Writing a children's book is only half the job. The other half is making it look like a real book, one that a child wants to pick up, open, and keep coming back to. That's where we come in.
Purple Giraffe Press works with authors, small publishers, and self-publishers across Dublin to turn a finished manuscript into a book that looks and feels professional. We handle the cover, the inside pages, the pictures, and the final files you need to print or publish.
We usually reply within one business day.
- what it is
Maybe you've written your first picture book, and you're not sure what happens next. Maybe you've been through a few designers already, and you're tired of getting files back that don't feel right for kids. Either way, you don't need to know anything about design software or publishing formats. You just need someone who knows what makes a children's book work and who will explain things plainly along the way.
We keep things simple, honest, and easy to follow from the first email to the final file. If you're comparing your options and searching for the best children's book designer in Dublin, the main thing to look for is someone who treats your book as its own project, not a template with your title dropped in. That's the approach we take with every author who gets in touch.
Every book is different, so we don't force your story into a fixed package. We look at what you've got, what you need, and what will actually help a child pick up the book and stay with it to the last page.
- what we offer
A children's book has more moving parts than most people expect. The words matter, but so does the size of the text, the space around a picture, the colours on the cover, and whether the whole thing looks right printed on paper or sitting in a Kindle preview. We look after all of it.
Your cover is doing a job before anyone reads a single word. As a children's book cover designer in Dublin, we build covers that suit the age group, the story, and the shelf (or screen) they'll sit on. We think about the title placement, the main character, the colours, and how the cover reads as a small thumbnail online, not just as a big printed image.
Getting words and pictures to sit well together on a page sounds easy until you try it yourself. Text that's too small, pictures that crowd the margin, or a page turn that lands in the wrong spot can all pull a child out of the story. Working as a children's book layout designer in Dublin, we set up your pages so the story flows properly from cover to cover, with consistent spacing, readable type, and a layout built for the age group you're writing for.
Some clients arrive with a manuscript and nothing else. Others already have a character in mind but need it drawn properly. As a children's book illustrator in Dublin, we can create original artwork for your story, from single character sketches through to a full set of illustrated spreads. We also offer wider book illustration services in Dublin for authors who need supporting art, spot illustrations, or chapter openers rather than a full picture book treatment.
Colouring books look simple, but the line work has to be just right. Too thin and it's hard to colour in. Too thick and it looks messy once filled in. Working as a colouring book designer for kids in Dublin, we draw clean, clear line art sized properly for the page, whether that's animals, adventures, seasonal themes, or anything else you have in mind.
If you're self-publishing, the file has to meet specific technical rules, or it gets bounced back or looks wrong once printed. As a children's book designer for Amazon KDP in Dublin, we prepare your files to the right trim size, bleed, and colour profile, so what you upload is what actually prints, with no surprises when your copies arrive. We also check things that are easy to miss, like margins that are safe for the gutter on a printed spread and text that stays clear of the trim edge, so nothing gets cut off once the book is bound.
- every age group
The design of a children’s book should match the way each age group reads and interacts with stories. We create covers, illustrations, layouts, and visual elements that suit your readers and help your book make the right impression.
Designs for younger children focus on bold colours, simple illustrations, larger text, and clear visuals that support early learning and shared reading.
Picture book design combines artwork and text carefully, creating engaging pages where illustrations help tell the story alongside the words.
These books need clean layouts, readable fonts, and balanced illustrations that support children as they begin reading independently.
Older children's books often require more detailed covers, stronger character designs, and layouts that match longer, more complex stories.
Choosing the right design approach for your target age group helps create a book that looks appealing, feels natural to read, and connects with young audiences.
- who we help
We work with a wide mix of people, including:
If your project involves a children's book in any form, there's a good chance we can help.
We've also worked with grandparents putting together a one-off keepsake book for a grandchild, and with small charities producing storybooks for fundraising or awareness campaigns. The size of the print run doesn't matter to us. A single copy for a family gets the same care as a hundred copies going to a shop.
- what to look for
Not every designer who says they do children's books actually understands them. Before you hire anyone, ask these questions:
If a designer can't answer these clearly, that's worth noticing before you pay anything.
- why it matters
It's tempting to think design is the last small step after the writing is done. In children's publishing, it's not. A few reasons why it matters:
Good design doesn't replace good writing. It just makes sure the writing gets a fair chance.
Think about the last few children's books you saw in a shop or on a shelf at home. Chances are, the ones you remember had a strong cover and pages that felt like they belonged together, not a mix of different fonts and awkward spacing. That's rarely an accident. Somebody thought about it carefully before it ever reached print.
- our catalog
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Children Book - how it works
Send us your manuscript, or just an idea of what you're planning. Let us know the age group, whether you need illustrations, and if you're aiming for print, Kindle, or both.
Once we understand the scope of the project, we send a clear quote and a rough timeline. No pressure, no jargon, just a straightforward breakdown of what's included.
We start work on your cover, layout, or illustrations, depending on what you've asked for. You'll see draft versions along the way rather than waiting until the very end.
You tell us what's working and what isn't. We make changes based on your notes, not the other way round. This is your book, and the final say is yours.
Once you're happy, we send finished files ready for print or for uploading to your publishing platform of choice, formatted correctly so there are no last-minute surprises.
- why choose us
The Purple Giraffe Press TeamAustralian Children’s Publisher Children's books have different rules from adult ones, and we design with that in mind every time.
You get a proper quote before any work begins, not a vague estimate that changes later.
We show you drafts and take your feedback seriously, rather than delivering one final version and hoping for the best.
Whether that's a print run through a local printer or a self-published title going up on Amazon, we prepare files to match.
No jargon, no long waits for a reply, and no confusion about what stage your project is at.
- author love
- pricing
Pricing depends on the size of your project. A short picture book with a handful of illustrations costs less than a longer book with full colour art on every page, and a straightforward layout job costs less than a full illustration commission. We don't publish a flat rate because no two books are the same.
A few things that affect price include the number of pages, how many illustrations you need, whether artwork is fully original or based on a style you already like, and whether you need both print and digital files or just one. What we do offer is a proper quote, in writing, before you commit to anything, so you know exactly what you're paying for and why. There's no pressure to say yes straight away either. Take the quote away, think it over, and come back with questions if you have any.
- explore more services
Whatever stage your book is at, our Dublin team can help. Explore the other services we offer children's authors near you.
Share your idea and we write the whole manuscript in your voice, for children's books, fiction and personal family stories.
Learn more about Ghostwriting in DublinPromotion plans that get your book seen, from Amazon and Kindle visibility to local Dublin bookshops, schools and reviews.
Learn more about Book Marketing in DublinInterior layout, fonts, image placement and print-ready and KDP files, formatted specifically for children's books.
Learn more about Book Formatting in DublinYou bring the idea, the characters, and the world. We write the full novel in your voice, from first chapter to last page.
Learn more about Fiction Ghostwriting in DublinCharacter design, full page art, spot illustrations and cover art, matched to the mood, pacing and age group of your book.
Learn more about Custom Illustrations in DublinA careful final check of spelling, grammar, punctuation, layout and consistency before your book goes to print or online.
Learn more about Proofreading in Dublin- 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
If you've got a children's story that needs a proper cover, tidy layout, or original artwork, get in touch and tell us about it. Send over your manuscript, your idea, or even just a few questions, and we'll get back to you with honest advice on the best next step for your book.
- good to know
Honest answers to the questions Dublin authors ask us most. If yours is not here, a quick consultation will cover it.
Book a Free Consultation →Most of our clients are based in Dublin, but we work with authors and publishers across Ireland too. Everything is handled by email and video call, so location isn't really a barrier.
Yes. While we're based in Dublin, our design and illustration work is all done remotely, so authors in London and elsewhere in the UK can use our services just as easily as clients closer to home.
Both. Some clients want the full package, cover, layout, and illustration together. Others just need one part, like a cover redesign or help formatting a file for Amazon KDP. We're happy to help with either.
It depends on the scope. A simple layout or cover job can be quick, often a couple of weeks, while a fully illustrated picture book takes longer, since original artwork needs time to get right and usually goes through a few rounds of sketches before final colour. We'll give you a realistic timeline once we know what your project involves, and we'll flag it early if a deadline you have in mind looks too tight.
No. Some authors come to us with a finished manuscript, others with a rough draft or just an idea for a character. We can advise on next steps either way.
That's a service on its own. We regularly design colouring books for kids, with clean line art suited to the age group and theme you have in mind.
Yes. Once your project is complete and paid for, the final files are yours, whether that's for print, Kindle upload, or both.
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