You've created a children's book you're proud of and want to share it with the whole world? Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is the most accessible and powerful self-publishing platform on the planet. It lets you publish your book in both print and digital editions, with no upfront cost and worldwide distribution. This guide walks you through every step, from preparing your manuscript to launching your book.
What is Amazon KDP?
Amazon KDP is Amazon's self-publishing service. It lets anyone publish a book in print (print on demand) or as a Kindle edition (ebook). In practice, your book is printed only when a customer orders it, which means zero inventory to manage and zero upfront investment.
KDP is free. Amazon makes its money by taking a percentage of each sale, and you earn royalties on every copy sold. For a full-color illustrated children's book, royalties typically range from 20% to 40% of the sale price, depending on the format and the market.
Your book will be available on every Amazon store worldwide: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, and many more. Customers can find it through Amazon search, which represents enormous potential reach.
Preparing your book for KDP
The interior manuscript (PDF)
Maker Book exports your book as a high-resolution PDF, which is exactly the format KDP accepts. That said, a few checks are worth doing before you submit your file:
- Check the dimensions. KDP accepts many trim sizes. The most common for children's books are 21.59 x 21.59 cm (square, 8.5 x 8.5 inches) and 21.59 x 27.94 cm (portrait, 8.5 x 11 inches). Make sure the format you chose in Maker Book matches a standard KDP size.
- Count the pages. KDP requires a minimum of 24 pages for hardcover books and 24 pages for color paperback books. If your book has fewer pages, you may need to add a few extra endpapers.
- Check the margins. KDP requires minimum margins of 6.4 mm on the outer, top and bottom edges, plus an inner margin (gutter) that varies with page count. The PDF exported by Maker Book usually respects these constraints, but verify it with KDP's previewer.
- Resolution. Amazon recommends a minimum resolution of 300 DPI for images. The Maker Book PDF is exported at roughly 254 DPI, which KDP accepts and which produces good-quality results.
The cover
KDP requires a separate cover file that includes the front cover, the spine, and the back cover all in a single file. This is the part that demands the most attention, because the exact dimensions depend on the page count and the paper type you choose.
Amazon offers a free tool called "Cover Series" as well as a cover dimensions calculator. Here's how to proceed:
- Go to the KDP cover calculator (available in your KDP dashboard).
- Enter your book's dimensions, page count and paper type.
- Download the template Amazon generates.
- Place your front and back cover images on this template, respecting the safe zones (bleed area).
- Add the title to the spine if the page count allows it.
Maker Book's panoramic cover is an excellent starting point: the front cover goes on the right, the back cover on the left, and all you have to do is add the spine in the center.
The ISBN question
The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a unique identifier for your book. On KDP, you have two options:
- Free ISBN provided by Amazon. Amazon assigns an ISBN to your book for free. It's the simplest solution, but this ISBN can only be used on Amazon. If you want to distribute your book elsewhere (bookstores, other platforms), you won't be able to use this ISBN.
- Your own ISBN. You can buy an ISBN from your country's national agency (in the US it's Bowker, in France it's AFNIL, which is free for publishers based in France). With your own ISBN, you appear as the official publisher and you can distribute the book wherever you like.
For a first book, Amazon's free ISBN is usually the most pragmatic choice. You can always get your own ISBN for future books if you decide to turn your publishing into a more professional venture.
Creating your KDP account and submitting your book
Step 1: Create a KDP account
If you already have an Amazon account, you can use it to sign in to Amazon KDP. Otherwise, create a free account. You'll need to provide your tax information (required to receive your royalties) and your bank details for payment transfers.
Step 2: The book details
Fill in the basic information:
- Title and subtitle. Choose a catchy title and a descriptive subtitle. The subtitle matters for discoverability on Amazon.
- Description. Write an engaging summary of 150 to 300 words. Highlight what makes your book unique. Think about the parents who will read this description: what will convince them to buy?
- Keywords. Amazon lets you enter up to 7 keywords. Choose terms parents might search for: "children's book age 4", "animal story", "kids birthday gift", and so on.
- Categories. Select the most relevant categories. For a children's book, you'll find sub-categories by age, theme and format.
- Age range. Indicate the recommended age range, consistent with the one you chose in Maker Book.
Step 3: The book content
Upload your interior manuscript (the PDF exported from Maker Book) and your cover file. Amazon will automatically run a check on your files. If any issues are detected (insufficient margins, resolution too low, etc.), you'll receive a detailed report with the corrections to make.
Use the online previewer to check the final result. Flip through every page carefully: make sure the images aren't cropped, the text is legible, and the colors look right to you.
Step 4: Paper and printing options
For an illustrated children's book, choose:
- Premium color ink. This is essential for quality illustrations. Standard color ink exists too, but the quality is lower.
- Glossy or matte paper. Glossy paper makes colors pop but can create glare. Matte paper offers a nicer feel and reduces glare. For a children's book, matte paper is often preferred.
- Paperback or hardcover. The paperback (softcover) is cheaper to produce, which allows for a lower sale price. The hardcover gives a more premium feel and stands up better to children handling it.
Setting the right price
Pricing is a balancing act. KDP calculates a printing cost based on the page count, ink type and format. Your sale price needs to cover that printing cost plus Amazon's margin, and still leave you reasonable royalties.
For a full-color illustrated children's book, the printing cost is generally between 4 and 8 dollars depending on the page count and format. Here are some common price ranges on the market:
- Paperback, 24-32 pages: $9.99 to $14.99
- Hardcover, 24-32 pages: $16.99 to $24.99
Look at the prices of similar books in your category to position yourself competitively. A book that's too expensive won't sell, but a book that's too cheap may be perceived as lacking quality.
KDP offers two royalty options: 35% and 60%. The 60% rate is available for books whose price falls within a range defined by Amazon and that are distributed on certain markets. Always aim for the 60% rate if you can.
Optimizing your product page
The title and subtitle
Your title should be memorable and make people want to read more. The subtitle can be more descriptive and include keywords. For example: title "The Adventures of Felix the Fox", subtitle "An illustrated book for children aged 4 to 7 — Friendship, courage and discovery".
The description
The description is your sales pitch. Structure it in three parts:
- A hook that grabs attention (the premise of the story in 1-2 sentences).
- The benefits for the reader (the values it conveys, parent-child bonding moments, the quality of the illustrations).
- A call to action ("Give your child this adventure today").
The product images
Amazon lets you add up to 7 additional images on your product page. Use them to show interior pages of your book. Choose the most striking illustrations and the pages where text and image come together best. These previews are decisive in the buying decision.
Launching your book
Once your book is submitted, Amazon runs a review that usually takes 24 to 72 hours. After approval, your book appears on Amazon and is available for sale. Here are a few tips for a successful launch:
- Order an author copy. Before promoting your book, order one for yourself at cost. Check the print quality, the colors and the overall result. If something isn't right, you can fix it and resubmit before announcing anything.
- Ask for reviews. Customer reviews are crucial on Amazon. Share your book with family and friends and ask them to leave an honest review. A few positive reviews at launch make all the difference for your book's visibility.
- Use social media. Share images of your book, behind-the-scenes of the creation, snippets of illustrations. Parents are very active on Instagram and Facebook discovering new children's books.
- Explore Amazon Ads. Amazon offers a paid advertising system that puts your book front and center in search results. Even a small budget ($5 to $10 a day) can generate visibility at launch.
After publication
Your book is published, but the work doesn't stop there. Keep an eye on your sales in the KDP dashboard, read customer reviews to spot strengths and areas to improve, and think about creating more books. Authors with several titles in their catalog generally sell more, because each book leads readers to discover the others.
With Maker Book, creating a new book is fast and rewarding. You can build a series with the same character, explore different art styles, or tackle new themes. Each book is a fresh opportunity to reach families and share stories that matter.
Publishing on Amazon KDP turns your creative project into a real book available all over the world. It's a rewarding step that gives your creation a second life and that can, with work and perseverance, become a source of supplementary income.