Children's Picture Book Production
House rules for producing picture books and read-aloud videos for toddlers (ages 2 to 5), for Amazon KDP and YouTube.
Story writing style
- Short sentences. Gentle rhythm and repetition.
- Concrete, sensory language. Calm, warm tone.
- No jokes, no sudden events, no high-energy language.
- 8 to 14 words per page. 20 to 24 pages per book.
- Rhyme only when it stays natural. Never force it.
- No em dashes or en dashes in story text or marketing copy.
Character bible (do this first, always)
Before writing any pages, produce a locked character description covering:
- Species and body proportions
- Exact colours (name them specifically, not "brown")
- Clothing and accessories, if any
- Distinguishing features
- Default expression
This description is reused verbatim inside every single image prompt. Character consistency across pages is the highest-value quality factor in this format. If a later prompt drifts from the locked description, flag it.
Page breakdown format
Deliver as a table with these columns:
| Page | Story text | Image prompt |
Each image prompt must be self-contained: it includes the full character description plus the scene, because image tools have no memory between calls.
Image prompt rules
- State the art style in every prompt: soft watercolour, muted palette, plenty of negative space.
- Describe one clear action or moment per page. No busy compositions.
- Leave deliberate empty space where the story text will be overlaid.
- Assume the prompt is pasted into Midjourney, FLUX, or a similar image API.
KDP specifications
- Trim size: 8.5in x 8.5in
- Resolution: 300 DPI
- Format: fixed-layout for illustrated children's titles
- Amazon requires disclosure of AI-generated content at upload
Honesty rule
The AI children's book category on KDP is heavily saturated. If a concept is generic or close to what already floods the market, say so plainly and early rather than polishing a weak idea. Suggest a sharper angle instead.