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Learn How to Format Your Children's Books with these Free Videos!

Struggling with the layout details of your book?

We hear you! These video resources, created by our formatting expert Kayla, are a step-by-step visual guide for use with our book, “How to Format a Children’s Book for Self-Publishing: A Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Authors and Illustrators.”

We know that simply reading the information doesn’t always help, so we’ve created these videos to show you exactly what needs to be done.

The full playlist is available here, or you can select the one you need below.

Companion Videos for the book "How to format a children's book for self-publishing" by Becky Bayne

Looking for the Easy Button?

Take the stress out of setting up your book by using our basic templates to help you get started. The free videos at the bottom of this page provide additional help if you’re new to using templates.

Then add your text and images, and you’re ready to upload the book files to Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

Purchase the templates directly on Utorify.com or our Utorify Hub and click the product link under the banner.

Mockup of a downloadable children's book template for Adobe InDesign

Adding Text & Illustrations • Adobe InDesign 4:20

This tutorial demonstrates some basic InDesign concepts: adding text frames and images and adjusting simple settings for each.

Creating the cover file spread for your book

Creating the Cover File Spread • Adobe InDesign 6:03

This tutorial demonstrates how to set up a three-page spread as the basis for a book cover, including the back, spine, and front panels.

How to switch single pages to spreads when formatting a book

Switch Single Pages to Spreads 2:59

This tutorial shows how to set up a document with facing pages and how to convert a single-page document to facing pages.

How to Add a Bleed • Adobe InDesign 2:41

This tutorial demonstrates how to add a bleed (0.125 inches beyond the edge) to your document.

Exporting the cover spread PDF in InDesign

Exporting a Children’s Book Cover PDF • Adobe InDesign 1:44

Quickly learn the proper PDF settings to export your children’s book cover for upload to KDP.

Exporting a Children’s Book Interior PDF 2:12

Quickly learn the proper PDF settings to export your children’s book interior for upload to KDP.

Troubleshooting KDP Image Errors • Adobe InDesign and Photoshop 7:38

Image resolution and color mode are issues that cause KDP to reject your book files. This tutorial will cover how to ensure your images are correctly prepared for printing at 300 ppi and in CMYK color mode.

Checklist for Preparing Images for Printing

How to Format Your Children's Book is available in print too!

Your Easy Button!

Your Book File Done for You and Ready for Content!

We created these videos to make setting up a children’s book with our templates even easier. Watch the free videos here and then purchase the templates directly on Utorify.com or our Utorify Hub and click the product link under the banner.