I’m in the process of writing and formatting two board books for a client. These two books make a total of five books I’m writing and publishing for this client. And they’re the first board books I’ve been involved with. A board book is made from thick, durable, pressed cardboard. Each page, including the front and back covers, have the same thickness, and the surfaces are laminated. Interestingly, you don’t technically write a board book. You write text for a picture book that can be formatted into a board book, paperback, or hardcover book. If you’re self-publishing, you’ll choose which format you want. If you’re traditionally publishing, the publishing house will decide the format. With that, a board book should have a very low word count, usually within 300 words, and be geared toward newborns to three-year-olds. There are also board books with no words. If you’re thinking of jumping into the children’s board book arena, it will involve a lot of thought. Elements such as the target age group, simplicity of language, engaging illustrations, and an appealing story or concept will need to be considered. Here are some steps to help you get started: 1. Choose Your Target Age Group: Board books are usually designed for babies and toddlers, as mentioned earlier. So, it’s essential to keep your target audience in mind. Consider their cognitive and emotional development at this stage. You might also define the target audience into infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. 2. Determine the book’s purpose: Will it be to educate, entertain, or comfort? Is it to be silly? 3. Pick a Theme or Concept: Select a simple, engaging, and relatable theme or concept that will resonate with children this young. It could be about animals, colors, shapes, numbers, emotions, daily routines, articles of clothing, or any other topic that is relevant and interesting to young children. 4. Create a Catchy Title: Your title should be short, memorable, and related to the theme. It should also give potential readers a clear idea of what the book is about. 5. Develop a Storyline or Structure: Keep the story extremely simple, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Consider a repetitive or rhyming structure, which can engage and entertain young readers. If you’re writing a concept book, think more in line with simple concepts and how to organize the items. 6. Outline Your Book: Create a basic outline of the book, including the number of pages and the main ideas or concepts you want to cover. Keep in mind that board books are typically short, often with 12 – 20 pages. 7. Create Engaging Characters: Think “Five Little Monkeys Jumping in a Bed.” It’s all about grabbing and holding the young child. Make the characters fun and engaging. Engaging characters will help maintain their attention. If it’s a concept book with characters, give the characters expressive faces to help convey emotions. It’s about making the elements of the book easily identifiable. 8. Write Simple and Clear Text: Keep your text simple and concise. Use short sentences or even single words to convey your message. Use age-appropriate vocabulary and avoid complex or abstract concepts. Ensure each page has a brief and clear message or concept. 9. Use Rhyme and Repetition: Many successful board books use rhyme and repetition, which can help engage young readers and make the text more memorable. But it's important if rhyming, to do it right. 10. Create Lively Illustrations: Board books rely heavily on illustrations to convey the story or concept. Work with an experienced illustrator if you're not an artist yourself. Ensure the illustrations are colorful, eye-catching, and relevant to the story. The visuals should be uncluttered and easy to understand. 11. You Might Consider Including Interactive Elements: Adding interactive elements like flaps, textures, peek-a-boo surprises, or die-cut shapes that children can touch and explore will be a plus. These extras can enhance the sensory experience of the book. 12. Test Your Book: Before finalizing your board book, share the story and illustrations with children in your target age group. Pay attention to their reactions and feedback. This step will help you make any necessary adjustments. Getting feedback will help you create a book that will resonate with your target audience. 13. Editing and Proofreading: As with any book you’re creating, carefully edit and proofread the text to ensure there are no errors. Check for spelling, grammar, and clarity. Board books need to be error-free since young children are learning from them. 14. Design and Layout: Work with an experienced designer to create an appealing, easy-to-read layout for your board book. Ensure that the text and illustrations are well-balanced on each page. 15. Copyright and Legal Matters: Ensure you have the necessary copyright and permissions for any third-party content used in your book, including illustrations or character designs. 16. Publishing/Printing: Printing children's board books requires attention to detail to ensure the books are durable, safe, and visually appealing for young readers. For this reason, I’ve added additional information. Here are some tips for printing children's board books: -Choose a Reliable Printer: Select a reputable printing company with experience producing board books for children. Ask for samples and check their references to ensure quality. Not all printers handle board books. You’ll most likely need to research Southeast Asian color printers that are experienced with board books. -Size and Format: Determine the size and format of your board book. Common sizes for children's board books include approximately 5x5 inches, 6x6 inches, and 7x7 inches. Ensure the size is appropriate for your target age group. -Material Selection: Board books are known for their sturdy pages. Opt for thick, durable paperboard or cardboard for the pages. The cover should also be made of a sturdy material, often referred to as a "case wrap" cover. -Rounded Corners: To enhance safety and prevent sharp edges, consider rounding the corners of the board book pages. -Lamination: Apply a gloss or matte lamination to the board book pages to protect them from spills and wear and tear. Lamination also adds a tactile element to the book. - Safety Considerations: Children's board books must meet safety standards. Make sure that the ink and materials used are non-toxic and comply with safety regulations, such as ASTM F963 in the United States. - Binding: Choose a strong binding method that can withstand repeated use. Board books are often bound with a lay-flat or concealed wire binding to prevent pages from tearing. - Testing and Prototyping: Before mass production, get a proof copy to check for accuracy and to test the book's functionality, durability, and safety. Allow children to handle and read the prototype to identify potential issues. This step is essential as first copies can have errors. - Packaging: Consider how the board books will be packaged for sale or distribution. Protective sleeves or shrink-wrapping can help keep the books in pristine condition. - ISBN and Barcodes: If you plan to sell your board books through retailers, obtain ISBNs (International Standard Book Numbers) and barcodes for proper tracking and sales. - Printing Quantity: Determine the quantity of board books you want to print based on your target audience and distribution channels. Printing in larger quantities may be more cost-effective. Research printing and distribution options and decide what will work best for you. According to Harold Underdown, “Printing board books and binding board books (which is a very different process than binding standard books) both present unique technical challenges, and you don't want to be a company's first attempt. There are a lot of things that can go wrong.” (1) By following these tips and working with experienced professionals, you can ensure that your children's board book is not only visually appealing but also safe and durable for young readers. 17. Distribution: This is the process of getting your book from the printer to the customer. And this is where it gets a little tricky. You will likely need to use a specialist distributor. Services like Book Printing and Print Ninja handle warehousing and distributing your book. Super-simplified explanation: the printer sends a shipment of your books to the specialist distributor. This distributor warehouses the books and sends them out to customers as orders come in. The path of purchase can come from your website, brick-and-mortar stores, and online entities like Amazon. You will need to create a distribution listing with the retailers you want to sell through. For more information on distribution, you can check out these links: https://bookprinting.com/book-distribution https://printninja.com/printing-resource-center/printing-academy/international-transportation-and-logistics/storage-and-fulfillment/ You can also do a search for “book fulfillment for self-publishers” or “third-party warehousing and fulfillment.” 18. Promoting Your Book: Once your board book is published, promote it through social media, bookstores, libraries, and parenting groups to reach your target audience. Consider attending book fairs or events where you can showcase your board book to potential readers and buyers. It’s always a good idea to develop a marketing plan. Summing It Up Remember that the key to a successful children's board book is simplicity, engagement, and age-appropriate content. Always keep the needs and interests of young children in mind as you write and create your book. Creating a quality book is always important, but when it’s for children, it’s essential. Your book should be in line with industry standards. And if you want to write and publish a board book but the process seems to have too many working parts for you, don't let that stop you. I can help. To find out why board books are beneficial to young children, check out: https://karencioffiwritingforchildren.com/2023/10/08/childrens-board-book-benefits/
I’m a working children’s ghostwriter, editor, and coach. I can help turn your story into a book you’ll be proud to be the author of, one that’s publishable and marketable.
OTHER HELP I OFFER:
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You can contact me at: kcioffiventrice@gmail.com. Or give me a call at 347—834—6700. (Please leave a message- I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.)
