Early reader
Lightly illustrated
From £1,149
For early readers and chapter books that need a few pictures and clear, friendly type.
8 to 15 illustrations
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Children’s book publishing for UK authors
Children’s Book Publishing in the UK
You have the story, perhaps written for your own children or grandchildren, and you can picture every page. We match it to an illustrator, design the characters with you, edit, lay out and publish it, so it can be read aloud at bedtime and ordered by any UK bookshop.
Tell us about your story and the age it is for. You get illustrator samples and a written quote in pounds within one business day.
The short answer
Columbia Publication publishes children’s books for UK authors with original illustration, editing, layout, cover design, ISBN and distribution to Amazon.co.uk and the wider book trade, priced in pounds. A lightly illustrated early reader starts from £1,149, a 32-page full-colour picture book with original illustration on every spread from £2,299, and board books or longer illustrated books from £3,799. Authors keep all rights, including the artwork, and 100% of royalties.
Prices checked 26 October 2026 · Reviewed by Gia Kahn, Lead Editor · Next review November 2026 · How we check
Is this you?
This is for you if
- You have written a picture book or early reader and cannot draw it yourself.
- You want it to look as good as the books on the shelf at Waterstones.
- You want it on Amazon.co.uk, orderable by bookshops, and printed for family, schools and events.
- You want to own the story, the characters and the artwork outright.
A children’s book is judged by its pictures first.
The parent choosing it in a shop, the teacher choosing it for the class and the child asking for it again tonight all decide from the art. Stock images, AI pictures and characters that change between pages give a book away straight away, and a layout copied from a novel template looks wrong in print.
We start with your characters, agreed with you before any page is drawn, then sketches, colour and final art with your approval at every stage, a careful edit, and a layout made for reading aloud. Then we publish it under your name.
Start here
How much does it cost to publish a children’s book in the UK?
Find your book below. Each includes illustration, editing, layout, cover, ISBN and distribution, priced in pounds.
| Your book | From | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Early reader or chapter book | £1,149 | 8 to 15 spot or black-and-white illustrations, editing, layout, cover, ISBN and distribution |
| Full-colour picture book | £2,299 | 32 pages, 14 to 16 full-colour spreads, cover art, character design, fixed-layout ebook, ISBN and distribution |
| Board book or longer illustrated book | £3,799 | A senior illustrator, board book print setup, school and library metadata and launch support |
Not sure which? Book the free illustration consultation below. You see samples from illustrators matched to your story before you decide.
What makes it work
What makes a children’s book look professionally published?
Characters that never change
Same face, proportions and colours on every spread, from a character sheet agreed with you first.
Words that read aloud well
An edit for rhythm and read-aloud flow as well as spelling, in British English if that is how you write.
Pages that make you turn them
Text and pictures placed together so every spread builds to the next.
Print that does the art justice
300 DPI files with proper bleed, so the colours in the printed book match what you approved.
Not sure which style suits your story? The consultation shows you samples.
Get My Quote in PoundsSelling in the UK
Can a self-published children’s book get into UK bookshops and schools?
It can be made orderable everywhere: Amazon.co.uk, and through the book trade that UK bookshops and libraries order from. Getting it onto a shelf takes a local pitch, events and reader demand. Many children’s authors start with school visits, library readings and local bookshops, using printed copies they own. We can print those for you and deliver them to any UK address: see book printing with UK delivery.
Timeline
How long does it take to publish an illustrated children’s book?
| Stage | Typical time | What you approve |
|---|---|---|
| Characters | 1 to 2 weeks | Each main character, front and side, with expressions and colours |
| Sketches | 2 to 3 weeks | The layout of every spread |
| Colour and final art | 4 to 6 weeks | Palette, then finished artwork |
| Edit, layout and publishing | The remaining weeks | Text, interior and cover, then the book goes on sale |
Typically 10 to 19 weeks from start to a published book, confirmed in writing with your quote.
A real book
Have you published an illustrated children’s book?
Yes. The Amylets Fantastic Adventures by Ameena Roberts is a 236-page children’s book for ages 3 to 12, published in hardcover and paperback in October 2025. We handled the editing, illustration, cover, formatting and publishing, and it is live on Amazon with Columbia Publication as publisher.
When it is done
The first time it is read aloud
A child turns straight to their favourite page and points at the detail in the corner. Your book is on Amazon.co.uk, a local shop has ordered copies for your reading, and a box of books is ready for the school visit. The story, the characters and the artwork are all yours.
Packages in pounds
Choose your children’s book package
Each includes illustration, editing, layout, cover, ISBN and distribution.
Most chosen
Full-colour picture book
From £2,299
A 32-page picture book with original art on every spread and a fixed-layout ebook.
14 to 16 full-colour spreads plus cover art
Get My Quote in PoundsCustom
Board books and longer books
From £3,799
Board books, books over 40 pages and complex illustration, with a senior illustrator.
School and library metadata, launch support
Get My Quote in PoundsPaid in full upfront once you approve the written quote. We do not add VAT.
What you can count on
What every children’s book package includes
- An illustrator matched to your storyWith samples before you commit.
- Your approval at every stageTwo revision rounds per illustration and per editing pass.
- The art is yoursFull rights to the illustrations on payment.
- ISBN and distributionAmazon.co.uk and the wider book trade.
- Print-ready and ebook filesYours to keep, for reprints and future editions.
- Original, never AIDrawn by a person for your book.
How it runs
How your book is made
- Tell us the storyAge group, length and ideas.Day 1
- Samples and quoteMatched illustrators, price in pounds.Within 1 business day
- Characters and sketchesApproved with you.3 to 5 weeks
- Final art and editColour, text and layout.Two revision rounds
- PublishedOn Amazon.co.uk and orderable by shops.10 to 19 weeks in total
Custom Quote
Build your custom quote
We’ve started with Illustrations. Add anything else your manuscript needs, and a specialist sends an itemised quote within one business day. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Written quote within one business day. Nothing is charged until you approve it. 100% of your rights stay yours.
Questions
Children’s book publishing in the UK: common questions
How much does it cost to publish a children’s book in the UK?
With us, a lightly illustrated early reader starts from £1,149, a 32-page full-colour picture book from £2,299, and board books or longer illustrated books from £3,799, each including illustration, editing, layout, cover, ISBN and distribution. Your quote in pounds confirms the exact price.
Do I own the illustrations?
Yes. Full rights to the artwork transfer to you on payment, for the book, merchandise and future editions.
How long does it take?
Typically 10 to 19 weeks from start to a published book, depending on the number of illustrations and how quickly you approve each stage.
Can it be sold in UK bookshops?
It can be made orderable by UK bookshops through the book trade. Stocking it on the shelf depends on the shop and on demand, which school visits and local events help build.
Do you use AI art?
No. Every illustration is original work by a person.
Can you print copies for school visits and events?
Yes, in any quantity, delivered to any UK address.
How do I pay?
In full upfront, once you approve the written quote. We do not add VAT.
Tell us the story. We will show you who should draw it.
Age group, length and any ideas. A specialist replies within one business day, with samples and a price in pounds.
Get My Quote in Pounds