Publishing on Amazon KDP can feel intimidating at first. The forms, the margins, the PDF format, the ISBN... It can seem like you need an engineering degree just to get through it. Spoiler: it's way simpler than that.
What exactly is Amazon KDP?
KDP stands for Kindle Direct Publishing. It's Amazon's self-publishing platform — free, open to everyone, with no editorial committee to impress. You upload your book, set your price, and Amazon sells it to millions of buyers around the world.
For illustrated children's books, you'll use the print book option (print-on-demand), not the ebook format. Every time a customer orders, Amazon prints and ships it directly. You collect your cut.
The result: no inventory, no upfront investment, no risk.
Steps to publish on KDP
- Create your KDP account at kdp.amazon.com — you can use your existing Amazon account.
- Prepare your interior file as a PDF, at the exact dimensions you've chosen (for example: 8.5 × 8.5 inches for a square picture book).
- Create your cover as a PDF as well, using the dimensions provided by KDP's cover calculator (which accounts for spine thickness based on your page count).
- Fill in your book details: title, subtitle, description, categories, keywords. Don't rush this step — it's what makes your book discoverable.
- Choose your sales territories and set your price.
- Order a proof copy before officially launching your book for sale.
- Approve and publish — your book will appear on Amazon within 24 to 72 hours.
Common pitfalls to avoid
Safety margins
KDP has strict margin requirements. If any text or illustration goes beyond the safety zone, your file will be rejected — or worse, accepted but printed with elements cut off. A simple rule: always leave at least 3 mm of bleed on every edge, and keep important text more than 6 mm away from the edges.
Image resolution
72 DPI is for screens. For print, your illustrations need to be at least 300 DPI. An image that looks great on your screen can come out blurry and pixelated in print if it's low resolution.
Colour profile
KDP prints in CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). If your file is in RGB, the colours will be converted automatically — and the result can be surprising. Prepare your files in CMYK from the start.
ISBN
KDP can assign you a free ISBN, but that number will be tied to Amazon. If you want to sell your book elsewhere (bookstores, your own website), it's better to get your own ISBN through your country's national ISBN agency — in many countries, this is free for self-published authors.
How much can you earn with KDP?
The standard royalty for KDP print books is 60% of the list price, minus printing costs. Those costs vary depending on the format, page count, and paper type (black-and-white or colour).
A real-world example: a 32-page colour picture book, square format, sold at $14.99. Printing costs around $4.50. You earn roughly $4.50 per copy sold.
That's not a fortune per book — but if you sell 100 copies a month, that's $450 with zero fulfilment work on your end.
You can also enable expanded distribution to make your book available on other online retailers and even orderable through bookstores.
What if your book was created with AI?
Great question. Amazon accepts AI-illustrated books — as long as you declare it in the metadata when you upload. Since 2023, KDP requires you to specify whether the text, visuals, or both were AI-generated. It's not a blocker, just a transparency requirement.
The real advantage of using a tool like MakerBook: your files are already exported in the right formats, at the right dimensions, with the right resolution. You don't have to wrestle with Photoshop or InDesign to prepare your KDP PDF — it's ready to go.
Our dedicated guide Amazon KDP for AI-illustrated children's books covers all the technical specifics if you want to go deeper.
Your book description: don't overlook it
Many authors spend hours perfecting their layout and then dash off a two-sentence description. That's a mistake — your description is your sales pitch.
A few rules that work:
- Open with a hook that speaks to the parent or grandparent doing the buying
- Mention the target age in the second sentence
- Explain what makes this book different from others
- End with a simple call to action: "The perfect gift for..."
Ready to get started?
Publishing on Amazon KDP is within anyone's reach. The learning curve is steep for your first book — and almost flat for every one after that.
If you're starting from scratch and want to skip the technical headaches, creating your book with MakerBook and exporting it directly for KDP is by far the easiest path. The tool handles the technical side so you can focus on the story.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon KDP really free?
Yes, creating an account and publishing a book on KDP is completely free. Amazon takes its commission on each sale. You pay nothing until you sell something.
How long does it take for a book to appear on Amazon after publishing?
Usually between 24 and 72 hours after approval. KDP sends a confirmation email when your book is officially live. Some authors see their book go up in less than 24 hours.
Do you need an ISBN to publish on Amazon KDP?
No, KDP can assign one for free. But that ISBN is exclusively tied to Amazon. If you're planning to sell your book in bookstores or on other platforms, it's better to get your own ISBN through your national ISBN agency.
Can you publish a colour illustrated children's book on KDP?
Yes. KDP offers colour printing for print books. Printing costs are higher than black-and-white, which reduces your margin — but for an illustrated children's picture book, colour is obviously non-negotiable.
