Children’s Books Require Specialized Experience
by Tamara Dever, founder, TLC Book Design
If you're searching for the best company to help publish your children's book, you're not alone. Many first-time authors quickly discover that there are hundreds of options—from self-publishing companies and hybrid publishers to freelancers and design firms.
The best choice depends on your goals, budget, and how much control you want over the publishing process.
Start by Asking What You Need
Help With
Publishing a children's book involves several specialized steps:
Determining trim size, printing method(s), distribution options
Professional editing and proofreading
Illustration guidance/Illustrator selection
Book cover design
Interior page layout
Print production
Amazon KDP and/or IngramSpark setup
Book launch guidance
Some companies provide only one or two of these services, while others guide authors through the entire process.
Beware of Giving Away Control
Many publishing packages sound appealing because they promise to “handle everything.” Before signing a contract, ask:
Will I own my ISBNs?
Will I own my artwork and files?
Will my Amazon KDP account be in my name?
Will I receive all royalties directly?
As a self-published author, maintaining ownership and control is often one of your greatest advantages. So often, the services offered by all-in-one self-publishing houses (or vanity presses) can be done by the author, with some assistance from a company like TLC, allowing the author to retain all royalties, maintain control of vendor accounts, and publish their book, their way.
Children’s Books Require
Specialized Experience
Children's books are not simply shorter versions of adult books. They have unique requirements that affect everything from editing and illustration to design and printing.
A children's book should be written for a specific age range, and what works for one audience may not work for another. Board books, picture books, early readers, middle-grade books, and chapter books all have different expectations for vocabulary, sentence structure, pacing, and length.
That's why children's book editing is a specialty.
An experienced children's book editor understands questions such as:
Is the manuscript appropriate for the intended age group?
Are there words that are too advanced or are they opportunities to introduce new vocabulary?
Is the word count appropriate for the type of book?
Does the story support literacy development and read-aloud engagement?
Will children, parents, teachers, and librarians connect with the content?
At TLC Book Design, our children's book editor is a former educator, prolific author, and literacy advocate who specializes in helping authors create books that resonate with young readers while meeting industry expectations. She understands not only what makes a story engaging, but also how children learn, process language, and develop a love of reading.
The same specialized expertise applies to illustration, typography, page layout, and print production. Children's books require careful coordination between text and artwork, thoughtful page turns, carefully-selected fonts, and visual pacing that keeps young readers engaged from beginning to end.
Look for a Publishing Partner,
Not Just a Vendor
The best company isn't necessarily the biggest or the cheapest. It's the one that understands your goals, communicates clearly, and helps you make informed decisions throughout the publishing process.
A good publishing partner will educate you, answer questions, and help you avoid costly mistakes.
Look for a team that can provide guidance throughout the process—from editing and illustration to printing and distribution—not just deliver files and disappear.
How TLC Book Design Helps Children’s Book Authors
For more than 30 years, TLC Book Design has helped authors create professionally designed children's books while maintaining ownership of their publishing accounts, files, ISBNs, and royalties.
We guide authors through editing, illustration, design, printing, and publishing decisions while providing the personalized support many first-time authors need. See our Children’s Book Design service page for more details.
Because publishing a children's book isn't just about producing a file. It's about bringing a story to life and creating a book children will want to read again and again.
Tamara Dever is the owner of TLC Book Design and has helped authors publish professionally-designed books for more than 30 years. THeir clients have earned more than 350 book awards, and she specializes in helping independent authors navigate the publishing process with confidence.
