PRINTING CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Children’s books – Colour, object and shop window

Picture books, first readers, tales and stories, non-fiction titles, colouring books and more: children's books are varied and take many forms.
They are usually in constant demand — handled, carried, sometimes roughly treated — and call for a binding suited to that use.
They also lend themselves well to embellishment, to create that moment of love at first sight for children… and for grown-ups.
Sepec works with leading names in children's publishing, and we will be glad to support you in producing your books.

Construction and details designed for children and families

Children's books can take the form of a small PUR-bound paperback as easily as that of a large-format hardback. Certain details, such as rounded corners, are particularly relevant here: they protect the youngest readers and, at the same time, extend the life of the book.
A soft cover for lightness and convenience, or a case binding for strength and durability: every choice should be guided by how the book will really be used.

We produce all your books in France, on lines we control from end to end. All three Sepec printing works are PEFC and Imprim'Vert certified.

Colour, object and shop window

Covers in children's publishing are generally quite worked and creative: full-page illustration, relief, texture, plays of light. Matt or soft touch lamination, spot varnish, hot foil stamping and debossing are often found on these books.
These finishes add to the graphic design of the cover and give it extra soul and appeal, which can make all the difference.

Inside, what matters most is the faithful, high-quality reproduction of solid colours, illustrations and photographs.

Printing children's books at Sepec, in brief

Picture books, first readers, non-fiction, learning books, and more.
Case bindings, perfect binding, PUR, sewn paperbacks, two-staple saddle stitching.
Rounded corners, thick pages, bespoke formats.
Soft touch lamination, spot varnish, foil stamping, embossing.
PEFC certified papers, French manufacturing.
Short and medium runs, fast reprints, offset and digital.

Series and collections

A children’s series is recognised by its constants: format, paper, title position, cover finish. We record these parameters so that every new title comes out strictly identical to the previous ones, even months apart.

Which binding for which book?

Large-format picture book, board book	Hardcover binding
Children’s novel, school use	Sewn and glued binding
Activity booklet, low extent	Saddle stitching
Early reader, pocket format	Perfect binding

Frequently asked questions

Which paper for a children's book?

Coated papers are less prone to staining and are therefore a sound choice for books meant to be handled by the youngest readers. For older children, or for children's art books, offset papers are often preferred for their look, their feel and their reading comfort.

Can the corners be rounded?

Yes, on soft covers as well as case bindings. It is a common request in children's publishing, both for safety and because a rounded corner does not get crushed. It is also a way of making a book feel softer and more reassuring.

Which binding for a large-format picture book?

Sewn case binding: it copes with repeated handling, stays open for reading together, survives being stored in a bin and gets passed on again and again.

Can relief or special effects be added?

Embossing, 2D or 3D spot varnish, foil stamping, recessed or raised effects: these finishes work very well on a children's cover, where the look and the feel of the book often decide the purchase.