How to Publish Children's Books The Process of Publishing

1. Understand the risks involved. While some forms of publishing are cheaper, successfully self-publishing a children's book is not cheap. That's because to reach readers, it's safe to say that you must actually publish a paperback - most kids won't rely on an e-reader to read every day. Also, the children's book market is very competitive, and the margins on even successful books are small.

2. Choose a service. Traditional small-scale self-publishing is usually the best option for publishing children's books because having a paperback is key to promotion. Self-publishing charges you to print a certain number of books, typically 50 to several hundred, and then prints them directly. Alternatively, there are print-on-demand services available that print one copy of a book every time it sells and charge you by the book. These are easy to find online. Look around to compare prices and find a favorite packaging feature.

3. Color books are expensive. To print a color book be prepared to spend more than the regular cheap ones, or print a black and white picture book.

4. Pool your money. Now that a printing service has been selected, will need to find ways to pay for those printed books. (Even if you choose print-on-demand, you should print at least 20 copies for yourself to display to stores and other customers.) Start by asking friends and family to donate a portion of the funds and fill in the rest with savings. When it's printed, give them a copy in return for their generosity.

5. Other popular options include raising money for a project or taking on a part-time job a few days a week.

6. Print and promote. After you've paid your publisher and they've sent you some books, it's time to launch. Start with a local private store. Show the owner your book and ask them if you can sell it on his/her shelf and you give them a commission in return. Ask large bookstores as well, but don't expect to always get a positive response. Offer a reading at the store that sells your book. This is a great way to solicit business for you and the owner, so most owners who agree to sell your book should also agree to a reading service.

7. When it's all negotiated with the bookstore, go talk to the head of the library. Donate a copy of your book at each branch and ask the library director if there's a way you can host a reading at your local branch.

8. Consider schools. Elementary schools are a great way to get your book in touch with local children, but it's unlikely that you'll be able to simply plug in and read your book in class. Offer to donate a copy of your book with the book official, and then talk to school administrators about the possibility of hosting a reading. If they don't say yes, don't force it.

9. Sell online. Make sure to at least start with a small website or Twitter page to promote your book. Those interested should be able to simply order from it. This also provides a great way for parents to get to know you and your book before they buy it.