:
✔️ Look professional and build trust
✔️ Get more 5-star reviews
✔️ Increase sales on Amazon and KDP
✔️ Distribute your book across multiple platforms
Bottom line? Don’t let bad formatting hold your book back! Whether you DIY with Vellum or Canva or decide to hire a pro from Fiverr, investing in quality formatting sets your book up for success.
Step-by-Step Guide to Formatting Your Children’s Book
Ready to format your children’s book the right way? Whether you’re doing it yourself or working with a professional, following these steps will ensure your book looks polished and meets publishing standards.
Step 1: Choose Your Trim Size & Page Layout
Before you start formatting, decide on your book’s trim size (dimensions). This determines how your text and illustrations fit on the page.
Common trim sizes for children’s books:
- 8.5” x 8.5” (popular square format)
- 8” x 10” (portrait)
- 6” x 9” (for chapter books)
💡 Tip: If using Amazon KDP or IngramSpark, check their trim size guidelines before designing. If you’re unsure, a children’s book formatting professional on Fiverr can help you pick the right format.
Step 2: Set Up Margins, Bleed & Safe Zones
Margins, bleed, and safe zones ensure nothing gets cut off when your book is printed.
- Margins: Keep text at least 0.5 inches away from the edges.
- Bleed: If illustrations go to the edge of the page, add a 0.125-inch bleed to avoid white borders.
- Safe Zones: Place all important content inside the margins to prevent accidental trimming.
💡 Tip: Tools like Canva and Adobe InDesign have pre-set templates for book layouts, making this step easier.
Step 3: Format Your Text & Fonts
Children’s books should be easy to read, so choosing the right font and text placement is crucial.
- Use large, clear fonts (at least 16-20 pt for picture books)
- Keep line spacing comfortable (1.5x to 2x for readability)
- Avoid overly decorative fonts—stick to playful but readable styles like Century Gothic or Comic Sans
💡 Tip: Make sure your fonts are embedded in your final print-ready PDF to avoid formatting issues.
Step 4: Place & Optimize Your Images
Illustrations are the heart of a children’s book, so they must be formatted correctly to look crisp and professional.
- Resolution: Use high-quality images at 300 dpi for print and RGB mode for eBooks.
- Alignment: Make sure illustrations align correctly with your text—text shouldn’t overlap or get lost in the binding.
- File Format: Save images as PNG or JPG for best quality.
💡 Tip: If you need help formatting your illustrations, a Fiverr children’s book formatting expert can ensure everything looks perfect.
Step 5: Convert to the Right File Format
Once your book is properly formatted, it’s time to export it in the correct format for different publishing platforms.
- For Print (Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press): Export as a PDF with embedded fonts.
- For eBooks (Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play): Convert to ePub or KPF (Kindle Package Format).
- For Fixed-Layout eBooks (Illustration-heavy books): Use tools like Kindle Create or Adobe InDesign to format correctly.
💡 Tip: If this part feels overwhelming, you can hire a professional children’s book formatting expert on Fiverr to handle the conversions for you.
Step 6: Test Your Book Before Publishing
Before you hit “Publish,” check how your book looks across different devices and formats.
🔍 For Print Books: Order a proof copy from KDP or IngramSpark to catch any issues before launching.
📱 For eBooks: Use the Kindle Previewer and test your book on different screen sizes (tablet, phone, Kindle).
💡 Tip: A second pair of eyes can help! A formatting expert on Fiverr can review your file and fix any last-minute issues.
Final Thoughts: Get Your Formatting Right & Publish With Confidence
Formatting doesn’t have to be a headache—when done right, it makes your book look polished, professional, and ready to sell.
👉 Want to DIY? Vellum and Canva make formatting easy, even if you’re a beginner.
👉 Prefer professional help? Find an expert on children’s book formatting on Fiverr and save yourself the hassle.
Now that your book is formatted, it’s time to publish and market it—so kids and parents can enjoy your story for years to come!