If you have written a children's book, you already know the hard part is done. Now comes the part most authors dread. Getting the pages to actually look like a real book.
A children's book is not like a novel. The text sits next to pictures. Fonts need to feel playful but still be easy to read aloud. Page breaks have to land in the right place, especially in a picture book where one page turn can make or break a joke or a surprise. Get any of this wrong and even a brilliant story can feel messy on the page.
We usually reply within one business day.
- what we do
At Purple Giraffe Press, we sort out all of this for authors and small publishers across London. We take your manuscript and your artwork and turn them into a clean, properly laid-out book, ready for print or for upload to Amazon and other platforms. Search online, and you will find plenty of choice, but few formatters who work only with children's stories rather than adult fiction with a few extra line breaks added in.
You do not need a finished manuscript to come to us. Some authors arrive with rough text and no artwork yet. Others have a fully illustrated book that just needs the interior built.
- what we offer
Not every manuscript needs the same kind of help. A picture book with finished art needs a different approach from a plain text chapter book. That is why we break our formatting work into clear parts, so you only pay for what your book actually needs.
This is where we place your text and artwork onto each page, choose fonts that suit the tone of your story, set the trim size, and make sure margins and bleeds are correct so nothing gets cut off during printing. We also check things authors often miss, such as widows and orphans, inconsistent spacing, and text that runs too close to an illustration.
Layout is not just about making things look nice. It is about making a book that reads well out loud and holds a child's attention from one page to the next. We work through your manuscript page by page, thinking about where a page turn should land and whether the text needs to be bigger for a younger age group.
Every printer and every platform has its own technical requirements for bleed, margins, and file type. We set your book up correctly from the start, so it does not come back from the printer with pages cut in the wrong place.
Many of the authors we work with in London are self-publishing through Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, or similar platforms. Each one has its own rules for cover wrap dimensions and interior files. We prepare your files to match the exact specifications of whichever platform you are using, so your book uploads cleanly the first time.
If you also want an ebook version, we format a separate file that reflows properly on phones, tablets, and e-readers, without losing the feel of the print edition where that matters.
- picture books
Picture books are their own category. A picture book manuscript is often under a thousand words, but every page still has to work as a unit of text and image together. There is no room for a clumsy page break or a line of text that fights with the artwork sitting next to it.
Our work in this area focuses on the things that make picture books unique:
If you are looking for someone who has actually worked with picture books before, this is not the same skill as laying out a plain text novel. Every page is its own small design decision.
- who we help
We help all kinds of people bring children's books to life, including:
No project is too small. Some clients bring us a single storybook they have been writing for years. Others come to us with a whole series planned out. Either way, we treat the work with the same care.
- every age group
Children's books are not one single thing, and the formatting needs to shift depending on who the book is actually for.
At this age, the book is often read aloud by an adult, so page turns, spacing, and how the text sits next to the artwork all matter more than word count. Board books also need a sturdier file setup for their thicker pages.
These are often the first books a child reads on their own. Font size, line spacing, and how much text sits on each page all need careful thought, since the child is decoding the words themselves.
At this stage, there is more text and fewer pictures, so consistent chapter openers, page numbering, and a clean running layout matter more than illustration placement.
Whether your book is a rhyming story, an activity book full of puzzles, or a bilingual story with two languages side by side, we adjust the layout to suit the format rather than using one generic template for every book.
- what to look for
Whether you work with us or someone else, it is worth knowing what to ask before you hand over your manuscript.
A formatter who answers these clearly, without dodging the question, is usually one you can trust with your book.
- why it matters
A lot of authors think formatting is just the finishing touch. It is much bigger than that. Here is what proper formatting actually does for your book.
- how it works
We keep the process simple and clear from the first email to the finished file.
You send over your text and any artwork or illustrations you already have. If you are still deciding on trim size or paper type, we are happy to talk this through with you first.
Once we can see the length of the book, the number of illustrations, and how you plan to publish it, we send a clear quote with no hidden extras.
Our team lays out every page, working through text placement, fonts, spacing and image positioning.
We send you a full proof of the book so you can check every page yourself and flag anything you want changed.
We adjust the layout based on your feedback. Most projects need one or two rounds of small changes before everything is right.
- our catalog
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Children Book - why choose us
We only work on children's books. This is not a sideline alongside adult fiction formatting.
The Purple Giraffe Press TeamChildren’s Publisher The people who lay out your first page are the same ones who finish your last, so nothing gets lost between handovers.
You get a fixed price before any work begins, based on your book's actual length and artwork.
Authors often tell us we give some of the best children's book formatting they have found in London, and we put that down to actually listening to what each story needs.
Some clients like to meet in person to go through artwork and layout choices, and we are happy to arrange this.
From trim sizes to paper stock, we format your book to suit UK printers as well as international platforms.
For picture books and early readers especially, pacing and read-aloud rhythm shape every layout choice we make.
- author love
- pricing
We do not believe in flat, one-size-fits-all pricing because no two books are the same. A thirty-two-page picture book with full colour illustrations takes a different approach from a longer chapter book with plain text.
We quote based on:
Once we see your manuscript, we can give you an honest, specific quote rather than a vague estimate. There is no obligation to go ahead once you receive it, and we are always happy to answer questions before you decide.
- explore more
We sharpen your pacing and clarity while keeping your unique voice at the centre of the story
Learn more about EditingWe create front, back, and spine layouts that grab a reader’s attention. Unlike many publishing companies for children’s books, we show you enuinely different options rather than just colour swaps
Learn more about Book Cover DesignHonest, affordable promotion that gets your children’s book seen and loved on Amazon, Kindle, and beyond
Learn more about Book PromotionWe take care of the logistics, ISBNs, and platform registrations so you don’t have to learn the technicalities from scratch
Learn more about Book Publishing ManagementWe match you with an artist who understands your characters and work through sketches together before any final painting begins
Learn more about Custom IllustrationsWe build clean, functional sites that help readers and event organisers find you easily
Learn more about Author Websites- get in touch
Share your idea or manuscript and we will come back within one business day with a friendly, no-pressure plan and a free estimate.
We usually reply within one business day.
- ready when you are
You have put real work into writing your children's book. It deserves to be formatted with the same care. Send us your manuscript and any artwork you have, and we will come back to you with a friendly, no-pressure quote.
Get in touch with Purple Giraffe Press today, and let's get your book ready for readers.
- good to know
Honest answers to the questions London authors ask us most. If yours is not here, a quick consultation will cover it.
Book a Free Consultation →We are based in London and love working with local authors, but we format books for clients across the whole of the UK. Everything is handled by email, so location is never a barrier.
It depends on the length and how many illustrations are involved. A simple picture book can often be turned around in one to two weeks, while longer or more complex books may take a little longer.
Yes. We prepare separate files where needed, so your book meets the technical requirements of whichever platform or printer you use.
It helps if your illustrations are close to final, but we can begin planning the layout with draft artwork and update pages as final images come in.
Yes, and in fact, many of our clients are publishing their first book. We are happy to explain each step clearly and answer questions as you go.
You will usually receive a print-ready PDF and, where needed, files formatted for digital platforms.
Yes. Bilingual books need careful spacing so neither language feels squeezed in. We format these regularly and can talk you through the options.
Many clients are happy reviewing a digital proof on screen, but if you would like a physical printed proof before final approval, we can arrange this too.
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