How to Make a Children's Ebook in Kindle Create • KDP Amazon

[@theGirlJo]

Thanks for sharing. I hate the time it takes to reformat a manuscript just to make sure it doesn't look crazy as an ebook. This is a life saver!

[@CandidTourists]

I have just spent ages trying to work through how to upload a kindle version of my book … until I gave up and went searching for help on you tube .. your video was by far the most helpful Thankyou sooo much !!!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Glad I could help!

[@jennymcguire6584]

One of the best videos explaining how to upload a picture book ebook to Kindle....EPIC and BIG THANKS!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Sweet!

[@MB-cm7zf]

For a week now I've been converting my pdf to all different types of files that have been distorted and I couldnt be happier to find this video Ive been recording myself to teach others how to resolve issues that may arise but you ky friend have helped me tremendously thank you

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Great to hear!

[@GKSandSprinter]

Hi, can I ask how you went about illustrating please? I need an easy and free way to illustrate stick people for ebook and paperback. Thanks 😊

[@DrGains]

Hi - do you have a tutorial for using the Print Replica type / format of Kindle Create?? If not, can you please make one? Thanks!

[@GretaZ-dd3lu]

This is super helpful. I turned my two children's books into ebooks about 7 or 8 years ago. I just completed another and I can't for the life of me remember how to do it. You made it look super easy. Thanks!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Yay! Glad to make it an easier process.

[@williamhogan-oneill2214]

Fantastic tutorial and many thanks. I needed your simple explanations to help me get the job done and my ebook published.

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Great to hear!

[@jodireyes2699]

This is so nice of you to have such an informative and easy to understand video. You have really helped me. I am so impressed by you.

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Awesome!!

[@JeremyMyers]

GREAT tutorial... do you have one for how to format the ePub properly for Apple. Kobo, or Ingram Spark?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

I've got a whole playlist on eBooks! kzbin.info/aero/PL-jveHzTVM3sOqWhXZjLhJjOWysO-9Rec

[@MinaMichaelides]

Thank you for this video. It helped me a lot! Have been procrastinating the ebook version for so long and I am so happy I found your video! :)

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Kindle Create sure does speed things up!

[@GKSandSprinter]

Hi, can I ask how you went about illustrating please? I need an easy and free way to illustrate stick people for ebook and paperback. Thanks 😊

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

In this video, I use Canva's stock images to create an outline, which I would then pass on to my illustrator, who would create the final pictures!

[@WriterandPhotographer]

I think this video would have saved me a ton of work (and problems) if I saw it before I remade my first eBook and uploaded it about 3 weeks ago. The book is a children's book and has 9 inside illustrations. (b & W) At least two of them wanted to cause blank pages and I could not fixt the problem no matter what, including backspacing, deleting, reformatting the images and re-inserting, etc. But, I had chose reflowable and not comics, thinking that would only be for a graphics-heavy book. Now I realize it might have been better suited for my book. Ironically, I am now getting ready to convert my second print children's book to an ebook using Kindle Create (again) This book only has one full-page illustration and all the rest are spot illustrations, so I'm not sure the comic formatting choice would be best. Good vid and info.......thanks.

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Yeah, if you don't want to use the "zoom panel" feature from the Comic setting, then just go with "Print Replica" as the default setting.

[@germainecabbagehead24]

Thank you so much for this video!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

You are so welcome!

[@HerrickRN]

Great Video. Have you found a way to preview the panel layout once the file is uploaded to kindle? Kindle Previewer 3 doesn't want to preview the seperate panels.

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Hm! That's odd. My version of Previewer 3 will run through the panels if I'm using the "Preview" mode.

[@WebFanNY]

Thanks @beckysgraphicdesign , I'm learning this week Kindle Create settings. I encountered a problem with the image size I used in photoshop for a book 6 x 9. Kindle Create stated the file is too small and has to be 2060 pixels wide but doesn't tell me the height so I can make a reusable Photoshop template. Another worry is I learn in another video on Kindle Create Amazon charges 15 cents per megabyte if the book illustrations exceed the limit, 3 Mb? So now I'm worried on how many pictures I can include in my project, which is an illustrated Sci Fi short stories anthology and next, coloring books about science subjects. Any insight on this? Can you consider doing a 2023 follow up video to this one? Thanks, and we love your tutorials!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Yes, this large-file charge is true. I fix this problem either in my InDesign PDF export settings and force the images to compress more. OR use "Reduce File Size" in Adobe Acrobat. Sometimes both! How are you bringing these files in Kindle Create? I recommend always importing a PDF.

[@WebFanNY]

@@beckysgraphicdesign I started learning Kindle Creator three days ago, on Sunday, to figure out how to start transferring my 21-chapter InDesign draft to Kindle. And to my frustration, I had to copy it all over in the Amazon word files (the zip file with the templates for all book sizes) and then redo it all over again. My InDesign ToC got deformed and had to remove all Front Mater I made to look nice, thanks to watching and re-watching your videos, and them redo my chapters for Kindle Creator. Today I'm still filling out the Front Matter items manually. I was so excited learning InDesign just to find out it can't transfer the work as is to Kindle Creator. I'm literally counting kilobytes and adding them up as 15 cents each if I go past the limit. I'll follow your advice to get the pictures on a PDF reduced file and keep testing them. I'm making an illustrated sci fi anthology with 3-5 mid-journey pictures per chapter created with quotes from the scenes. Now I have to consider pricing it up to break even to meet Amazon's hidden penalties.

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Build it in InDesign, export a compressed PDF from there, and THEN upload the whole thing to Kindle Create. Don't try to build it IN Kindle Create. You'll end up with that huge file.

[@niftysisanda1688]

Hey thank you. May i ask where do you get the pictures?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

These images were custom drawn by the author's hired illustrator. Her name is Lizette Duvenage.

[@kimmichael1480]

Hi Kayla--I have a question that I have not been able to get an answer on. I have previously published books on KDP. I now want to publish a "picture book" which consists of my own "quotes" which I will use to copyright content for reproduction on tee shirts-coffee cups etc. The question is if I publish through KDP can there be a copyright conflict with using my own content in reproducing "parts" from the book. Would they also be due a royalty if I use their (ISBN)-not sure that makes a difference or not. Your advice. If not any thought as to who I could talk to? Thanks. Kim Michael

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

If you're quoting yourself, no issues on copyright. A unique ISBN needs to be assigned to each format of each book, even if some content is repeated. We've had issues in the past with getting flagged for "plagiarism" if an author decides to publish only a paperback, then comes back months later, deciding to also release a hard cover. Since the two formats were released in two separate timeframes, there can be an issue of copyright, even though it's the same author, same book, just different format. KDP will flag for plagiarism only in this instance. If you're releasing books of two different titles, you should be fine.

[@headfirstpersonalsafety6860]

Great video, well explained, thank you.

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mellbelle81]

I used kids kindle create version for the mobi file for KDP but need epub for B&N and other places

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

I have another video coming out soon which will explain how to properly create a (nice-looking) fixed format .epub for children's books.

[@RedditDramaStories322]

God bless you just uploaded my first book my using this method

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Wonderful!

[@penelopewrites01]

Great tutorial - easy to follow - thank you.

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Glad it was helpful!

[@CHILLMUSIC558]

I need help, so i have a pdf and a kpf file , which should be uploaded for ebook and which for the paperback

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

You'll need a PDF of both your cover and interior file for print. You'll need the KPF for your eBook (Print Replica) file.

[@CHILLMUSIC558]

@@beckysgraphicdesign thanks :)

[@mav3818]

Hello, Great video. I do have a question though. How do you determine the font size for your Kindle Ebook? I see a lot of different size options for page dimensions and font sizes but not sure which ones to choose. I do want to create in portrait view. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Typical point sizes will be 12 points for regular body copy and 18+ points for headers and titles.

[@theahpguy]

Hi Kayla, is there any way to keep the internal links dat we have on the original PDF without it looking like horrible orange? Thx :)

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Meaning, the orange underline it gives to the links? No, that's the only way it displays on KP3, although I am not sure how all devices see those highlighted links. Could be different.

[@renataafonsosilva]

Thanks! Excellent content!

[@msswaggdiva1]

How do you create the characters do you just use pictures your searching?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Hire an illustrator! Custom illustrations are always recommended. DO NOT use AI-generated artwork to sell (in a book). Technically, it is illegal now and KDP frowns upon it, although it will not yet bar you from doing so.

[@aayasir217]

Do the children's book creator needs to designs illustrations as well? Or we will be provided with illustrations and as an ebook designer I will design just the book?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

We always recommend getting original illustrations created for your children's books, so, yes, you will need to find and hire an illustrator.

[@TaiEast7]

This was so helpful! Thanks so much!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

You're so welcome!

[@anikatasnim6001]

Does the back cover goes into the manuscript

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Not unless you want it there. I don't add it to my books, but if your back cover is seconding as a "marketing page" of sorts, go ahead.

[@anikatasnim6001]

@@beckysgraphicdesign thanks

[@canadacpaonlineacademy4451]

Thank you. I was stuck and this helped me very much

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Great to hear!

[@VladthePainter]

What about a Kindle Motion Book? Can't find a tut anywhere on creating, templates, nor publishing?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Okay, that is awesome! I didn't know these existed. Definitely will be looking into this!

[@muhammadabdullahmanzoor6172]

kindly answer my question. are you uploading the jpg pictures in kindle create software?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

I am not. I am creating the whole document in InDesign, then exporting as a PDF. That PDF is what I am converting into an ebook in Kindle Create.

[@ruthobiarinze4397]

any idea how to get a pdf on canva to kindle create??

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Just export the PDF to your computer, then open with Kindle Create!

[@raghuchandra]

Is there any easy way to rearrange pages other than dragging up and down

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Meaning, you want to move multiple pages at once?

[@raghuchandra]

@@beckysgraphicdesign When I import jpeg files to kindle creator, It imports in random order. and I had to drag every images up and down to arrange

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Did you happen to notice if it brought them in as alphabetical order or numbered order? I'm curious about that.

[@mellbelle81]

Can you use this file on Barnes and noble?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

No, the only place you can use this is Amazon.

[@4world2c]

Very Well explained - Thank you !

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Glad you liked it!

[@thinktankboulevard]

great video, how would you make the cover for the same book Becky can you do that in kindle create as well?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

If the cover file is contained in your primary PDF, then export that single PDF page as a JPG using Adobe Acrobat or other PDF software. As far as creating a new cover in Kindle Create, I don't think it has that capability.

[@lisamackay1017]

I’ve had so much trouble trying to convert my children paperbacks to an ebook. Your tutorial was very helpful! However, when previewing for tablet, phone and e readers….there is a problem! My book is a two page spread picture book. I used a lot of different colored text on different pages. On the e reader, the text isn’t readable because of this. The text that I used in black and white is the only text that show up well. What is an easy way to change the text color and size? On the e reader version, there are white borders on the top and the bottom of the pages, but not on the tablet and phone version. Is it ok to have these borders on the e reader version? Also, I have 2 early reader paperback books for kids that I would also like to convert to e books, but they have around 2300 words. What is the best way to view a children’s book that has a full page of text on one side and an illustration on the other. I would think having the text and picture together would make sense in a landscape view, but then would it be harder to read that way…especially on an phone. Sorry! Lot of questions, but I’m not the most technical person and I sure could use your help! Thank you!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Your PDF-is it set up with "forced 2-page spreads" or when you open it, does it only show one page at a time? Also, was it exported with bleeds or crop marks on it?

[@lisamackay1017]

@@beckysgraphicdesign it shows one page at a time. My pictures cover the whole page and there are no crop marks on them. thank you for answering!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

And are you importing that PDF into Kindle Create? Or are you opening it in Kindle Previewer 3 or other eReader?

[@lisamackay1017]

@@beckysgraphicdesign I did exactly what you did in Your tutorial…I followed along with you except I have a MacBook. I Imported the pdf and did the preview like you did on kindle create. I called kdp several times and got all kinds of different answers, but I think I got the right answers last time I called. I was told that most people are doing their ebooks on kindle create instead of Kindle kids create because the kids version needs to be update and most people don’t like how their ebooks are coming out. I was told that when you do an ebook on kindle create and preview it for the Ereader that it will automatically have white borders on the bottoms and tops of the illustrations…and as well, where it is black and white, you will have problems with colored text fading into the picture making it hard to read. The woman told me that that I needed to delete the pages that have text that is hard to read and redo the text in procreate and put the pictures back in. She also said that kindle create using the comic was my best choice as you did in your tutorial and that I wouldn’t have better luck with kindle kids create or the kindle comic create. I was told as far as an easy reader book that has a lot of text on one side and an illustration on the other… that it is a choice of whether to choose landscape or portrait, but that most chose landscape. Do you agree with what she said? I hope this wasn’t too confusing! Thank you for taking time to answer!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Yes, I do find that "Comic" is typically the best option for my Print Replicas. Now, I am curious about what is causing the white border cause I've never seen that before.

[@Charlie-qb9nt]

Hi! I have recently uploaded my ebook to KDP - I used Kindle Create/Comic to create it - It is a series of single page and double page spreads. It looked perfect in the Kindle Previewer! I uploaded the KC file to KDP and it is now live, however it has gone through as all single pages :(. I had an online chat to one of the KDP customer service people and they told me that KDP doesn't support double page spreads. I said that there are other ebooks available to purchase on Amazon that have double page spreads and she said they won't be KDP books... I'm very confused! Does anyone know what I have done wrong?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

There are two versions of fixed-format Kindle eBooks-Print Replica (which is basically a flattened PDF), and Comic (which is comprised of JPGs). If you use the comic function (your book doesn't HAVE to be a comic book to use it), then two-page spreads will be available. Note: if your book has a lot of text, Amazon will reject a text-heavy "comic book." You must use "print replica" in that instance.

[@flashrash7194]

Why not exporting a fixed layout epub from indesign instead? Thank you

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Sometimes, our clients request that a book retain its clickable links, which a Print Replica can do. Also, I never have issues with odd white borders or errors with the positioning of images with a Kindle Create book. It's much more "foolproof," although a downside is that it's KDP-only.

[@tomantony6495]

Can I create this on latex

[@hiliacresorchard3773]

Thank you for sharing! Just what I needed!!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pamelapaschall1044]

Thank you! Simple and easy to follow.

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

You bet!

[@activemotionpictures]

What was the page format (size) you used when you designed in "InDesign"? Also, how many pages did this "comic" have?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

The print version of this children's book and its corresponding measurements can be found here: www.amazon.com/Cleaning-House-S-P-Williams/dp/1736897217

[@niierkan2022]

i wrote a children's book but need to how to get photo illustrations without copyright.

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

The best way to do this is to hire an illustrator to create original artwork.

[@jamespettinelli6953]

I really like this format for my kid's books as well. However, I was really hoping to add audio. The audio selection is grayed out though. Do you know a work-around? Thanks!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

I was never aware of that function, actually! I have seen the option for adding in video, though, I believe? Maybe you could cheat the system by adding in a tiny white/clear video that includes audio. This is all speculation, however.

[@furnitureflipping101ca]

My book went from 2.10MB to 4.36. Is there a way to reduce the size while maintaining the visual layout? Amazon charges by the MB (rounded up to the nearest MB so I assume they would say 3 MB previously to 5 MB now).

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

I always use Adobe Acrobat to make a "Reduced PDF" before using Kindle Create. It helps a lot and doesn't affect the quality.

[@furnitureflipping101ca]

I tried the third option on Kindle Create and it's less than a MB now and still looks great :)

[@furnitureflipping101ca]

I exported from InDesign as a pdf then chose the third option (after comic), which helped a lot. @@beckysgraphicdesign

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Nice!

[@kathykuczek1847]

Are your images kept at 300 dpi for the ebook?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

I leave them at 300 PPI in the .pdf I'm using-unless the file turns out huge. Then, I'll go and make InDesign export a 150 PPI .pdf for me and that reduces the size of the .kpf.

[@kathykuczek1847]

@@beckysgraphicdesign Thanks for the reply - Love your videos.

[@frankschrodinger1424]

what software is that at the start?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Adobe InDesign. You don't HAVE to use that. Just something that has the ability to export a PDF.

[@graciousvalley9978]

I did not know about the detect thing that's cool. But I tried moving mine to a paperback and it went over the lines... do you know a way to fix this? It was fine for the e-book but not print I'm trying to fix this issue.

[@FalconArt]

Are you trying to use Kindle Create to make a print book? I wouldn't recommend it.

[@notistacademy]

Great info! Thank you so much for sharing :)

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

You are so welcome!

[@francoanzalone4061]

Thanks so much for this! Very helpful!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

So glad we could help!

[@newhorizon4610]

I can see you're using In Design, but how did you draw the pictures on it?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

The images were drawn by a professional illustrator who used Photoshop. I then placed those images into InDesign.

[@newhorizon4610]

@@beckysgraphicdesign Thank you! So, if we have photoshop and in-design, we can make something like what you're showing on the video then?

[@hellobeautiful3363]

thank you so much, much appreciated!

[@AJ-lm5dl]

What are the dimensions that I should make for each page?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Kindle Create will take any sized (normal-sized) PDF page and transform it into a digital version. It probably wouldn't take a 100 x 1 px page size, for example. But any size that would be a regular print size will work.

[@bambubombon]

i thougt the kindle display was only black and white. are colour screen kindles common for children? excellent video, by the way!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

The Kindle Fire devices have color screens. Also, users can download a Kindle app to their phones or tablets and read there!

[@bambubombon]

@@beckysgraphicdesign I didn't know that.. thanks for your prompt reply!

[@LovefulLaylay]

May I ask where do you get your illustrations? That’s my last step in my process 😭

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

We work with several illustrators, including Kayla on the Becky's Graphic Design team. Other names are Lizette Duvenage, Laura Orsolini, J. Tupper, and Joan Zander Milliard. Some of them have an online presence. Scroll through the portfolio gallery on our website to see examples of artwork on Children's Books we've designed!

[@GKSandSprinter]

Hi, can I ask how you went about illustrating please? I need an easy and free way to illustrate stick people for ebook and paperback. Thanks 😊

[@tarawhaley3232]

Maybe I missed something but you never said what program or app you are working in? You just start with the book already open?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

The first program I am working in is called "Adobe InDesign."

[@designbookInc]

Thanks girl! With this i can design in Photoshop and publish!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Great!

[@i.sebastian.c6563]

Thank you so much. You are awesome!

[@Fsidiqi]

easy explanations, Thank you!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Glad it was helpful!

[@al_mowa7idine]

1:35 Hi please i want review for my book for free

[@mietm12]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

You're welcome!

[@profit1007]

Thank you 💖

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

You are so welcome!

[@lyricusx2900]

There is also a Kindle Kids Book Creator you can download for children's books. Have you also used that?

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

No, I haven't! I need to check that out!

[@starwissal213]

merci

[@jessicagentry6379]

I have cousins that live in Nashville

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

Yee-haw!

[@tippytapp101]

this was so helpful!! thank you!

[@beckysgraphicdesign]

You're so welcome!