How do you begin Designing Your Book For Children?
There are many tools out there that it can be overwhelming. I will take you through some of the best software options for designing a children's book to kickstart your creative process!
First, let's get the mini takeaway.
You can use Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Scrivener, Affinity Publisher, Canva, Blurb BookWright, or Affinity Press to design a children’s book. These tools range from professional-grade software to beginner-friendly options, catering to various design needs and budgets.
Before choosing the software you need to have a strong concept and have worked your idea into a page plan before you start on page-make-up with your choice of software.
QuarkXPress
I used QuarkXPress to design and create books from 1990, having learnt to typeset by hand, draw typography layouts by hand, make mock-ups by hand...QuarkXPress was akin to having a box of magic tricks, a miracle and I adored this software using it on the first AppleMac computers - days and weeks of work could be condensed into minutes, I had a rule that if I couldn't design a book cover in two minutes, the cover wasn't working, however this was a love-affair that became soured when Tim Cook sold his share in his company and QuarkXPress went through pointless changes.
Tim Gill, the American software programmer and entrepreneur, founded QuarkXPress in 1981 with a $2,000 loan from his parents. The company quickly became a leader in desktop publishing software and was especially popular with graphic designers, typesetters, and printers. In 1987, QuarkXPress released its first version for Macintosh, and in 1992, it expanded to Microsoft Windows. The introduction of XTensions allowed third-party developers to create custom features, further enhancing its appeal. However, the company faced criticism for slow innovation, leading to its sale to Fred Ebrahimi for $500 million in 1999. By 2002, QuarkXPress 5 disappointed Apple users due to its lack of Mac OS X support and rising costs. In 2006, Quark offered the Windows version of QuarkXPress 5 for free distribution.
Adobe InDesign quickly took over as programme used globally, this software was given free to studenst so it quickly became the industry standard for working on co-editions - we were creating files which would be translated and printed in different languages.
So let's start our journey for real and discover more!
Adobe InDesign: The Industry Standard
When it comes to professional book design, Adobe InDesign is king. It's packed with features that make it ideal for laying out pages, combining text and images, and ensuring your book looks polished and professional.
Page Layouts: InDesign excels at creating complex page layouts. You can set up master pages, use grids, and guide your design with precision.
Typography: The typography tools are second to none. You can style text in endless ways, ensuring your book is easy to read and visually appealing.
Interactivity: If you're looking to create an interactive ebook, InDesign has you covered with features for adding multimedia elements.
The downside? InDesign has a steep learning curve. But, there are tons of tutorials out there. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll see why it’s the industry standard.
Adobe Illustrator: For the Artistic Soul
Adobe Illustrator
If you’re all about illustrations, Adobe Illustrator is your best friend. It’s perfect for creating vector graphics, which can be resized without losing quality.
Drawing Tools: Illustrator offers a wide range of drawing tools. From pencils to brushes, you can create anything your imagination conjures up.
Scalability: Because it’s vector-based, your illustrations will stay crisp and clear, no matter the size.
Integration: It works seamlessly with other Adobe products. You can easily import your Illustrator art into InDesign for a polished final product.
Illustrator can be a complex if you’re new to digital art, but it’s worth the effort. There are also plenty of tutorials and courses online to help you get started.
Procreate: The iPad Artist's Dream
For those who prefer drawing on a tablet, Procreate is a game-changer. It’s intuitive, powerful, and has everything you need to create stunning illustrations.
User-Friendly: Procreate is known for its easy-to-use interface. Even if you’re new to digital art, you’ll pick it up quickly.
Brushes: It offers a huge variety of brushes and you can even create your own. This gives you endless possibilities for your art.
Portability: Working on an iPad means you can create anywhere. Whether you’re on the couch or in a coffee shop, your studio is always with you.
Once your illustrations are done, you can export them to a desktop program like InDesign for the final layout.
Canva: Simple and Effective
If the idea of using professional design software feels daunting, Canva is a fantastic alternative. It’s user-friendly and web-based, so you don’t need to download anything.
Templates: Canva has a ton of templates, which can be a great starting point. You can customise them to fit your book’s style.
Drag and Drop: The drag-and-drop interface is super intuitive. You can easily add text, images, and other elements.
Collaboration: Canva makes it easy to collaborate. You can share your designs with others and work on them together.
Canva is perfect for those who want a quick and easy way to design a book without getting bogged down by complex software.
Scrivener: For the Writer at Heart
If your primary focus is on writing the story, Scrivener is a tool you’ll love. It’s a powerful word processor and project management tool rolled into one.
Organisation: Scrivener lets you organize your manuscript into sections. You can easily move scenes or chapters around.
Research: You can keep all your research, notes, and images in one place. No more switching between documents.
Export: When you’re done writing, you can export your manuscript in various formats, ready for the design phase.
Scrivener doesn’t have the design capabilities of InDesign or Canva, but it’s perfect for getting your story written and organised.
Book Creator: Fun and Easy
If you want something specifically designed for creating children’s books, Book Creator is a fantastic choice. It’s especially great if you’re working on a digital book.
User-Friendly: Book Creator is super easy to use. It’s great for beginners or for those who want a simple, straightforward tool.
Multimedia: You can add audio, video, and interactive elements to your book. This is perfect for engaging young readers.
Formats: You can create books in various formats, including ebooks and print-ready PDFs.
Book Creator is a fun tool that makes it easy to create beautiful, interactive children’s books.
Blurb: From Design to Print
Blurb is another excellent option, especially if you’re planning to self-publish a print book. It combines design tools with print services.
BookWright: Blurb’s free desktop software, BookWright, is designed specifically for creating books. It’s user-friendly and has a lot of great features.
Templates: It offers templates for different types of books, making it easy to get started.
Printing: Once your book is designed, you can order high-quality prints directly from Blurb.
Blurb is a great all-in-one solution for those looking to design and print their children’s books.
Affinity Publisher: A Budget-Friendly Alternative
Affinity Publisher is a great alternative to Adobe InDesign. It’s powerful, yet more affordable, making it perfect for those on a budget. At the time of writing it is also offering a 6-month free trial.
Professional Tools: Affinity Publisher has many of the same tools as InDesign, from page layouts to advanced typography.
Compatibility: It works well with other Affinity products like Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer.
Price: The one-time purchase price is significantly lower than Adobe’s subscription model.
If you want professional design software without breaking the bank, Affinity Publisher is a fantastic choice.
Microsoft Word: The Familiar Friend
Believe it or not, you can design a children’s book in Microsoft Word. It’s not as powerful as some other tools, but it’s familiar and accessible.
Ease of Use: Most people are already familiar with Word, so there’s no learning curve.
Basic Tools: You can insert images, use text boxes, and create simple layouts.
Export Options: Word allows you to save your document as a PDF, which is useful for printing.
If you’re looking for a straightforward way to get your book done, Word can work for you!
What Software Can I Use to Design A Children’s Book -Final Thoughts….
I hope you’ve enjoyed my rundown of some of the best software for designing a children’s book. Whether you’re an artist, a writer, or someone who just loves creating, there’s a tool out there for you. Here’s a quick recap:
Adobe InDesign: For professional, polished layouts.
Adobe Illustrator: For stunning, scalable illustrations.
Procreate: For iPad artists on the go.
Canva: For quick, easy, and collaborative design.
Scrivener: For organized, distraction-free writing.
Book Creator: For fun, interactive children’s books.
Blurb: For an all-in-one design and print solution.
Affinity Publisher: For budget-friendly professional design.
Microsoft Word: For simple, accessible book creation.
No matter which tool you choose, the most important thing is to have fun with the process.
Starting out on the creative adventure of working on a children's book is a great way to learn and try out different software. So, select your tool and start on that future bestseller!
For more reading and inspiration, take a look at my other guides to publishing.
Children's books cover a diverse range of genres and formats, each tailored to different age groups and developmental stages. Here's an overview of the various types of children's books:
Picture Books
Age Group: 0-8 years
Richly illustrated, often with minimal text.
Designed to be read aloud to young children - often children go back to favourite picture books when they learn to read.
Themes range from simple concepts (colours, numbers) to more complex stories.
Board Books
Age Group: 0-3 years
Durable books made with thick cardboard pages.
Simple text and bold, colourful illustrations.
Often focus on basic concepts like shapes, animals, and everyday objects.
Concept Books
Age Group: 0-5 years
Focus on teaching specific concepts such as the alphabet, numbers, colours, and shapes.
Often interactive with flaps to lift, textures to feel, or other engaging elements.
Early Reader Books
Age Group: 5-7 years
Simple sentences and basic vocabulary.
Designed for children who are beginning to read independently.
Often include illustrations to support the text.
Chapter Books
Age Group: 7-10 years
Characteristics:
Longer texts are divided into chapters.
More complex storylines and character development.
Fewer illustrations compared to picture books.
Middle Grade Books
Age Group: 8-12 years
More complex plots and character development.
Themes can be more mature, but still age-appropriate.
Often address issues like friendship, family, and self-discovery.
Young Adult (YA) Books
Age group: 12+ years
Complex themes and more mature content.
Deals with topics like identity, relationships, and personal challenges.
Often features teenage protagonists.
Graphic Novels
Age Group: Varies (typically 8+ years)
Similar to a comic book, a combination of text and illustrations conveys the story.
Can cover a wide range of genres and topics.
Fairy Tales and Folktales
Age Group: Varies (typically 5+ years)
Generations often pass down traditional stories.
Contain moral lessons or cultural teachings.
Can be retold and adapted in various formats.
Non-Fiction Books
Age Group: Varies (typically 5+ years)
Provide factual information on a wide range of subjects (science, history, biographies, etc.).
Often include photographs or detailed illustrations.
You can write it in a narrative or expository style.
Poetry and Rhyming Books
Age Group: Varies (typically 2-10 years)
There are books that focus on rhythm, rhyme, and lyrical language.
Can be purely for enjoyment or include educational themes.
Each type of children's book serves a specific purpose and caters to different developmental stages and interests, helping to foster a great love for reading from an early age...
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