A children's book is a made object.
Words are perhaps a third of it. The rest is pictures, page turns, paper and trim — and that is where a good story usually gets let down.
The parts that
are easy to get wrong.
- 01
Illustration
Matched to the story rather than to a house style, and briefed page by page. You approve character designs before a single spread is finished.
- 02
The page turn
A picture book is read aloud, and the turn is the punchline. Text is broken to the spread it belongs on, not poured in and hyphenated.
- 03
Print specification
Trim size, board or paper, matt or gloss, and the bleed that stops a full-page illustration from being trimmed into. Decided deliberately for the book you have.
- 04
Reading age
Vocabulary, sentence length and word count checked against the age the book is actually for — which is not always the age it was written for.
The Grand Kidz
shelf.
Every one of these is in print and on sale. Open one to read the description from the back of the book.
The Mystery on Greenfarm RoadGail Simmons
The Mystery on Greenfarm RoadGail Simmons
The Adventures of Bert the WormJade Entwistle
Little Hedgehog and the MoonCat Rushton
William and the Secrets of the Enchanted ForestIdris James
Roxy and Ted’s Great Garden EscapeAngie Garcia
Jen and the Night MarketAnne Lin
The Little Lost MushroomRuth Lord
Max and Lulu Learn to Understand EmotionsSamantha Parrett
Timmy and Popcorn Go to the FairSylvia Hyam
Timmy and Popcorn’s Magical ReunionSylvia Hyam
Timmy and the Magic CatSylvia Hyam
The Tale of Alpha BettyHelen Michael
Chinese New Year
Grand Kidz has
a home of its own.
Children's books are a separate imprint here, not a category tab. Different shelf, different design language, different conversations.
From story
to printed book.
- 01
You send the story
The full text — picture books are short, so send all of it — and a note on the age you are writing for.
- 02
We read it
A publisher reads it and calls you. Illustration is the biggest single cost in a children's book, so we are straight with you about whether the story carries it.
- 03
Illustration is briefed
Characters first, then the spreads. Nothing is finished until you have approved how everybody looks.
- 04
It is laid out and proofed
Text set to the spreads, a printed proof where the specification warrants one.
- 05
It goes out
ISBN registered, listed with Amazon and distributed into the trade, which is how a school or a library orders copies.
What to know
before you commit.
Illustration is what separates a children's book from a manuscript, and it is the thing that cannot be added cheaply afterwards. Roughly speaking, a 32-page picture book needs somewhere between twelve and fifteen finished spreads plus a cover, and each one is a piece of commissioned artwork. Any quote that does not tell you how many illustrations it includes is not a quote.
Who owns the pictures
Ask this of anybody. In our agreements the copyright in the text stays with you and the licence to the finished artwork is yours for the book — you are not renting your own pages back. If a publisher cannot answer this in one sentence, that is your answer.
Word count
A picture book for three-to-six-year-olds typically runs 400 to 800 words. A first chapter book for six-to-nine runs 5,000 to 10,000. Longer than that is not a fault, but it changes the format, the spec and the cost — so it is worth knowing which book you have written before anybody prices it.
Where children's books actually sell
Schools, libraries, independents and gifts, far more than through search on a retail site. That is why trade distribution matters more here than in almost any other category: it is the mechanism by which somebody who cannot buy from you can still order your book.
What our authors say
- Grand Publishers especially David Alonsa were brilliant
Grand Publishers especially David Alonsa extremely helpful and talked me through everything. He was also very patient with me.l would certainly recommend you all and have already done so
Gail Simmons - Book publishing and promotion
Jason and David and the team have worked hard to get my second book into the public eye, and have made some really good social media pictures and promotions. "The CPO & The Wren" is now selling on both sides of the Atlantic. Geoffrey Spinks
Mr Geoff Spinks - I can't tell you how amazing it has…
I can't tell you how amazing it has been working with Grand Publishing. From the very beginning, the experience has been outstanding. When I first reached out, I wasn't even sure if I wanted to publish a project I had been working on for quite some time. Jerry gave me a call and patiently walked me through the entire process. He answered all of my questions and genuinely motivated me to move forward with publishing my book. I was then introduced to David Alonso, who became my project manager. He has been fantastic throughout the journey, keeping me updated every step of the way, answering any questions I had, and making the whole process smooth and stress-free. As a first-time author, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. If you're hesitant about publishing, I'd encourage you to speak with the team. If you don't come away from that conversation feeling confident, then I'll have to call myself a liar! Thank you, Grand Publishing, and especially Jerry and David, for making this such a positive and memorable experience.
Booker Odena - Outstanding Service from Grand Publishers
I had a very positive experience working with Grand Publishers. As a new author, I really needed guidance throughout the process, from editing to preparation for publication. David and Jerry, who were incredibly helpful, professional, and supportive, made a significant difference. They took the time to explain each stage clearly and did an amazing job with the marketing, illustrations, and overall development of my book. Their dedication to making the final result as strong as possible was exceptional. I would highly recommend Grand Publishers, especially David and Jerry, who were fantastic to work with.
Juliet - My book, In my happy place.
Some while ago I submitted a raw manuscript to Grand Publishers. Honestly, at first I was cautious about their enthusiasm, in fact I thought it a sales ploy. How wrong I was! The project has been managed by David Alanza, with input from Arthur J Wayne the marketing director. At every stage I have been afforded full control of the artistic direction and have now got a highly polished book that I could never have produced. I'm now in the launch phase and the marketing so far is beyond my wildest dreams. I know that there's much more to come, but wanted to highly recommend anyone with a book that they believe in to listen to and trust Grand. To verify everything I've said, please search Vernon Smith I my happy place and see for yourself.
Vernon Smith - Helpful and professional
Helpful and professional
Elikem Debrah
Children's book
questions.
No — most of our children's authors do not illustrate. We commission the illustration and you approve it at every stage, starting with the characters.
Yes. Tell us at the start so the schedule and the specification are built around them rather than around ours.
Almost always a multiple of eight — 24, 32 or 40 — because of how the sheets are folded and bound. Thirty-two is the standard. We will tell you which one your story fits.
It can be. Hardcover, paperback and eBook are all available; which makes sense depends on the book and how you intend to sell it, and we will tell you what we would recommend and why.
It can be ordered by them, which is the part a publisher can actually deliver: an ISBN registered to a publisher and a title in the trade catalogues. We will not tell you it will be stocked — nobody can promise that.
Send us the story.
Picture books are short. Send the whole thing and a publisher will read it and call you.