top of page
  • Writer's pictureTullipStudio Team

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KDP AMAZON FOR NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR


KDP, which stands for Kindle Direct Publishing, is Amazon's self-publishing platform for authors and publishers. KDP allows individuals and companies to publish and distribute e-books and paperbacks through the Amazon Kindle Store. Here are some key points about KDP in children’s book:


  1. Publishing Options: KDP offers the option to publish both e-books and paperbacks. E-books are digital versions of your children’s book, while paperbacks are physical printed copies.

  2. Royalties: Authors can choose between two royalty options for children’s e-books: a 35% royalty on the list price or a 70% royalty if certain pricing and distribution criteria are met. For paperbacks, royalties depend on factors like trim size, page count, and printing costs.

  3. Pricing Control: Authors have control over the pricing of their children’s book, including the ability to run promotional pricing and Kindle Countdown Deals.

  4. Global Distribution: KDP allows authors to make their children’s book available to customers worldwide through Amazon's extensive network of online stores.

  5. Kindle Select: KDP authors can enroll their e-books in Kindle Select, which makes their e-books exclusive to Amazon for 90-day periods. In exchange, authors gain access to promotional tools like Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owners' Lending Library.

  6. Free Publishing: Publishing through KDP is free, and authors can publish their children’s book without any upfront costs.

  7. Reports and Analytics: KDP provides authors with detailed sales and royalty reports, helping them track the performance of their children’s book.

  8. Paperback Publishing: In addition to e-books, KDP also allows authors to publish paperbacks. Authors can upload their manuscript and cover files, preview their children’s book, and make it available for sale in paperback format.

  9. Support and Resources: KDP offers various resources, guides, and tools to help authors with the self-publishing process. There is also an online community and customer support available.

  10. Rights and Ownership: Authors retain the rights to their work and have control over how long they want their children’s book to be available on the platform.


Overall, KDP is a popular and user-friendly platform for self-publishing e-books and paperbacks, making it accessible for independent authors and small publishers to reach a global audience through Amazon's distribution network.

In the ever-evolving world of literature, self-publishing has emerged as a revolutionary avenue for authors to share their children’s book with the world. Among the many platforms that have contributed to this movement, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) by Amazon stands out as a powerful and accessible tool for aspiring and established authors. In this article, we will delve into the world of KDP Amazon and explore how it has changed the landscape of publishing.


KDP, or Kindle Direct Publishing, is an Amazon service that allows authors to self-publish their children’s book in digital format and make them available for sale on the Kindle Store. It was launched in 2007, and since then, it has become one of the most popular self-publishing platforms, offering authors an opportunity to reach a global audience without the need for a traditional publishing deal.


Key Features of KDP Amazon

  1. Easy Publishing Process: KDP Amazon provides a user-friendly platform that enables authors to publish their children’s book quickly and easily. All that's required is a well-prepared manuscript in a supported format, such as MOBI or EPUB.

  2. Global Reach: Once published on KDP, your children’s book becomes available to readers around the world. This global distribution is a significant advantage for authors seeking a wide readership.

  3. Control Over Pricing: Authors have control over the pricing of their e-books and can choose whether to enroll in Kindle Unlimited, a subscription service that allows readers to borrow and read children’s book at no additional cost.

  4. Competitive Royalties: Authors can earn up to 70% royalties on e-book sales, depending on the price of the children’s book and the territory where it's sold.

  5. Print-on-Demand (POD): KDP also offers a print-on-demand service, allowing authors to publish paperback versions of their children’s book. This feature makes it easy for authors to offer print copies to their readers.

  6. Tools and Resources: KDP Amazon provides a suite of tools and resources to help authors succeed, including marketing and promotional options, Kindle Create for formatting e-books, and Kindle Cover Creator for designing children’s book covers.


The Impact of KDP Amazon

KDP Amazon has had a profound impact on the world of publishing, changing the way children’s book are brought to readers. Here are some of the key ways in which it has made a difference:

  1. Empowering Authors: KDP has given authors the power to bypass traditional gatekeepers and take control of their publishing journey. This empowerment has led to a surge in independent authors who can reach their audience directly.

  2. Democratizing Publishing: Self-publishing through KDP Amazon has removed many barriers to entry in the publishing industry. Authors from diverse backgrounds and with a wide range of content can share their stories and expertise.

  3. Expanding Reading Choices: The platform has greatly expanded the range of available reading materials, from children’s book, fiction to non-fiction, niche genres, and even shorter works like novellas and essays.

  4. Opportunities for Series and Sequels: KDP's self-publishing model is well-suited for authors who want to create children’s book series or sequels. It allows authors to control release schedules and adapt their writing to reader feedback.

  5. Enhanced Discoverability: KDP Amazon provides promotional tools like Kindle Countdown Deals, Kindle Free Promotions, and Kindle Unlimited, which can help authors increase their children’s book discoverability.


Challenges and Considerations

While KDP Amazon offers numerous advantages, it's essential for authors to be aware of some potential challenges:

  1. Self-Promotion: Authors must often take on the role of marketer and promoter for their books, which can be time-consuming and challenging.

  2. Quality Control: Self-publishing doesn't have the same level of editorial oversight as traditional publishing, so it's crucial for authors to ensure their work is well-edited and professionally presented.

  3. Competitive Market: The self-publishing market is highly competitive, with millions of e-books available. Authors need to invest time and effort into standing out.

KDP Amazon has revolutionized the publishing industry by offering authors an accessible and powerful means to share their stories with a global audience. This platform has empowered countless authors, democratized publishing, and expanded the reading choices available to readers. However, authors should approach self-publishing with a clear understanding of the challenges and responsibilities it entails. As KDP Amazon continues to evolve and adapt, it will undoubtedly play an ongoing role in the ever-changing world of literature and publishing.


Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a platform that allows authors and publishers to self-publish their children’s book and make them available for sale on Amazon. Like any publishing option, KDP has its pros and cons.


Pros of KDP (Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

  1. Ease of Use: KDP is user-friendly and relatively easy to navigate, making it accessible to both novice and experienced authors. You can format and upload your children’s eBook or print children’s book with relative ease.

  2. Global Reach: Amazon is a global marketplace, so your children’s book can reach a wide audience across the world. This can be especially beneficial for authors looking to expand their readership internationally.

  3. High Royalties: KDP offers competitive royalty rates, particularly for children’s eBooks. You can earn up to 70% royalties on eBook sales in many regions, which can be more than traditional publishing.

  4. Control: Authors have complete control over their children’s book's content, pricing, and cover design. You can update your book whenever you want and experiment with pricing strategies.

  5. Free Publishing: KDP is free to use, and there are no upfront costs for publishing your children’s book. You only pay when your book sells, and Amazon takes a cut of the sale.

  6. Amazon Marketing Tools: KDP provides marketing tools, like Kindle Countdown Deals and Kindle Matchbook, which can help you promote your children’s book and engage with readers.

  7. Print-on-Demand: KDP offers print-on-demand (POD) services through KDP Print, allowing you to offer physical copies of your children’s book without the need for large print runs or inventory management.


Cons of KDP (Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing)

  1. Exclusive Distribution: To participate in KDP Select, a program that offers additional marketing and promotional opportunities, you must agree to give Amazon exclusive distribution rights to your children’s eBook. This means you can't sell your eBook on other platforms.

  2. Amazon's Market Dominance: While Amazon's vast audience is a pro, it can also be a con because it's highly competitive. Standing out among millions of titles can be a challenge.

  3. Limited Control over Pricing: While you have control over pricing, Amazon can change the pricing of your children’s eBook under certain circumstances. This can affect your earnings.

  4. Royalty Restrictions: To earn the 70% royalty rate for children’s eBooks, you must meet specific pricing criteria and distribution requirements, such as avoiding pricing below a certain threshold in some regions.

  5. Limited Author Support: While KDP provides resources and help documentation, it may not offer the same level of support as traditional publishers. Authors may need to handle marketing and promotion themselves.

  6. Royalty Payments: It can take up to 60 days for you to receive royalty payments, which may be less frequent than some authors prefer.

  7. Quality Control: Amazon may remove or suppress books if they violate their content guidelines, which can be frustrating for authors.

In conclusion, KDP is a powerful platform for self-publishing, but it comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Whether it's the right choice for you depends on your publishing goals, the nature of your children’s book, and your willingness to navigate the intricacies of self-publishing and marketing in a highly competitive marketplace.


KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and BookBaby are both platforms for authors looking to publish their children’s books, but they have some key differences:


A. Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)

  1. Owned by Amazon: KDP is Amazon’s self-publishing platform for e-books and paperbacks. It’s specifically tailored for authors who want to publish their children’s book directly to the Kindle Store.

  2. Wide Reach: It offers access to a massive audience through Amazon’s extensive customer base.

  3. Ease of Use: It’s relatively user-friendly and straightforward. Authors can upload their manuscript, cover, set the price, and publish.

  4. Royalties: Authors can choose between two royalty options: 35% or 70%, based on the pricing and distribution choices they make.

B. BookBaby:

  1. Wider Distribution Channels: BookBaby offers a more extensive distribution network beyond just Amazon, including other major online retailers like Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and more. It also provides distribution services for physical books.

  2. Services: BookBaby offers more comprehensive publishing services beyond just distribution, such as editing, cover design, formatting, and promotional tools. This might be suitable for authors looking for more extensive support.

  3. Packages and Pricing: BookBaby generally involves upfront costs as they offer publishing packages with various service tiers. Authors pay for these services, but they retain more royalties from their children’s book sales.


KDP, or Kindle Direct Publishing, is an Amazon service that allows authors to self-publish their children’s book in digital format and make them available for sale on the Kindle Store. It was launched in 2007, and since then, it has become one of the most popular self-publishing platforms, offering authors an opportunity to reach a global audience without the need for a traditional publishing deal. Key features of KDP Amazon include an easy publishing process, global reach, control over pricing, free publishing, reports and analytics, paperback publishing, support and resources, rights and ownership, and Kindle Select. KDP authors can choose between two royalty options for children’s e-books: a 35% royalty on the list price or a 70% royalty if certain pricing and distribution criteria are met. KDP authors can enroll their children’s e-books in Kindle Select, which makes their children’s e-books exclusive to Amazon for 90-day periods. KDP authors can upload their manuscript and cover files, preview their children’s book, and make it available for sale in paperback format. KDP offers various resources, guides, and tools to help authors with the self-publishing process.


bottom of page