How many words should a children's book be?

A standard picture book for ages 3–7 runs 400–800 words across 32 pages. Board books are under 100 words, early readers 1,000–2,500 words, and chapter books 5,000–12,000 words.

How long does an illustrated children's book take to publish?

Typically 2–3 months. Custom illustration adds sketch rounds and author approvals at each stage, compared with about 60 days for text-only books.

Children's Book Publishing — 6 Packages From $799

What the illustrations cost — the answer nobody else prints

Search for children's book publishers and you'll notice something odd. Every company promises "beautiful custom artwork." Almost none will tell you what it costs until they've got you on the phone.

Here's our answer, in print: children's packages run $799 to $5,999, and every one lists its illustration count right next to its price — 8 custom pieces at $799, 12 in the $1,499 Specialist, up to 30+ full-bleed illustrations in the Legacy Collection. Hire a freelance illustrator on your own and 12 finished pieces alone typically run $1,800 to $6,000 — before anyone has edited a word or laid out a page.

We can include the art because our illustrators are part of the team, not subcontractors we mark up. Need a count that isn't on the menu? We'll quote it in writing on the consultation call, before you commit to anything. That's how every price works here.

One thing we'll say plainly: don't let anyone publish your book with stock art. Kids notice. So do the grandparents buying it.

YOUR ART How the illustrations get made

You approve every illustration. Every single one

The pictures in your head are the whole point. So nothing gets painted, printed, or published until you've seen it and said yes — at the sketch stage and again in full color.

Tell us what you see

An art-notes call with your project manager. Describe your characters down to the curly hair and the red boots — many authors ask us to draw a real grandchild into the book. We do it all the time.

Week 1 · Free consultation first

Approve the sketches

Pencil sketches come to you before any color is added. Changes are easy and expected at this stage — "make the dog bigger" is a five-minute fix now, not a repaint later.

Weeks 2–4 · You mark up anything

Approve the color art

Each finished illustration comes back for your yes. If something's off, say so — your illustrator revises until you're happy, not until a deadline says stop.

Weeks 5–9 · Page by page

Hold the printed proof

A printed copy arrives at your door so you can see the colors on real paper. Nothing goes live on Amazon until you've held it and given written approval.

Final step · Your written OK

Sizes, ages, and word counts — the details that matter

A children's book isn't a small adult book. It has its own trim sizes, page counts, and word limits — and getting them wrong is the most common mistake we fix. Here's the honest map.

Board books · ages 0–3

Under 100 words. Thick pages for small hands, usually 6"×6". One image, a few words per page. If your story rhymes and fits on a napkin, it might belong here.

Picture books · ages 3–7 MOST COMMON

400–800 words across 32 pages — the industry standard, because presses print pages in multiples of 8. Typical sizes: 8.5"×8.5" square or 8"×10". This is what the Children's Specialist package is built for.

Early readers · ages 5–8

1,000–2,500 words, short sentences, art on most spreads. Written for kids reading on their own for the first time — vocabulary matters more than plot twists.

Chapter books · ages 7–10

5,000–12,000 words with spot illustrations at chapter breaks rather than every page. Fewer illustrations needed, so First Story at $799 often covers it. Ask us.

A pattern from 1,200+ books: most first picture-book manuscripts arrive around 1,500 words — nearly double what the format holds. Trimming hurts for a week and helps forever. Your editor shows you what to cut; you approve every change.

Six children's packages — from first story to family legacy

Every price is in print, one payment, currently 50% off. The bigger packages include everything before them, plus what's listed. Not sure which fits? Call us — we'll tell you honestly, even when the answer is the cheaper one.

First Story

$799 one payment

For the grandparent publishing that bedtime story at last — everything essential, nothing padded.

✓8 custom illustrations — you approve every one
✓Amazon publishing — eBook & paperback
✓Editing & proofreading of your manuscript
✓Picture-book formatting & typesetting
✓Cover illustration — 1 concept
✓Dedicated project manager
✓100% rights & royalties — yours, in writing

Start here

Bedtime Classic

$1,199 one payment

For the story that deserves a hardcover on the shelf, not just a paperback.

✓Everything in First Story, plus:
✓10 custom illustrations
✓Hardcover edition added
✓5 platforms — Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Google Books & Kobo
✓ISBN for print & digital formats
✓Cover illustration — 2 concepts

Talk it through

Children's Specialist MOST POPULAR

$1,499 one payment

The full picture-book treatment most of our children's authors choose.

✓Everything in Bedtime Classic, plus:
✓12 custom illustrations
✓8 platforms — all three formats: eBook, paperback & hardcover
✓Amazon Author Central page
✓Book profile so readers can find you
✓Introductory marketing guide

Get your free consultation

Picture Book Pro

$2,299 one payment

For the author who wants richer art and readers beyond the family.

✓Everything in Children's Specialist, plus:
✓16 custom illustrations
✓10 platforms
✓1 month of social media marketing on Facebook & Instagram
✓1 month of author-awareness promotion
✓Cover illustration — 3 concepts

Talk it through

Storybook Elite

$3,499 one payment

For a picture book that looks like it came from a big-house publisher.

✓Everything in Picture Book Pro, plus:
✓22 custom illustrations — art on every spread of a 32-page book
✓20 platforms
✓2 months of social media marketing
✓1-page author website, designed & built
✓Comprehensive marketing campaign
✓Cover illustration — 5 concepts

Talk it through

Legacy Collection

$5,999 one payment

The full legacy gift — a book your grandchildren's grandchildren will hold.

✓Everything in Storybook Elite, plus:
✓30+ illustrations — full-bleed art throughout
✓20+ platforms
✓Read-along audiobook edition — narrated, your choice of voice artist
✓3 months of marketing + author-awareness promotion
✓Author website, designed & built
✓Hardcover gift edition setup

Talk it through

Every children's package includes You approve every illustration, one by one One payment — no surprise fees 100% of rights & royalties stay yours A proof in your hands before anything publishes A real person on the phone, 1pm–11pm ET, 7 days

Prices reflect the current 50% promotion — the number we agree on goes in your contract before you pay. Illustration counts aren't set in stone: tell us your page count on the free consultation call and we'll adjust the quote in writing. Illustrated books take about 2–3 months; royalties are paid by the stores directly to your account, and we take zero.

Questions children's authors ask us first

The same answers we give on the phone, 1pm–11pm ET, 7 days.

How much does it cost to publish a children's book with illustrations?

From $799 with us — that's First Story, with 8 custom illustrations, editing, cover, and Amazon publishing in one payment. Six packages run up to the $5,999 Legacy Collection with 30+ illustrations and a read-along audiobook; most authors choose the $1,499 Children's Specialist. Priced separately, 12 freelance illustrations alone typically run $1,800–$6,000. If a company won't put its illustration pricing in writing, ask why.

Do I need to find my own illustrator?

No. A children's book artist is part of the package. You describe your characters and scenes on an art-notes call, review pencil sketches, then approve each finished color illustration. Many of our authors have us draw a real grandchild into the story.

How many words should my children's book be?

For a standard picture book (ages 3–7): 400–800 words across 32 pages. Board books for babies run under 100 words; early readers 1,000–2,500; chapter books 5,000–12,000. Most first manuscripts we see are about double the right length — your editor helps you trim without losing your voice.

What if I don't like an illustration?

Say so, and it gets revised. You approve at the sketch stage and again in full color, and nothing goes to print until you've held a physical proof and given written approval. That approval step is in the contract, not just on this page.

Who owns the illustrations and the book?

You do — 100% of the rights to the text and the artwork, in writing. Reprint it, translate it, hand it down. Royalties work the same way: stores like Amazon keep their standard retail cut and printing cost, and everything left goes straight to your account. We take nothing.

How long does an illustrated book take?

Plan on 2–3 months. Text-only books run about 60 days, but custom art adds sketch rounds and your approvals at each stage. Anyone promising a fully illustrated book in three weeks is using stock art or skipping your approvals — sometimes both.

Children's book publishing with the pictures done right

What the illustrations cost — the answer nobody else prints

You approve every illustration. Every single one

Tell us what you see

Approve the sketches

Approve the color art

Hold the printed proof

Sizes, ages, and word counts — the details that matter

Six children's packages — from first story to family legacy

Questions children's authors ask us first

Read them
your book
at bedtime

Children's book publishing with the pictures done right

What the illustrations cost — the answer nobody else prints

You approve every illustration. Every single one

Tell us what you see

Approve the sketches

Approve the color art

Hold the printed proof

Sizes, ages, and word counts — the details that matter

Six children's packages — from first story to family legacy

Questions children's authors ask us first

Read themyour bookat bedtime

Read them
your book
at bedtime