Quick Guide to Print Decisions for Childrens Board Books

At Fox Merit, we understand how important it is to create high-quality board books for our little readers.

What is a children’s board book?

The children’s board book is a special category of literature is created specifically for young children both in content and print. They feature simple stories, vibrant illustrations, and sometimes even interactive elements to engage young readers. In addition to the content, children’s board books are defined by their print production. Children’s board books are always made of sturdy materials like thick board stock, helping to ensure durability and easy handling for small hands.

The goal of these books is to educate, entertain, and nurture a love for reading from an early age, playing a vital role in a child’s development of language, focus, and fine motor skills. When considering whether to print your picture book as a board book, take into account the book’s purpose and target audience. Most board books are targeted towards children aged 1-4 years, so if your audience falls within that bracket, a board book might be the right choice for you.

Board Book Binding types

A top choice for children’s books, board book binding is durability and more resistant to wear and tear than regular paper books. With a board book, young kids can effortlessly flip through the thick pages, making it perfect for young readers.

There are a couple of options when it comes to board book printing:

1. Hardcover/case-bound board books
2. Self-covering board books

How it works:

• Each page is printed on thick board typically 2mm or 3mm in thickness

• The printed sheets are then laminated to the board and trimmed or die cut

• The pages are then side glued, glued side by side into a book block (not end glued) together at the spine.

• Sometimes the block is also placed into a oversized case (case-bound board book), but most are just glued stack bindings – self-covering board books where the cover is the same size and board weight.

Typography for your children’s board book

When creating a children’s book, the illustrations are often seen as the most important part. While illustrations certainly play a major role in any picture book, typography is also a very important element as it directly effects readability. Follow some simple steps, like:

• Use a larger font size (14pt or 16pt) to ensure easy reading.
• To add emphasis, consider using bold or stylised fonts for important words or onomatopoeia.
• Use only one or two fonts and ensure to be consistent throughout the book.

Recommended sizes for your board book

Square childrens books work well as do landscape format books. The size of these formats might depend on how the board book will be used. The age-old ritual of reading books to little kids at bedtime is here to stay. Its one of the best ways to establish a sleep routine helping them to feel safe and valued, connect with often busy parents. Because the child will be in bed, and the book read at close quarters, a childrens board books shouldn’t be too large. For example, a square size of 210mm x 210mm is great, and even smaller works well. Board books also find their way into toy boxes and are often read during the day… so ‘small’ is the new ‘big’!

Board book stock options

Board books are sometimes constructed on ‘board’ or thick card. Pages should be between 1mm and 2mm. A key consideration is durability – thicker pages stops children from damaging the book by trying to bend the pages (or even chewing them).

It’s a good idea to apply gloss lamination to all pages to enhance durability. Laminated pages can be de-sanitised or cleaned with fluids.

Ink choices for your board book

Child intensely looking at monochromatic board book page

Ink plays a vital role in enhancing the visual appeal of all types of books, including children’s board books. Consider using environmentally-friendly soy-based or vegetable-based ink for its minimal impact on the environment. These inks offer brighter and crisper colours, perfect for creating vibrant illustrations and images that capture readers’ attention. When you choose a colour scheme, make sure it complements your book’s theme and design, resulting in a cohesive and visually appealing final product. Optimise your book’s ink selection for eco-friendly and visually stunning results.

1. Black Ink: Book publishing favours black ink due to its high contrast against all paper stocks, providing excellent readability. Some studies show that very young babies cannot see colour, so if your book is targeted towards children that are a few months old, consider creating a high-contrast black and white book. It seems counter-intuitive – but the science is in!
   

   Black and white childrens pop-up board book

2. Coloured Ink: Vibrant illustrations are the cornerstone of children’s picture books, but colour isn’t just reserved for images. Use colour in your typography as well to help it stand out.
3. Eco-friendly Ink: There are environmentally sustainable inks available in vibrant colours to add a modern touch to your book while promoting sustainability.

Print finishes and special treatments to enhance your board book

To truly make your children’s board book stand out, consider adding special finishes and treatments. Here are a few options to consider:

• Foil Stamping: Add a touch of luxury with foil stamping to give a shiny, metallic finish to selected areas like the title or author’s name.
• Gloss, Matte, and Silk Cover: Laminate your cover with an eye-catching gloss finish, reel-in your readers with a smooth matte finish, or get the best of both with a silk finish.
• Spot Gloss: This treatment applies a glossy finish to specific areas to the while the rest remains matte. Applying spot gloss helps parts of your design stand out more than the others, bringing attention to certain elements within the journal.

Enquire about printing your children’s board book today

At Fox Merit, we understand the importance of printing your children’s board book to the best standard possible. Get in touch with us to explore our book printing services and receive guidance on paper stock, binding methods, print finishes, and more to bring your vision to life. Choosing the right materials can be a daunting task, but we at Fox Merit can help guide you through the printing process so you get a product that you’re happy with. Enquire today!