Your story deserves a cover that makes people stop scrolling and look. A lot of authors spend months writing a beautiful children’s story, then rush the cover at the end. That is a mistake. The cover is the first thing a reader sees, whether they are standing in a bookshop or scrolling through Amazon KDP on their phone.
At Purple Giraffe Press, we work with authors, parents, and small publishers across Australia who want their children’s books to look as good as they read. We are a children's book design team that focuses only on kids’ books. We do not split our time between corporate reports and picture books. Children’s books are all we do.
We usually reply within one business day.
- before you begin
Whether you have a finished manuscript that needs a proper edit or a cover that needs artwork and layout, we can help. Below, we explain exactly what we offer, how the process works, and what to expect along the way.
We know that self-publishing a children’s book can feel overwhelming, especially if this is your first one. There are file formats to think about, print specifications, and a hundred small decisions about fonts and colours. You do not need to figure all of that out on your own. Our job is to take the technical side off your plate, so you can focus on the parts of the project you enjoy most, which is telling your story.
- what we offer
We break our service into clear parts, so you only pay for what you actually need.
Your cover needs to work at any size, from a full print jacket to a tiny thumbnail on a phone screen. We design covers that are bright, clear, and easy to read even when small. As a children’s book cover designer, we think about title placement, font choice, and colour balance so your book stands out on a shelf or in a search result.
Not every author can draw, and that is completely fine. This part of our work covers full-page illustrations, spot illustrations for chapter breaks, and character design. We work closely with you so the characters look the way you imagined them, not just the way we imagined them.
A good story can still feel messy if the pages are laid out badly. We work as a children’s book layout designer, setting margins, spacing, and text flow so the book reads smoothly from the first page to the last. This matters just as much for a picture book as it does for a chapter book.
Before any design work starts, we can also check your manuscript for spelling, grammar, and flow. This is not a full rewrite. It is a careful pass to make sure your story reads clearly and is free of the small errors that pull young readers out of the story.
If you are working on an activity book, we can act as your colouring book designer for kids. This includes clean line art, age-appropriate detail levels, and page layouts that print well at home or through print-on-demand services. We can also add simple themes across a set of pages, such as animals, seasons, or everyday routines, so the finished book feels put together rather than random.
Once the design work is finished, files still need to be set up correctly for wherever the book is going. We prepare print-ready files with the right bleed and margins, along with digital versions sized for ebook platforms and websites. This step is easy to get wrong if you are doing it for the first time, and small errors here can cause real problems at the printing stage.
- who we help
We work with a wide range of people, including:
No project is too small. We are just as happy helping with a single custom storybook made for one child as we are working on a title heading for wide release.
- choosing well
Not every designer understands what makes a children’s book different from other kinds of books. Here is what to look for when you are comparing options.
If you are searching for the best children's book designer for your project, these points matter more than flashy portfolios alone.
- why it matters
Children’s books carry more pressure per page than most adult books. A single spread often needs to carry the whole emotional weight of a scene, with very few words to help it along. That means small design choices have a big impact.
Here is what we think about on every project:
This is also why design should not be treated as separate, unrelated jobs. A great cover on a poorly edited book, or a beautifully edited manuscript with a flat cover, both let the reader down. We try to treat the whole book as one project.
- how it works
We keep our process simple, so you always know what is happening next.
Tell us what you need. This might be a full manuscript ready for design, a rough draft that needs a cover concept, or just an idea for a colouring book. The more detail you give us, the better we can help.
We look at your project and send you a clear quote. This covers what is included, an estimated timeframe, and the cost. Nothing starts until you are happy with the quote.
Our team gets started on designing, illustration, cover design, or layout, depending on what you have asked for. If your project involves multiple stages, we will usually complete them in a logical order, for example, design before final layout.
We send you drafts along the way, not just a finished file at the end. This gives you the chance to ask for changes while the project is still in progress, rather than after everything is locked in.
Once you are happy, we finalise the files in the formats you need. This might include print-ready PDFs, KDP-compatible files, or web-friendly images for your website or social media.
- our catalog
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- why purple giraffe
Children’s books are the only type of book we work on, so every choice we make is shaped by what actually works for young readers.
The Purple Giraffe Press TeamAustralian Children’s Publisher Children’s books are the only type of book we work on, so every decision we make is shaped by what actually works for young readers.
You will always get a quote before we start, so there are no surprises.
We understand the local self-publishing market, along with the requirements for platforms like Amazon KDP.
This is often a personal project for authors and parents, and we do not treat it like just another job on a list.
You will always know what stage your project is at and what happens next.
- author love
- pricing
Pricing depends on a few things, including the length of your manuscript, how many illustrations you need, and how much editing your text requires. A short board book with a handful of illustrations will cost less than a fully illustrated picture book with twenty or more custom spreads.
We always send a clear, itemised quote before any work begins, so you know exactly what you are paying for. There is no obligation to proceed once you receive a quote, and no hidden fees are added later.
If you are working to a set budget, let us know upfront. We can often suggest ways to adjust the scope, such as fewer full-page illustrations or a lighter edit, so the project still fits what you can spend.
- explore more
We sharpen your pacing and clarity while keeping your unique voice at the centre of the story
Learn more about EditingHonest, affordable promotion that gets your children’s book seen and loved on Amazon, Kindle, and beyond
Learn more about Book PromotionWe take care of the logistics, ISBNs, and platform registrations so you don’t have to learn the technicalities from scratch
Learn more about Book Publishing ManagementWe match you with an artist who understands your characters and work through sketches together before any final painting begins
Learn more about Custom IllustrationsWe build clean, functional sites that help readers and event organisers find you easily
Learn more about Author WebsitesIf you have a great idea but need help with the words, we can draft the story with you in a voice that remains authentically yours
Learn more about Ghostwriting- get in touch
Share your idea or manuscript and we will come back within one business day with a friendly, no-pressure plan and a free estimate.
We usually reply within one business day.
- one page at a time
If you have a children’s story that deserves a cover and layout to match, we would love to help. Send us your manuscript or your idea, and we will put together a clear quote with no pressure to commit straight away.
Get in touch with Purple Giraffe Press today, and let’s talk about your book.
- good to know
Honest answers to the questions authors ask us most. If yours is not here, a quick consultation will cover it.
Book a Free Consultation →No. You can reach out with a rough draft, an outline, or even just an idea. We can guide you on what to prepare next.
Yes. This is one of the most common projects we take on. We will discuss your characters and setting, then develop illustrations that match your vision.
Yes. As a children’s book designer for Amazon KDP, we prepare files that meet KDP’s technical requirements, including correct sizing, bleed, and file formats, so your upload goes smoothly.
It depends on the length and how many illustrations are needed. We will give you a realistic timeframe as part of your quote, based on your specific project.
Yes. We can turn rough sketches into clean, print-ready line art suitable for a colouring book aimed at kids.
That is completely fine. Many authors come to us just for cover design. We can quote for cover work alone, or combine it with interior layout if you need both.
Yes. We share drafts throughout the process so you can request changes before anything is finalised.
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