So you wrote an amazing children’s book and now you want to hold the finished board book product in your hands. I get it. But as you probably figured out, printing a board book isn’t as simple as uploading a PDF to Amazon KDP.
Board books require actual thick cardboard pages and custom printing equipment. But here’s the good news: you can self-publish a board book if you know where to go and what to do.
In this step-by-step guide, as a professional board book printing manufacturer, I’ll outline everything you need to print your own board books, including:
Finding a Board Books Printer
The first step is figuring out who can turn your PDF into a high-quality board book. And I’m sorry to say this, but Print-on-Demand (POD) services like IngramSpark and Amazon KDP don’t offer board book printing.
That’s because POD printers use digital printing presses and board books require offset printing and custom finishing. But there are offset printers that specialize in board books.
I recommend getting quotes from printers like:
- Pint Size Productions
- PrintNinja
- T-M Printers
- GoBook Printing
All three work with indie authors to publish board books. But there are two downsides to working with a company like this:
1. Higher Cost Per Book
Offset printing board books costs exponentially more than printing paperbacks. For example, PrintNinja charges over $10 per book if you only print 250 copies.
2. Upfront Expenses
Board book printers require you to order hundreds or thousands of copies to keep the per-unit cost reasonable. So with most board book printers, you pay for the entire print run upfront before receiving your books.
Obviously that kind of cash isn’t possible for every indie author. So if upfront cost is a dealbreaker, skip to the next section.
Crowdfund Your Board Books Print Run
Crowdfunding campaigns help fund creative projects in exchange for rewards. With book crowdfunding, your supporters usually get something like:
- A pre-order discount on your book once it’s printed
- Their name printed in the “Special Thanks” section
- Signed copies
- Stickers
- Bookmarks
But the most important reward is actually supporting your project and helping make your book happen!
Running a campaign before printing your board book does two awesome things:
1. Covers Printing Costs
Even if your campaign falls short of your goal, every dollar raised goes towards printing. And hitting your goal ensures you can pay the printer AND ship rewards to supporters.
2. Validates Demand
Seeing real people willing to spend actual money to support your book will motivate you through the challenges of publishing!
The most popular platform for book crowdfunding is Kickstarter. But there are alternatives like Indiegogo you might check out.
All you need to launch a crowdfunding campaign is:
- Your book title and cover
- A short video explaining your project
- Clear descriptions of supporter reward tiers
Now once your campaign closes and you receive the funds, you’re ready to send your print-ready files to the printer…
Preparing Print-Ready Files
Before your board book goes on the printing press, you need finalized files for both the cover and interior pages.
Cover Files
Your cover will likely be a separate file from the interior pages.
Ask your board book printer for cover templates and specifications like required bleed, file formats accepted, etc. Most will want your cover in CMYK color mode as a high resolution PDF, JPEG or TIFF file.
Using their template as a guide will ensure your cover dimensions are 100% correct for printing.
Interior Files
Interior pages should be formatted with proper spreads.
(In book printing, a “spread” is two opposite pages designed as a single image.)
Most printers will also provide templates and requirements for interior pages too. Common file needs include:
- High resolution PDF
- CMYK color mode
- 0.125 in. bleed area
Make sure any images meet the minimum 300 DPI resolution as well. And avoid using RGB colors or Pantone colors in the interior files.
Getting Board Books Samples Before Your Full Print Run
Before you pull the trigger and print 1,000+ copies, it’s smart to request a book sample from your printer. That way you can ensure everything looks perfect before mass production.
Most book printers will print a prototype of your board book for a small fee. This prototype will have the same specifications, materials and printing method that the full print run will have.
So if the samples come out flawlessly, you can feel confident ordering the full quantity for all your supporters or customers!
Storing and Distributing Printed Board Books
You did it! Your box of beautifully printed board books showed up at your house! 🎉
Now it’s go time: you need to store them somewhere (your garage doesn’t count) and sell them to people. Here are your options…
Use Fulfillment By Amazon
Through Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA) sellers send products to Amazon warehouses and Amazon handles storage and shipping for every order.
While selling board books on Amazon still requires upfront printing costs, FBA makes distribution easy once your books are printed.
You’ll need to:
- Apply to sell your book through Amazon Advantage or Seller Central
- Create a product listing for your board book
- Ship boxes of books to Amazon warehouses
Just make sure to use proper prep and packaging so your books arrive safely!
Hire a Children’s Book Distributor
Specialized book distributors like Small Press United use existing relationships with retailers to get your book into bookstores, libraries, specialty shops and more.
For example, Pint Size Productions offers board book printing, warehousing and distribution all under one roof.
Distribution deals typically charge a one time setup fee, a percentage of sales and perhaps storage fees too. But for many board book authors, it’s worth giving up some royalty to tap into wider physical distribution.
Just make sure any agreement includes reporting so you know exactly how many books sold and what you earned!
Self Distribute to Local Retailers
Instead of relying on Amazon or book distributors, you can also approach local bookstores, gift shops, schools and libraries yourself.
If you take this DIY approach, explore every opportunity in your city and state. Attend conferences, book festivals, craft fairs and more to network with independent shop owners.
And if a store agrees to carry your book, make sure you have a plan to store, package and ship books as orders come in!
Ok, so now you know how to print and distribute your board book like a pro!
The final step is sharing your book far and wide then starting your next project! 😀
I hope you found this board book printing guide helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions!