Children's books that hold up to the hundredth reading
Written to a genuine reading level, illustrated with a consistent character, and laid out to the page-count conventions the trade actually uses.
How long should a children's book be?
Board books run 0–100 words, picture books 500–800 words across a 32-page signature, early readers 1,500–3,000, chapter books 5,000–10,000 and middle grade 20,000–50,000. Arkedia writes to the target age band with reading-level checks and provides matching illustration from £1,850.
- From£1,850
- Picture book500–800 words
- Standard32 pages
- IncludesFull illustration
Writing for children looks simple and is not. A picture book is typically 500–800 words, every one of which is load-bearing, structured across a 32-page signature with page turns that land in the right places.
We write to real age bands and real reading levels, then pair the manuscript with an illustrator whose style suits the story and who can keep a character consistent across forty images.
Fixed price, quoted in GBP before you commit. Milestone payments.
- Free 1,500-word sample first
- Mutual NDA signed before we start
- Two revision rounds included
- Full rights and royalties stay yours
Everything in the Children's Books service
Age-banded writing
Board book, picture book, early reader, chapter book or middle grade — each with its own vocabulary and sentence-length rules.
Reading-level checking
Vocabulary and syntax checked against recognised readability measures for the target age.
Character design
Character sheets showing your character from multiple angles and expressions, so they stay consistent.
Full colour illustration
Typically 12–24 spreads for a picture book, in a style you approve before production begins.
Page-turn layout
Text and image laid out across the standard 32-page signature so the story beats land on the turn.
Print-ready production
Correct bleed, gutter allowance and colour profile for children's print specifications.
How children's books works, step by step
You approve before we proceed. Every time. No stage begins until you have signed off the one before it.
Concept and age band
We settle the story, the age band and the format — which decides word count and page count.
Manuscript
The text written and revised against reading-level checks.
Illustration style
Sample illustrations in two or three styles for you to choose from.
Character sheets
Your character designed from multiple angles and in a range of expressions.
Full illustration
All spreads illustrated, delivered in batches for review.
Layout and production
Text set into the illustrations, print files built and proofed.
What authors say afterwards
I came with eleven years of workshop notes and no idea how to make a book out of them. The outline stage alone was worth the fee — it was the first time I could see the shape of what I actually knew. The finished book reads like me on a good day.
I had three self-published titles that were not selling. They showed me my covers side by side with the top forty in my category at thumbnail size and I understood the problem in about four seconds. New covers, re-optimised listings, and the back catalogue started moving.
Writing about my mother's illness was not something I could do alone. The interviews were handled with real care, and they were clear from the start about what would be in the book and what would not. My family have all read it. That matters more than sales.
Children's Books — your questions answered
Do you provide the illustrations too?
Yes — writing and illustration are handled together, which matters more than people expect. Text and image have to be designed as one thing or the page turns do not work.
How long should a children's book be?
Board books run 0–100 words; picture books 500–800 across 32 pages; early readers 1,500–3,000; chapter books 5,000–10,000; middle grade 20,000–50,000. We confirm the target at the concept stage so nothing is written to the wrong length.
Can you write a series?
Yes, and it is usually the right commercial choice for children's fiction. We build a character bible and a format template so later titles are faster and cheaper to produce.
Do you handle educational or SEN-appropriate titles?
Yes. We have written to specified phonics stages and for neurodiverse readers, including dyslexia-friendly typography and layout in the production stage.
Services that pair with this one
Cover Design
Covers designed to work at thumbnail size in your category — three original concepts, unlimited refinement on your chosen route.
Learn moreBook Publishing
Print, eBook and global distribution set up properly — in your name, with your ISBN, and 100% of royalties paid to you.
Learn moreComics & Graphic Novels
Full script-to-page comic production — panel scripting, pencils, inks, colour and lettering.
Learn moreTell us about your book
A 45-minute call, no charge and no pressure. You will leave with a realistic timeline, a fixed price and an honest view of whether the book is worth writing.