Design Your Own Story Book

Great design is invisible—it helps the reader focus on the story. For children’s books, that means pages with one clear idea, predictable rhythm, and images that support the text instead of fighting it. Follow these steps to design a book that feels comfortable to read and delightful to revisit.

Choose a reading experience

Bedtime books benefit from calm pacing and soft color. Classroom read‑alouds often use brighter palettes and bigger, bolder shapes. Decide on your experience first and let that choice drive typography, color, and composition decisions throughout the book.

Lay out pages with intention

• Use short lines and generous line height for young readers.
• Leave quiet margins; avoid placing text on busy textures.
• Repeat a simple grid so pages feel related even when scenes change.

Keep visuals cohesive

Pick a single illustration style and stick to it. Limit your palette to a few base colors with gentle accent hues. Repeat anchor objects and patterns to build familiarity across spreads. If a page looks out of place, reduce detail and reintroduce elements slowly.

Prepare files for print

Export 300 DPI artwork at your trim size, add bleed when required, and compile a print‑ready PDF. Print a proof on ordinary paper and do a read‑through; spacing and pacing tweaks are easiest to spot during a real read.