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# How to Write a Children's Book: A 15-Step Author's Guide
- URL: https://brookevitale.com/blog/how-to-write-a-childrens-book/
- Published: 2022-04-25T10:33:48.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-09T20:15:00.000Z
- Description: This easy-to-follow guide will lead children's book authors through every step of writing a children's book from idea generation to final manuscript.
- Author: Andrew Vitale
- Tags: Writing

## What makes great children’s book?

Writing a children’s book is easy. Anyone can put pen to paper and write. But writing a great children’s book is a different story. As the author of more than 100 published books, the founder of my own publishing company, and a children’s book editor with more than 20 years’ experience, I’ve seen it all, good and bad! And there are two things that holds true for every great book: they show kids the world in a way they never thought about it before, even if it’s a part of the world they encounter every day. And they leave them wanting more. More books, more adventure, more fun, more feeling! So how can you write a children’s book that kids will remember? With the following steps!

## 1\. Find a children’s book idea

For some writers, coming up with a children’s book idea is the easy part. If that’s you, great! But other authors struggle, especially after the first book. Always keep in mind when coming up with children’s book idea who the core audience for your book is. What are their life experiences? What can they relate to, and what would be too mature (or too juvenile) for them.

If you find yourself struggling to come up with a book idea, don’t fret. There are lots of ways to get your creative juices flowing: keep a dream diary, journal your own childhood experiences, or just have a conversation with a child in the age range you are writing for. Know how your story ends, but not how it starts? Then work backward! The options for finding your story are countless! For more tips on children's book ideas and story generators , check out my article, [The Best Children’s Book Ideas for Writing a Great Picture Book](https://brookevitale.com/blog/childrens-book-ideas/).

![Professional children's book editor Brooke Vitale lists the top children's book ideas.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bb/ca/bbca9709-f64c-426c-94c5-41deebbf6557/content/images/2026/10/1080w-childrens-book-ideas-primary-image.jpg)

## 2\. Find competitive books

A competitive book is one that falls in a similar genre to your own, and that buyers looking for a book on your subject might choose to purchase instead of your own. Before you get too deep into any one story, it’s a good idea to research competitive books and see what else is out there. Why? Because you need to know how your children’s book stands out!

The truth is, there are only so many truly unique ideas out there. Most books fall under a certain theme or category: pirate books, dystopian novels, farm books. You name it, there are bound to be books about it. And that is absolutely fine. Finding many books written about the same theme as yours isn’t a negative thing. In fact, it’s proof that readers want books on that topic. But you don’t want it to get LOST in that category. Which is where competitive research comes in. By seeing how other authors handle the same subject matter, you can not only find the unique twist in your book, but you can also find the unique twist to use when marketing your book.

### How to find competitive book titles

The easiest way to find competitive book titles is with an Internet search. Whether on Google, Bing, or Amazon, try searching the theme of your book paired with the words “book” or “children’s book” and see what comes up. If you want to get more specific, try using the words “picture book,” “chapter book,” or “middle-grade book.”

The options that come up will likely be the most famous or most popular books that fall into that theme. Take a look, for example, at the results for “children’s book snow.”

![An example of how to search and research competitive book titles using google search](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bb/ca/bbca9709-f64c-426c-94c5-41deebbf6557/content/images/2026/10/1080w-competitive-search-titles-google-search.jpg)

This same process can be repeated using categories curated by retailers and looking at the best sellers in different categories on Amazon or other online retail platforms.

Once you have a list of competitive titles, take the time to read through the book summaries, or even the full book if you can. Try to figure out how your book stands apart. What makes it unique?

Is your book told from a unique point of view? In the case of a book about snow, is the setting distinctive or unique? Is the child overcoming a problem not usually found in these books? Is there a twist ending that the reader won’t see coming? Find that element that makes your book stand apart from others so that you can explain to potential readers what makes it different!

## 3\. Know who your protagonist is

The protagonist is the main character in a book. This is who your story is about, and before putting pen to paper, it’s essential that you get to know who this person is. Not their name, but who they are at their core.

When you think about your own favorite books, what stands out? Is it the story or the characters? I’d put money on the fact that it’s the characters. Memorable characters are what draws a reader in, and what makes a reader come back time and again. But to be memorable, your characters must be distinct. They must be unique. Even in a picture book, characters should have a personality. So, who is your protagonist? Begin by asking yourself these questions:

- What does the protagonist want?
- How old is your protagonist? Do they have any siblings? What is their family structure?
- Does your protagonist have pets?
- Who is your protagonist’s best friend? Their worst enemy?
- What is the protagonist’s best quality? Their worst quality?

Not every one of these answers will make their way into your story. But being able to answer them will go a long way toward creating a well-rounded, REAL character that readers will remember. For a more comprehensive list of questions, check out my [Character Questionnaire article](https://brookevitale.com/blog/character-questionnaire/).

> Pro Tip: Want to go a step further? Ask yourself the same questions about your antagonist if you have one, or any secondary characters.

## 4\. Find the book’s main problem

Almost every story written has a problem to be solved. Whether that’s getting a child to sleep, finding a missing sock, or something far more elaborate, the problem is what the story is about. But it’s not enough to just state the problem and then solve it. For a story to have any real depth, the solution cannot come too easily. As a children's book editor, I continue to see authors making the same mistakes.

### The most common children's book mistakes

- **Solving the problem too fast.** Most of us don’t get things right on the first try, and neither should our characters. The struggle to solve a problem is what makes reading a book fun—the waiting and hoping that something will work, only to find that it doesn’t. When a character identifies their problem and solves it right away, the reader is left feeling unsatisfied. There is no real tension to the story.
- **Not presenting obstacles to the problem.** Problem solving is never straightforward. No matter what we do, there are ups and downs. A story should convey those ups and downs. Overcoming a large obstacle may require first overcoming smaller ones. Two characters who are trying to physically reunite might find themselves foiled by a missed phone call, a misunderstood message, a delayed train . . . each of these builds the tension in the story, leaving a reader hungry for the satisfaction of seeing the characters ultimately reunite. In a picture book, these obstacles may be as simple as trying several times before finding the right solution to a problem.
- **There is no turning point.** This is the other big one that I see. Often in a first draft, authors will simply move their protagonists toward the final solution to a problem without explaining how they came up with the idea for the solution, or what instigated the action that led to that resolution. But to simply jump to the resolution is not satisfying. As readers, we want to know what changed in a protagonist’s mind. What was that spark that suddenly sent them flying toward the resolution? We want to see that moment of epiphany. Take the time to nurture that moment and let it shine!

### The five elements of plot

Plot consists of five elements: introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, conclusion. When planning a story, remember that all five elements are needed.

![A graphical interpretation of the 5 elements of plot: introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, conclusion](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bb/ca/bbca9709-f64c-426c-94c5-41deebbf6557/content/images/2026/10/1080w-the-five-elements-of-plot.jpg)

- The **introduction** is where the problem is introduced.
- The **rising action** is the protagonist’s attempts to solve the problem. This is where the bulk of the story’s action takes place. Often at this stage the reader gets discouraged and almost gives up.
- The **climax** is where the problem comes to a head, either where the protagonist finally confronts it or where the solution presents itself.
- The **falling action** comes once the problem has been faced or solved. This is what happens as a result of solving the problem. A character feels better. A lost sock is paired up. Friendships are mended.
- The **conclusion** is your wrap-up that ties your book up with a nice bow and tells us how it ends . . . or offers a lead in to the next book in the series.

## 5\. Start the story quickly

Children have short attention spans. If you don’t capture their attention immediately, they will just walk away. That’s why the first line of a book is so important.

Take a look at some of the most famous first lines in literature:

> “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” —Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Why is this line compelling? Because as a reader you immediately want to know how something can be both the best and the worst at the same time. The only way to find out? Keep reading.

> “If you are interested in stories with happy endings you would be better off reading some other book.” — Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events

From the first line, we are told this story won’t end well. But we don’t know why or how the story won’t have a happy ending. That tease is enough to make us continue reading.

> “All children, except one, grow up.” —J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan.

With this line, we are immediately drawn in, wondering who that child is, and how is it possible that he did not grow up? We have to know!

Children’s books are short, especially picture books. Space is limited, so stick to what’s essential. Identify the book’s problem early and get to solving it! Take a look at these pages from my picture book, [*Periwinkle Smith in Stuck Duck*](https://shop.chargemommybooks.com/products/stuck-duck?ref=brookevitale.com)*,* published by [Charge Mommy Books](https://shop.chargemommybooks.com/?ref=brookevitale.com). The first few pages set the scene for Duck having a good day. We see what he wants (a flower), then BAM! The problem shows up almost immediately! Duck is stuck and needs to find a way to get free!

![An example of starting a story quickly from the leveled reader Stuck Duck, written by Brooke Vitale, illustrated by John & Wendy.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bb/ca/bbca9709-f64c-426c-94c5-41deebbf6557/content/images/2026/10/1080w-start-the-story-quickly.jpg)

As a children’s book editor, I cannot tell you how often I slash the first three paragraphs (or three pages!) of a book. Why? Because the information in them doesn’t truly matter. It’s background information the reader doesn’t actually need, and its slowing down the story. Remember, background information can come later, once a reader is hooked. It’s the job of the first few pages of a book to hook the reader. To get their attention so they are willing to get to the background information. Which means getting to the good stuff fast!

Have a read through your book. How many words does it take before something of consequence happens?

## 6\. End with a punch

Once the main problem in a story has been solved, the tension is gone from the story. The reader is no longer eager to find out what happened, so they have little reason to keep reading.

It can be tempting to tell the reader what happened months or years later, but the only thing that accomplishes is making a story drag on for an unnecessarily long amount of time. Instead, once the tension in your children’s book has been resolved and all the consequences of resolving the problem have played out, end the story quickly, and end it on a high note.

Personally, I love to end on a one-liner that makes a reader laugh (or cry, if it’s a sad story.) Something that quickly grabs that last bit of emotion and then sends the reader on their way. Take a look at this example from [Periwinkle Smith in Stuck Duck](https://shop.chargemommybooks.com/products/stuck-duck?ref=brookevitale.com), published by [Charge Mommy Books](https://shop.chargemommybooks.com/?ref=brookevitale.com) and illustrated by John & Wendy. These are the last two pages of the book. On the first we see that Duck is now free. This immediately leads into him getting what he wanted from the beginning of the story (the flower) and walking away, satisfied. Quick and easy. The problem has been solved and there is no need to linger on the after-effects.

![An example of ending a story quickly from the picture book Periwinkle Smith in Stuck Duck, written by Brooke Vitale, and illustrated by John & Wendy.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bb/ca/bbca9709-f64c-426c-94c5-41deebbf6557/content/images/2026/10/1080w-end-the-story-quickly.jpg)

## 7\. Use repetition

Our brains are naturally trained to find patterns. In math. In art. And in writing. So take advantage of that natural tendency to make your book more satisfying.

Especially in books for young readers, repetition is key. Often this will be the repetition of a phrase or action. By repeating the same thing over and over, a child gets familiar with it. They gain the ability to guess what will happen next or what the next line of text will be, which gives them a sense of ownership and accomplishment over reading the story.

Take a look at the example below from from the leveled reader [*I Am Not a Rooster*](https://shop.chargemommybooks.com/products/i-am-not-a-rooster?ref=brookevitale.com)from the [*Charge into Reading early reader book series*](https://shop.chargemommybooks.com/collections/early-reader-books?ref=brookevitale.com), published by [Charge Mommy Books](https://shop.chargemommybooks.com/?ref=brookevitale.com). Note that the line “I am not” is repeated on each page.

![An example of repetition from the leveled reader, I Am Not a Rooster written by Brooke Vitale, published by Charge Mommy Books.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bb/ca/bbca9709-f64c-426c-94c5-41deebbf6557/content/images/2026/10/1080w-repetition-example-i-am-not-a-rooster.jpg)

Another great example of this is the My Weird School books by Dan Gutman. Gutman takes advantage of repetition by using the same set of jokes in every book.

Here’s a line from *Coach Hyatt is a Riot*: "You’ll never believe in a million hundred years who walked into the door at hat moment. Nobody, because if you walked into a door it would hurt. But you’ll never believe who walked into the doorway."

This joke is repeated multiple times in each book of the series, offering reinforcement for new readers and allowing those being read to the ability to predict the next line of text.

This kind of repetition often leads to more reader engagement children will eagerly listen for the next time they can shout out the lines of the book.

Repetition can be harder in books for older readers, but not impossible. Instead of repeating words, try repeating patterns, and take advantage of the Rule of Three.

### What is the rule of three?

The rule of three is a writing technique based on the idea that people process information better when it is presented as a pattern. In particular, it is a structural tool that allows a writer to set up the rising action of a plot and move toward the climax by presenting three attempts at “solving” a book’s problem. This is typically achieved by having a protagonist try something two times before ultimately being successful on the third try. The best example of this is the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. With each thing Goldilocks tries, it is not until the third attempt that she finds something that is “just right.” Trying two wrong things first builds added suspense that moves the story forward. The rule of three is particularly important in picture books, as it helps young readers to recognize patterns and identify when the story is concluding.

Looking for more information on how to use repetition? Check out my article, [What is Repetition: Examples of Literary Repetition Devices](https://brookevitale.com/blog/repetition-meaning/).

## 8: Write to the right length

Children’s books follow strict guidelines when it comes to length. A standard board book is meant for children between the ages of 0-3 and should not exceed 300 words. A picture book is meant for children between the ages of 3-8 and should be between 500 and 700 words, and should NEVER exceed 1,000\. A beginning chapter book is meant for children between the ages of 6-8 and should be between 4,000 and 6,000 words. A chapter book is meant for children between the ages of 6-8 and should be between 4,000 and 6,000 words. Lower middle grade books are meant for children between the ages of 8-10 and should be between 10,000 and 25,000 words. Upper middle grade books are meant for children between the ages of 10-12 and should be between 25,000 and 50,000 words.

![A picture showing standard children's book lengths of picture books, early readers, chapter books, and middle grade.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bb/ca/bbca9709-f64c-426c-94c5-41deebbf6557/content/images/2026/10/1080w-standard-childrens-book-lengths.jpg)

## 9\. Create a children's book layout template

When editing a children’s picture book, I find it helpful to create a book layout template. This enables me to visualize where each line of text goes, as well as how the art will fit each page. Often creating such a document will help tighten up a story by finding redundancies, places where the story is moving too slow, and places where page turns aren’t happening organically. Below is an example of a 32 page children's book template with no ends that can be used on a paperback or print on demand book.

![A children's book template, also known as a book map is an early plan for text and illustration placement.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bb/ca/bbca9709-f64c-426c-94c5-41deebbf6557/content/images/2026/10/1080w-childrens-book-layout-template-book-map.jpg)

Even if you intend to seek a traditional publisher, this step is a good idea. There is no need to submit your template to an agent, but it will help you focus your story. And remember, just because agents and editors don’t want you to submit art, that doesn’t mean they don’t want to be able to visualize it as they read. The richer your language, and the more easily they can see the story unfolding, the better your odds of being picked up. A book layout template is a great way to ensure that your language is rich enough to paint a story without any art, so that the art acts as an enhancement, not a crutch.

For more information on how to create a children's book template: with a complete breakdown of children's book layouts for self-ended books, books with endpapers, and print on demand books, check out my article, [A Template for Children’s Book Layout and Pagination.](https://brookevitale.com/blog/childrens-book-layout/)

## 10\. Keep illustrations in mind

Illustrations are essential to children’s books, but not all children’s books contain the same number of illustrations. A picture book will include full-color art on every page, while an early chapter book may include color art every few pages. A chapter book may have black-and-white art scattered throughout, while a middle-grade book may only have a single black-and-white piece of art per chapter, or no art at all.

As you write, keep in mind your target audience and what the art will look like. For a picture book, art tells the story as much as the text, so there is no need to describe how something looks. The reader will be able to see it with their own eyes. Instead, focus on keeping the story moving so that each piece of art is visually compelling. Think about how text will fit a page. And consider setting to ensure that no two pages look too similar. Locking a story into a single room can make it hard to achieve visual variety, while moving scenes outdoors or from room to room opens up more options. Take a look, for example, at the scenes below from my another level 1 reading book from my Charge into Reading early reader book series, [*How to Train a Dog*](https://shop.chargemommybooks.com/products/how-to-train-a-dog?ref=brookevitale.com)*,* published by [Charge Mommy Books](https://shop.chargemommybooks.com/?ref=brookevitale.com). The illustrator first drew the scenes inside. Locked into one room, everything looked too similar. By moving outside and having a 360-degree view of the space, the art became far more compelling.

![An example of how illustrations impact settings from the early reader book How to Train a Dog by Brooke Vitale, published by Charge Mommy Books.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bb/ca/bbca9709-f64c-426c-94c5-41deebbf6557/content/images/2026/10/1080w-keep-illustrations-in-mind.jpg)

For older books, art is still important, but more so is the readers’ ability to picture a scene. Are you painting a good visual and giving enough for a reader to see what you see? Are there any scenes where art is essential to understanding the story, as in a puzzle the reader must see, or a map they need to examine? Are you showing the scene, or just telling a reader what’s there? For more information on how to show, check out my article, [Show, Don’t Tell](https://brookvitale.com/blog/show-dont-tell?ref=brookevitale.com).

## 11\. Find beta readers and self-edit

There is no set number of revisions when it comes to writing a children’s book. A book may feel good after one round of revisions or it may take twenty rounds. Once you’re done with the first draft, take a step back. Give yourself a few days. Then it’s time to dive into the self-editing process.

Self-editing is when an author corrects their own mistakes in a manuscript, revises the structure, and perfects word-choice. Whether you are preparing a book to go to a literary agent or book publisher, a professional editor, or can’t afford an editor and need to do everything yourself, self-editing is a crucial step of the book-writing and book-publishing process, and it requires you to be brutally honest with yourself. Are there characters in your book that aren’t needed? Scenes that are a holdover from a previous draft and no longer fit the story? Does the story flow logically? Are you using six words when you can use two?

In addition to self-editing, I always recommend getting beta readers. Beta readers are people who will read your book for free and offer a top-line analysis. Do they like the story? Does it read well or is it confusing. Are there characters they don’t like? Beta readers can be fellow writers, or they can be children in the target age range of your book, parents, or teachers.

Beta reading usually happens after a round or two of self-editing, and often requires another round of self-editing to incorporate the beta readers’ notes.

For more tips on self-editing, check out my article [How to Self-Edit: Editing Tips to Improve Your Writing](https://brookevitale.com/blog/self-editing-tips/) .

## 12\. Come up with a book title

Every book needs a title, but coming up with the perfect one can be tough. A book title should be catchy. It should grab a reader’s attention and make them wonder what the book is about. And it should be unique. Yes, there are a hundred books out there with the same title. That’s true. But it’s also true that by using a book title that has already been used, you minimize your chances of being found in an online search. A unique, catchy book title will come up far faster in search results than one that is the same as everyone else’s book title. Remember, your title is one of your key marketing tools. So choose wisely, and don’t be afraid to keep reworking the book title until it feels right.

> Pro Tip: In some instances a less-than-unique title may actually work to your benefit. A book title that matches a term people often search online may help potential readers find a book they never even knew they were looking for.

### How to make a book title catchy

Imply that you know something the reader doesn’t. Take a look at the book titles below:

- *How to Catch a Turkey*
- *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings*
- *Finding Audrey*

All three hint at what’s inside—information we don’t know. How do you catch a turkey? Why does the caged bird sing? Where is Audrey? All three pose a question that we as readers want an answer too.

### Use rhyme and alliteration

Kids love rhyme and alliteration. Catch their attention by using those tools in your title:

- *Llama Llama Red Pajama*
- *Room on the Broom*
- *Four Famished Foxes and Fosdyke*

These titles are fun to say. And that implies the books inside will be fun to read!

### Focus on a key character

This doesn’t work as well if the character is an everyday person or animal. But if you have a unique character that will intrigue readers (especially a made-up creature) use that to get a readers’ attention.

- *The Lorax*
- *The Gruffalo*

### Use an action title

Use bold verbs to show off the action of the book.

- *Fishing in the air*
- *Whoosh went the wind.*

## 13\. Hire a children’s book editor

Once you feel like you have taken your children’s book as far as you possibly can, it’s time to bring in a professional. A children’s book editor will not only be able to help you finesse your story, but will know the market and will be able to help you shape your book to fit the current children’s book market. This step isn’t entirely necessary if you plan to seek a traditional publisher, but it is still encouraged. After all, you only have one chance to impress an agent or children’s book publisher. Why wouldn’t you want to have your book in the best shape possible? For more information on children's book agents and children's book publishers, check out my articles, [Top Children's Book Agents Accepting Submissions & Agent Query Guide](https://brookevitale.com/blog/how-to-find-a-childrens-book-agent/) and [Top Children's Book Publishers Accepting Submissions](https://brookevitale.com/blog/childrens-book-publishers-accepting-submissions/), respectively.

When it comes to book editing, there are many different editorial services: editorial assessment, developmental editing (also called line editing), copy editing, and proofreading. Each type of book edit serves a different purpose in an author journey, and each editorial service comes at a different time in the children's book publishing process. Before hiring a children's book editor, get familiar with these book editing services to ensure you are hiring a book editor for the right kind of book edit at the right time. For more information on hiring a book editor, check out my article, [How to Hire a Book Editor](https://brookevitale.com/blog/how-to-hire-a-book-editor/) .

### What are the types of book editing

Editorial terms can be confusing, and not everyone uses the same names. As a professional children's book editor with 20 years' experience working with top publishing houses, including Disney and Penguin, the definitions below are the ones I have been taught to use. To learn a bit more about how I personally approach editing, including how I evaluate illustrations, or to request a quote for editing a picture book, check out my article, [What a Developmental Editor Does](https://brookevitale.com/developmental-editor/).

An **editorial assessment** is a high-level overview of a manuscript, and as such, it is the first step in editing a book. At its heart, an editorial assessment is an author’s opportunity to find problems with a book. For more information, check out my article, [What is an Editorial Assessment with Real Word Examples](https://brookevitale.com/blog/what-is-an-editorial-assessment/).

An **developmental edit**, or line edit, is the moment when a children’s book editor starts finessing the text of a book, making it age appropriate, and in the case of a picture book, determining what text fits on each page. For more information, check out my article [What Is Developmental Editing and What to Expect From One](https://brookevitale.com/blog/developmental-edit/) .

**Copy Editing** is a second set of eyes that finds the things a book editor missed and makes sure there are no problems with the manuscript. This occurs after a manuscript is finalized. For more information, check out my article [What's The Difference Between Copy Editing and Proofreading?](https://brookevitale.com/blog/what-is-copy-editing/)

**Proofreading** occurs once a book has been designed and is almost ready to go to the printer. A proofreader compares a copy-edited manuscript to the designed pages to make sure no mistakes were introduced. For more information, check out my article [What Is Proofreading: the Most Misunderstood Editing Service](https://brookevitale.com/blog/what-is-proofreading/)

When seeking an editor, always get references, and always ask for a sample edit to ensure the editor’s vision and yours align. Not every editor will be a right fit, and not every author will be right for an editor. It’s best to feel that out before spending any money.

## 14\. Book design and children’s book illustration

Book design and children’s book illustration are an essential part of writing a children’s book. But, and I cannot stress this highly enough, THEY ARE NOT NEEDED IF YOU ARE SEEKING A TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING PATH.

Agents and traditional book publishers do NOT want to see illustrations. They want to read the text of a book and see if they like it WITHOUT illustrations. If this is your path, check out my article, [How to Submit a Book Manuscript to Publishers and Literary Agents](https://brookevitale.com/blog/how-to-submit-a-manuscript/). Not sure what you want to do? Check out [The Pros & Cons of Traditional Publishing vs Self-Publishing](https://brookevitale.com/blog/self-publishing-vs-traditional-publishing/).

If you plan to self-publish a children’s book, you will want to hire both a book designer and a children’s book illustrator. Begin with a book designer. The book designer will lay your story into a design template that can then be given to an illustrator. The book template will ensure the illustrator is drawing to the correct book size and keeping in mind where art will fit.

### How to hire an illustrator

Children’s book illustration is very personal. And if you are spending the money on illustrations, you want to find a style you love and that feels like a good fit for your book. That’s why I never recommend specific illustrators. But I do recommend negotiating certain terms. Always, always, always ensure that any illustrator (or any professional at all) that you work with gives you a contract. An illustrator contract should include the following:

- **Fee and payment schedule:** when and how will you pay the illustrator
- **Rights:** how can you use the art, and under what circumstances do you need to pay the illustrator additional money?
- **Illustrator copies:** how many copies of the final book will the illustrator receive for free, and under what terms can they purchase more copies?
- **File delivery:** how will files be delivered and in what format?

For a step by step process on hiring an illustrator, check out my article, [How to Find, Negotiate with, and Hire an Illustrator](https://brookevitale.com/blog/hire-an-illustrator-for-a-childrens-book/). If you want to know more about the stages of illustration and all of the different types of art that can be included in children's books, check out my article, [How to Illustrate a Children's Book: A Step by Step Guide](https://brookevitale.com/blog/how-to-illustrate-a-childrens-book/).

## 15\. Self-publish your children’s book

Writing a children’s book, and even hiring an illustrator is only the beginning. To actually self-publish a children’s book requires a lot of little steps you might not even think about: copyright registration, buying an ISBN, getting P-CIP data, deciding on a trim size, developing a marketing plan, children's book printing . . . But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. For a complete step-by-step guide that will make sure you don’t miss a beat, check out my article, [How to Self-Publish a Children’s Book: The Essential Guide](https://brookevitale.com/blog/how-to-self-publish-a-childrens-book/).