For over 40 years, I’ve worked as a children’s book creator, designer, and publisher - sometimes under my own name, and sometimes writing as David Stewart or Max Marlborough. I've had the privilege of creating and designing bestselling series such as Timelines, How Would You Survive?, A Very Peculiar History, and You Wouldn't Want To Be..., many of which have been published in multiple languages around the world.
There was a time when making a book meant long days bent over a lightbox, breathing in glue fumes and drawing grids in pencil. We painted flat colour by hand, did paste-ups and knew how to wield a scalpel and al Rotring pen. Lettering was hand-rendered, colour was gouache, and a successful paste-up was cause for quiet celebration.
We were, in our own way, skilled, stubborn, obsessive.
And then came change. First the desktop revolution. Then the digital tidal wave. Now, the sudden surge of artificial intelligence - a revolution so swift it has left even the futurists breathless.
AI can now illustrate, write, translate, and even structure an entire book. It doesn’t always do it well. But, increasingly, it does it well enough - especially if the audience doesn’t know what to expect, or doesn’t care who made it, as long as it’s quick and cheap.
This makes many people nervous, and understandably so...so this blog goes back to the way work was created before...the wider use of computers.
A Behind-the-Scenes Guide
In this blog, I take you behind the scenes of how these richly illustrated non-fiction books come to life - from that first spark of an idea, to planning layouts, commissioning writers and illustrators, and even the pre-digital paste-up days of the 1980s.
If you're a writer, designer, illustrator, editor, or simply curious about the process of making engaging educational books for children, this guide will show you what it really takes to make a non-fiction book that matters..
Every Book Matters
Every book matters - and every stage in its creation is crucial. In children’s non-fiction, success relies on the collaboration of many skilled people.
In this post, I look back to the 1980s to reflect on how I created non-fiction books for readers aged 9 and up: from the spark of an idea to developing the look, designing the layouts, and working through the process — from paste-up to print — in the era before desktop publishing.
What Does "Created and Designed" Mean in Publishing?
The term "Created and Designed" acknowledges a process beyond simply writing. It includes:
Conceiving the idea and concept
Developing a strong visual identity
Structuring the flow of text and imagery
Sometimes writing or commissioning the text
A book is never made alone. It's always a team effort — and in this model, the designer plays a creative lead role.
The Steps in Creating and Designing a Non-Fiction Book
1. Concept Development
Idea Generation
Every book begins with a spark — a subject that will resonate with children: dinosaurs, mummies, pirates, knights, or even more gruesome fare. These ideas were planned with a flatplan and global appeal in mind, due to high production costs.
Writing a Synopsis
The synopsis gives the structure and tone. It clarifies what the book will achieve and how it will engage the reader. It sets up everything that follows.
Target Audience
For most of my series, the target age was 9+. These were family library books — not curriculum-bound, but global in interest.
Series Planning: The TIMELINES Series Example
The Timelines series aimed to explain change over time across 12 key themes, with titles including Ships, Inventions, Medicine, Cities, and Clothes. Each book featured:
Cutaways, X-rays, and exploded views
Chronological progression from past to future
Expert contributors and rigorous fact-checking
3. Visual Development and Storyboarding
Rough Layouts and Planning
Each spread was visualised with a dominant central image and supporting text. Key considerations:
Flow of information
Gutter space
Visual balance
Artwork Style
The illustration process was shaped by tools like Rotring pens and Dr. Martin’s inks. We specified Schoellershammer 4G paper for consistency and richness.
Writing the Manuscript
Text and Image Integration
To design these Illustrated non-fiction books, text was shaped around illustrations. It had to be readable, factual, and well-paced. Each double-page spread offered a unique mix of diagrams, captions, and storytelling
5. Design and Layout
Typography
Legibility was key. Body text needed to be clear and appropriately sized, while headlines and dropped caps added flair.
Layout
Design helped guide the reader's eye. Elements like timelines, fact boxes, and maps made the reading experience dynamic.
6. Book Design in the Round
Cover, Spine, and Blurb
We designed covers for visibility at postage-stamp size in catalogues. The spine, back blurb, and endpapers were carefully considered parts of the whole.
Endpapers and Posters
Often, dust jackets included a fold-out poster. Endpapers were thematic and designed to extend the reading experience.
7. Commissioning
I commissioned writers, illustrators, and researchers - often bringing them in early to match tone and visuals.
8. Pre-Desktop Publishing: Paste-Up and Layout
Paste-up involved:
Blue grid boards
Waxed or glued text and illustrations
Tracing paper overlays for editions and corrections
Special Features: Double-page spreads, integrated text with dynamic illustrations, visual timelines, glossary, index, endpapers, dust jacket, and a poster inside the jacket.
Illustration X-ray views reveal the internal workings of objects.Cutaways: Remove exterior parts to showcase interiors. Exploded Views: To illustrate assembly, show components spread out in space.
9. Production and Proofing
Final Proofs
We reviewed high-quality colour proofs for accuracy. Feedback from children and peers was often part of the process.
Printing Specifications
Paper quality, binding style, and colour fidelity were essential. Everything was overseen in close collaboration with printers.
10. Marketing and Distribution
Understanding what sells — and why — shaped everything. Books were created for:
Schools
Libraries
Bookshops
International markets
Reflecting on the Journey
Creating illustrated non-fiction books was — and still is — a labour of love. The children who once read Timelines are now adults. The methods have changed, but the mission remains: to inspire curiosity and help children understand their world.
Every book matters, and every stage in its creation is a testament to the dedication and passion of all those involved.
Desktop publishing revolutionised book design in the 1980s—read more about it here https://www.dtplabs.com/how-has-desktop-publishing-evolved-over-the-time/
Checklist: How to Make a Children’s Non-Fiction Book
Concept development & flatplan
Series synopsis & age range
Writing with clarity, simplicity, and structure
Layouts & storyboarding
Artwork direction & style
Typography & page composition
Commissioning writers, illustrators, and experts
Proofing & production
Cover design, blurb, and endmatter
Marketing & international appeal
Thanks for reading - and if this resonated with you, do share it with anyone who loves children’s books, design, or the craft of making something meaningful for the next generation.
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