Expert ghostwriting, publishing & marketing — all under one roof
For children's book authors

Your Children's Story, Beautifully Illustrated and Published

Custom illustrations, professional layout, and full publishing to Amazon and print — we turn your story into a book kids will love and parents will buy.

Get My Free Children's Book Guide →
KDP + B&N published everywhere
100% rights kept by you
One team write · publish · market

How it works

One team, four simple steps — we handle the hard parts.

1

Tell us your story

A quick call (or our questionnaire) — we learn your book, goals and audience.

2

We write & design

Ghostwriting or editing, a professional cover, and print-ready formatting.

3

We publish

Live on Amazon & major retailers — you keep 100% of rights and royalties.

4

We market

Launch strategy, reviews and promotion so the right readers actually find it.

Everything a children's book needs

Custom illustrationsOriginal art in the style your story deserves — not clip-art.
Kid-friendly layoutProfessional typesetting built for young readers.
Print + KindleFull-color paperback and ebook, published for you.
Age-appropriate editingPolished to the right reading level.
You keep 100%All rights and royalties stay yours.
One teamWriting help, art, design and publishing under one roof.

What actually makes a children's book work

A children's book isn't a short story with pictures added — it's words and art telling the story together. The best ones read aloud in five minutes, reward the hundredth reading, and give the illustrator room to add jokes and details the words never mention. That interplay is the whole craft, and it's why a professionally illustrated book feels completely different from a DIY one.

How long should your book be?

It depends who it's for. Here's the honest guide we use:

FormatAgeWordsPages
Board book0–30–100~12–16
Picture book3–7200–80024–32
Early reader5–8800–2,50032–48
Chapter book7–105,000–12,00064–96

The classic 32-page picture book — one spread of art per scene — is what most people imagine, and it's what we make most often.

How the illustration works

This is the part that turns a manuscript into a book kids ask for by name. It goes in steps:

You choose the style — soft watercolor, bold and graphic, playful cartoon, timeless classic — and it stays consistent from the cover to the last page.

An honest word on cost. Illustration is the real investment in a children's book, because it's original art made just for your story — never clip-art or AI filler. That's exactly why a real illustrated book stands out on the shelf, and why we quote it by page count, so you only pay for the art your story needs.

Then it's a real, published book

We handle full-color print formatting and Kindle conversion and publish it to Amazon and retailers under your name — you keep 100% of the rights and every royalty. You end up holding the thing you imagined: a book a child will make you read again tomorrow night.

What it costs & what's included

A fully illustrated, published children's book typically starts at the Author Branding tier ($599); custom illustration is quoted by page count and complexity.
Most children's books take about 10–16 weeks — illustration is what takes the time, and it's worth it.
Custom, original illustrations in your chosen style
Full-color print + Kindle layout
Age-appropriate editing
Publishing to Amazon & retailers
You keep 100% of rights and royalties

Simple, transparent pricing

No hidden fees. You own everything. Pick what fits.

Basic Publishing

$299
  • Professional cover design
  • Interior formatting
  • Amazon & retailer publishing
  • You keep 100% royalties
Start with Basic
MOST POPULAR

Author Branding

$599
  • Everything in Basic
  • Editing & proofreading
  • Author website + branding
  • Launch-ready setup
Choose Branding

Complete Launch

$1,299
  • Everything in Branding
  • Full marketing campaign
  • Reviews + media outreach
  • Amazon ads & promotion
Go Complete

Why authors & founders choose Zeal

Done for you, end to end. Writing, editing, cover, formatting, publishing and marketing handled by one coordinated team — not a dozen freelancers you manage.

You keep everything. 100% of your rights and 100% of your royalties stay with you. We publish under your name to Amazon KDP and Barnes & Noble.

Built to be found. A professional cover, clean formatting and a real launch plan — so your book competes in its category instead of disappearing.

Step 1 of 3 · 30 seconds
First — what should we call you?
Just your name. Let's keep this human, not a boring form. 👋
What's the best number to reach you?
We'll text your free quote and a quick hello — no spam, ever. 📱
Last thing — your email? (optional)
Easiest way to send your quote & samples. Skip it if you'd rather we just call.
🔒 No spam. You keep 100% of your book's rights & royalties.
🎉

You're all set!

Your publishing consultant will reach out within 24 hours. Keep an eye on your phone 📱

Or reach us however suits you

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to publish a children's book?

Publishing and formatting start at the Author Branding tier ($599); the main variable is custom illustration, which we quote by page count and complexity so you only pay for the art your story needs. You get a clear, all-in quote before anything starts.

How does the illustration process work?

It runs in stages — character design, then a page-by-page storyboard, then final full-color art in the style you choose. You review and approve at each step, so the finished book looks exactly how you pictured it.

How long should a children's book be?

A classic picture book is about 24–32 pages and 200–800 words; board books are shorter, early readers and chapter books longer. We help you land on the right length for your age group.

Do I keep the rights and royalties?

Always — 100%. You own all rights and every royalty, forever. We publish under your name and never take a cut of sales.

Will my book be on Amazon?

Yes — we publish your full-color paperback and Kindle edition to Amazon and major retailers, fully set up and live.

Get My Free Children's Book Guide →