A Data-Driven Guide for Your 6x9 Illustrated Children's Book
The four leading platforms offer different strengths. This chart provides a holistic view of their performance across key metrics for authors of illustrated books. KDP excels in ease of use and market reach, while IngramSpark offers wider distribution. Blurb and Lulu are often praised for their premium print quality, which is crucial for illustrations.
For an illustrated book with text on the left and a full-page illustration on the right, the handling of the center "gutter" is critical. You want the illustration to be as seamless as possible. The choice of binding significantly impacts this viewing experience. Perfect bound books (standard paperbacks) don't lay flat, causing part of the image to be lost in the curve of the spine. Case laminate (standard hardcovers) have a similar issue. For true two-page spreads, Layflat binding is the gold standard, but it comes at a higher cost and is not offered by all POD services.
| Platform | Best Option for Spreads | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon KDP | Premium Color Paperback/Hardcover | Standard binding; will have gutter loss. Not ideal for seamless spreads but most profitable. Design illustrations with a safe margin in the center. |
| IngramSpark | Premium Color Paperback/Hardcover | Slightly better print quality than KDP reported by some users, but still has gutter loss. Wider distribution network. |
| Lulu | Premium Paper Paperback/Hardcover | High-quality paper options. Standard binding means gutter loss. Good for author copies and direct sales. |
| Blurb | Layflat Hardcover | The ideal choice for two-page spreads. Pages lay perfectly flat. Significantly higher print cost, impacting royalty margins. |
Profitability is a balance between print cost, list price, and the distribution channel's cut. This chart estimates the cost to print and the potential author royalty for a 100-page, 6x9, full-color book with a list price of $19.99. Blurb's layflat option has the highest print cost, leading to the lowest royalty, while KDP offers the highest margin.
If your primary goals are to maximize your profit margins and reach the largest possible audience on Amazon, Amazon KDP is the clear winner. The trade-off is that you will have to accept some image loss in the center gutter.
Strategy: Design your illustrations with the main focal point away from the center edge of the page to minimize the impact of the binding.
If the artistic integrity of your two-page spreads is non-negotiable and you want to deliver a premium product, Blurb's Layflat Hardcover is the best option. This is ideal for creating a beautiful keepsake book.
Strategy: Price the book higher to maintain a reasonable royalty, and market it as a premium "art book" for children. Utilize Blurb's direct-to-consumer bookstore to retain a higher percentage of the profit.