How to Format Children's Book in Word for KDP Paperback: Complete Guide 2025
Learn how to format your children's picture book in Microsoft Word for Amazon KDP paperback. Step-by-step guide covering margins, page size, illustration placement, bleed options, and PDF export.
.png&w=2560&q=75)
Formatting Your Children's Book in Word for KDP Paperback
Formatting your children's picture book for Amazon KDP paperback doesn't have to be complicated. With Microsoft Word and the right settings, you can create a professional interior file that meets KDP's requirements. This is part of our complete guide to self-publishing on Amazon KDP.
This guide walks you through formatting your children's book in Word, from setting up margins and page size to inserting full-page illustrations and preparing your final PDF for upload.
You'll learn the exact measurements, alignment techniques, and formatting options that ensure your book gets approved on the first try.
What You'll Need Before You Start
Before formatting your children's book in Word, gather everything you need. Having all your materials ready makes the process smoother and faster.
You'll need all your JPEG illustrations for the interior in high resolution. For an 8.5" x 8.5" trim size, your images should be 2550 x 2550 pixels square. This resolution ensures crisp, clear printing when your book is published. If you need help calculating the right image size for different trim sizes, check out our KDP image size calculator.
Use JPEG format rather than PNG. JPEG files are smaller, which keeps your final PDF file size manageable. Large file sizes can increase printing costs and affect your royalties, so optimizing your images matters.
You'll also need Microsoft Word 365 or a newer version. While older versions work, the menus and commands may look different. This guide uses Word 365, so if you're using an older version, some steps might vary slightly.
Pro Tip
Keep a few spare blank pages at the end of your document while formatting. This makes it easier to insert additional content or make adjustments without constantly adding new pages.
Understanding Your Book's Page Structure
Before diving into Word, understand how your physical book will look. This helps you plan your layout and front matter correctly.
Odd-numbered pages (1, 3, 5, etc.) appear on the right side when someone opens your book. Even-numbered pages (2, 4, 6, etc.) appear on the left. This matters when planning your front matter and illustration placement.
For your front matter, consider starting with page 1 as your inside title page. Include your book title, your name as author, and the illustrator's name. You can add a cropped image of your front cover here for visual appeal.
Page 2 typically contains your copyright information. Page 3 can be a dedication page (optional). Page 4 might be blank, allowing your first full-page illustration to start on page 5, which appears on the right side.
If you have facing-page illustrations that need to match up, keep in mind the binding. Leave a tiny bit of cushion because the binding can affect how images align. Avoid placing important elements right at the edges where they might get cut off during printing.
For your back matter, you might include text-only pages (like a recipe or thank you page), links to your other books, and a final full-page illustration to symbolize the end of the book.
KDP Paperback Requirements
KDP has specific requirements for paperback books. Understanding these before you start formatting saves time and prevents rejection.
The minimum page count for a KDP paperback is 24 pages. Most picture books range from 25 to 32 pages or more. KDP prefers your total page count to be divisible by 8, though exceptions exist. Your book can be 30 or 31 pages if needed.
For this guide, we're using an 8.5" x 8.5" trim size, which is popular for children's picture books. If you choose a different trim size, you'll need to contact KDP support to confirm the exact page size settings for Word.
KDP offers hardcover format, but as of 2022, it cannot be used for children's books because the minimum page count for hardcover is 75 pages. Most picture books don't meet this requirement. If you want hardcover, you'll need to use IngramSpark or another service.
Important Note
Always tell your illustrator to leave at least a quarter inch (preferably half an inch) on the outside edges of illustrations. Don't place important elements like text or characters right at the very edges, as they might get cut off during the printing and cutting process.
Setting Up Margins in Word
Start by setting your margins to zero. This allows your full-page illustrations to extend to the edges of the page, which is essential for picture books.
In Word, go to the Layout tab, then click Margins, and select Custom Margins. Set the top, bottom, left, and right margins all to zero. Make sure "Apply to: Whole document" is selected, then click OK.
Word will show a warning that some margins are outside the printable area. This is expected and fine, so click Ignore. You need zero margins so your illustrations can extend to the page edges when you enable the bleed option on KDP.
With zero margins, you'll use indentation to position text on pages that contain mostly text (like your copyright page or back matter). This gives you control over text placement without margins interfering with your full-page illustrations.
Setting the Correct Page Size
For an 8.5" x 8.5" trim size, you need to set your Word document to a slightly larger page size to account for bleed. This ensures your illustrations extend properly to the edges.
In the Layout tab, click Size, then select More Paper Sizes. In the Paper tab, under Paper size, choose Custom size. Set the width to 8.63 inches and the height to 8.75 inches.
Make sure "Apply to: Whole document" is selected, then click OK. Word may show another warning, so click Ignore again.
These measurements account for the bleed area that KDP requires. When you upload your PDF, you'll enable the bleed option, which allows your illustrations to extend slightly beyond the trim size to prevent white edges after cutting.
Remember
If your trim size is different from 8.5" x 8.5", contact KDP support to confirm the exact page size measurements you should use in Word. Different trim sizes require different page size settings.
Formatting Text-Only Pages
For pages with mostly text (like your title page, copyright page, or back matter), use indentation and alignment to position your content properly.
On your title page, you might use four hard returns (blank lines) to create space, then center-align your book title and author name. Use a larger font size like 28 point, and consider bolding the text for emphasis.
For your copyright page, use indentation to move text away from the edges. You might use a one-inch indentation on the left, and you can also set a right indentation using the ruler. Select your text, then drag the right indent marker on the ruler to create space on the right side.
Use a readable font like Calibri for text pages. The font size depends on your design, but 16 to 28 point works well for most children's book text pages. Keep in mind that text overlaid on illustrations is part of your JPEG files, not Word text.
To move to the next page, use Ctrl+Enter to insert a page break. This ensures clean page transitions and prevents text from flowing unexpectedly.
Inserting Full-Page Illustrations
Inserting full-page illustrations is the core of formatting your picture book. You want each illustration to fill the entire page with no white space showing.
Go to Insert, then Pictures, and select "From this device." Choose your illustration file and click Insert.
Once inserted, single-click the image to select it and see the resize handles. Stretch the image using the corner handles (preferably the bottom-right corner) until it extends beyond the page edges. Never use the side handles, as this will distort your image and break the aspect ratio.
You want the illustration to be slightly larger than the page size, around 8.8" x 8.8" works well. This ensures no white space shows and accounts for the bleed area. It's better to go slightly beyond than to have white edges.
Alternatively, you can double-click the image to open the Picture Format tab, then enter the exact measurements in the Size section. Type 8.8 for the height, press Tab, and Word will automatically fill in the width to maintain the aspect ratio.
Make sure "Lock aspect ratio" is checked in the Size options. This prevents your images from getting distorted. If you accidentally break the aspect ratio, use Ctrl+Z to undo and try again.
Critical Mistake to Avoid
Never use the side handles (top, bottom, left, or right) to resize images. Always use the corner handles to maintain the aspect ratio. Using side handles will blur or skew your illustrations, making them look unprofessional.
Need Professional Illustrations for Your Book?
Once you've formatted your book, you'll need high-quality illustrations. Check out our guide to the best AI book illustration services to find the perfect tool for creating your children's book illustrations.
Managing Page Breaks and Layout
Use page breaks to control where each page starts and ends. This is especially important when transitioning between text pages and illustration pages.
Press Ctrl+Enter to insert a hard page break. This moves you to the next page immediately, regardless of how much content is on the current page.
Before inserting your first full-page illustration, make sure you've removed any indentation from previous pages. You want your illustrations to start with no left or right indentation so they can extend to the page edges.
Turn on "Show/Hide" (the paragraph symbol in the Home tab) to see page break markers. This helps you visualize where pages start and end, making it easier to troubleshoot layout issues.
After inserting all your illustrations, go through each page and verify the layout. Check that illustrations fill the entire page, text is properly positioned, and page breaks are in the right places.
Final Checks Before Exporting
Before exporting to PDF, do a thorough review of your entire document. Check every page to ensure everything looks correct.
Verify that all illustrations extend beyond the page edges with no white space showing. Check that text pages have proper indentation and alignment. Make sure page breaks are in the correct locations.
Review your front matter (title page, copyright, dedication) and back matter (recipe, thank you page, other books) to ensure they're formatted correctly. Check for any typos or formatting inconsistencies.
Count your total pages. Remember that KDP prefers page counts divisible by 8, though 30 or 31 pages are acceptable. If you're close to a multiple of 8, consider adding or removing a blank page to optimize your layout.
Exporting Your Document to PDF
Once your document is complete and reviewed, export it to PDF format. This is the file format KDP requires for paperback interior uploads.
Go to File, then Save As. In the destination folder, select PDF from the "Save as type" dropdown menu. Choose your file location and click Save.
Word will convert your document to PDF, which may take a moment depending on the file size. Once complete, open your PDF in Adobe Reader or another PDF viewer to verify everything looks correct.
In Adobe Reader, switch to "Two Page View" under View → Page Display. Then enable "Show Cover Page in Two Page View" under the same menu. This shows you exactly how your book will look when printed, with pages side by side as readers will see them.
Review your PDF in two-page view to check facing pages, verify illustration alignment, and ensure your layout works as a physical book. This is your final chance to catch any issues before uploading to KDP.
Pro Tip
Viewing your PDF in two-page view helps you spot issues with facing-page illustrations that need to match up. You can see how the binding will affect the alignment and make adjustments if needed.
Uploading to KDP: What to Expect
When you upload your PDF to KDP, you'll enable the bleed option since your illustrations extend to the page edges. This tells KDP to expect content in the bleed area.
KDP will review your file within 24 to 72 hours. If everything is formatted correctly, your book will be approved and available for purchase. If there are issues, KDP will provide specific feedback on what needs to be fixed.
Common issues that cause rejection include white edges on illustrations, incorrect page size, or text too close to the trim edge. Following this guide should help you avoid these problems.
If you need help during the upload process or have questions about formatting, KDP support is available. They can confirm page size settings for your specific trim size and help troubleshoot any issues. For more guidance on publishing illustrated children's books, see our complete guide to publishing illustrated children's books.
Summary: Key Takeaways
Formatting your children's book in Word for KDP paperback is straightforward when you follow the right steps. Here's what to remember:
- Set margins to zero to allow full-page illustrations
- Use page size 8.63" x 8.75" for 8.5" x 8.5" trim size (or contact KDP for other sizes)
- Insert illustrations and resize them to 8.8" x 8.8" using corner handles only
- Use indentation for text pages instead of margins
- Always maintain aspect ratio when resizing images
- Review your PDF in two-page view before uploading
- Enable bleed option on KDP when uploading
With these settings and techniques, you can create a professional interior file that meets KDP's requirements and gets approved on the first try.
Ready to Create Your Children's Book Illustrations?
Now that you know how to format your book, you'll need professional illustrations. Check out our guide to the best AI book illustration services to find the perfect solution for your project.
