How to Publish Your Child's Book: A Parent's Guide to the Options
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There's nothing quite like watching your child finish a story they've written or drawn — and then hearing them ask, "Can this be a real book?" In fact, that very question was what inspired us to start Little Book Factory as we cover the 'Personalised Printing' element (see below) but increasingly we've found that children then want to be able to sell their book to make money (just like adult authors!) So here's a guide created especially for parents so you can help your child realise their dreams of becoming an author.
The good news is - yes children can be authors! And there are more ways to make that happen than you may realise. Here's a rundown of your options, from quick and simple to more involved.
1. Turn It Into a Keepsake Book (Personalised Printing)
If your goal is to celebrate your child's creativity and give them something to hold, treasure, and show off — rather than to sell copies to strangers — a personalised printing service is usually the fastest and most rewarding route. You submit your child's actual handwritten story or drawings, choose a cover style, and receive a professionally bound hardback book, often within a couple of weeks.
This is exactly the kind of service we offer at Little Book Factory — we turn kids' own stories and scribbles into real hardback books, no editing or "improving" required, because the whole point is celebrating their voice and their art exactly as they made it.
Best for: birthdays, gifts for grandparents, building a child's confidence as a "real author," and first-time projects. It's also a wonderful keepsake for parents as you capture your child's imagination within those bound pages.
2. Self-Publish Through a Print-on-Demand Platform
If your child has written something longer or more polished — like a chapter book — and you'd like the option to sell it or share it more widely, platforms like Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), let you format and publish a book yourself, in both print and ebook form.
The platform is free to use, and you (or your child, with help) retain full control and rights. The trade-off is that you're responsible for formatting and cover design which you may need to pay for so it looks professional.
Best for: older children or teens who want a genuine publishing credit, or a story they hope to sell to a wider audience.
3. Enter a Children's Writing Competition or Young Authors' Programme
Several organisations run competitions specifically for young writers, with publication as a prize. In the UK, look at things like the BBC's 500 words competition or Chicken House/Times children's fiction competition or local library and school-run schemes. Winning doesn't just mean publication — it can also mean editorial support from professionals.
Best for: children who've written something they're genuinely proud of and want to test against other young authors, and who don't mind a bit of a wait (these are usually annual, with real judging panels).
4. Approach a Traditional Publisher (For Older, More Serious Writers)
Traditional publishing — querying literary agents, submitting manuscripts — is the path most people picture when they think of "getting published," but it's a long, competitive process typically suited to teenagers or young adults writing full-length manuscripts, not younger children's storybooks. It can take years, and most submissions are turned down, but a small number of celebrated authors have started this way in their teens. It's also worth noting though, and so not to be disheartened by this traditional approach, there are a number of self-published authors that then get a publishing deal later.
Best for: teens with a completed, polished manuscript and patience for a long process.
A Word of Caution: Vanity Presses
Be wary of any company that asks for a large upfront fee to "publish" your child's book while promising bookstore distribution or bestseller status. These are often vanity presses charging inflated prices for services (like basic formatting) you could get much more cheaply elsewhere. If a company's main business model seems to be charging authors rather than selling books to readers, do your research first.
So, Which Option Is Right for You?
If your child just wants to see their story or drawings become a real book they can hold — something to treasure, share, or gift — a personalised keepsake service is usually the simplest, most affordable, and most immediately rewarding choice. If they're older and dreaming of "real" publication or sales, self-publishing platforms or competitions are worth exploring as a next step.
Whatever you choose, the most important thing is celebrating the fact that your child created something in the first place. That's worth a book of its own.