A board book can be published without ordering several thousand copies upfront. Digital printing makes this possible: the first batch can be small, and the decision to increase the print run comes only once it is clear how the title is selling. In the traditional production model, the barrier to entry is high.
Offset printing requires large minimum print runs, so a significant part of the budget is tied up before the book reaches its readers. Production in the Far East can be cheaper per copy, but it means longer shipping times, customs clearance and less influence over how production runs. For a small publishing house or an author who is only just testing this format, a small first print run above all means lower risk.
Key information
- A board book is a book for the youngest children in which every page is made of thick, rigid board.
- Traditional board book production is often based on offset printing, which requires high minimum print runs and a large outlay from the very first order.
- Production in the Far East may be cheaper per copy. However, it involves longer shipping, customs clearance, more difficult communication and limited control over the process.
- Digital printing makes it possible to publish a board book in a small print run and to increase the run based on real sales rather than forecasts alone.
- In the Books Factory specification, each page of a board book is 1.2 mm thick, and the book’s construction allows it to open flat.
- Colour management based on the FOGRA standard helps keep illustrations consistent in the first print run and in later reprints.
- A Books Factory board book can be produced as a softcover, a hardcover or a hardcover with foam.
What is a board book and why do publishers choose it?
A board book is a durable book for the youngest readers, with rigid pages made of thick board instead of paper leaves. It works well as a gift, a seasonal product or a way to extend a list with titles for the very youngest. For a small publishing house, it opens up a new readership. For an author with their own brand, it is a way to bring a world readers already know into a new format.
In our vlog, we show this through the story of Sarah, an author whose fantasy romance novels sell well and who is thinking about a simple illustrated story for very young children, set in a world her readers already know.
In books for the youngest readers, the content matters, but so does how the book works as an object. Parents judge quality before they read the first sentence. They look at how the book looks and feels in their hands, how it opens, and whether it feels durable and safe for a child. In this format, good content alone is not enough.
Why is it hard to publish a board book as a test?
A publisher who wants to test a board book on the market usually has two routes to choose from. Both raise the barrier to entry.
| Production model | Strength | Risk with a first edition |
| Offset printing at a local printer | low unit cost for large print runs | high minimum print run, budget tied up before the first sale |
| Production in the Far East | attractive price per copy | long shipping times, customs clearance, harder communication, less control over the process |
| Digital printing in a small print run | start with a small batch, reprint based on sales | higher unit cost than with very large print runs |
With offset, you have to invest a large sum before you know how the market will receive the book. That makes it hard to test new ideas and respond flexibly. With production in the Far East, on the other hand, it is harder to influence the process and react when something needs correcting.
The result can be what happened to Sarah: a good idea ends up in a drawer. Not because it lacks potential, but because the barrier to entry is too high.
How can you publish a board book in a small print run?
The solution is to reverse the order of decisions: test first, scale later. At Books Factory, we print board books digitally, including in small print runs. This means you can test the format without ordering several thousand copies upfront.
A small first batch lets you test the product and see how your audience responds. The print run only grows once the book actually starts selling. Your next decisions are then based on sales results, not on forecasts alone. A small first print run turns a board book from a risky investment into a product you can test with peace of mind.
What should you look out for when producing a board book?
Colour. In children’s books, colour is not a detail but part of the story. That is why at Books Factory we manage colour and print consistency based on the FOGRA standard. This helps keep illustrations consistent in the first print run and in later reprints. In a model built on small print runs and reprints, that matters all the more.
Construction. A board book is a durable object, designed with the youngest readers and their wonderfully destructive curiosity in mind. In our specification, each page is 1.2 mm thick. A well-thought-out construction lets the book open flat. An illustration can therefore run across the entire spread without losing important elements near the spine. In children’s books, the image often carries the story as much as the text does, so this makes a real difference.
Binding. A board book can be produced in several binding options: a simpler softcover, a classic hardcover or a hardcover with foam, which gives it a softer, more gift-like feel. The choice is best matched to whether the title is meant for everyday reading or as a gift.
How can you check the quality of a board book before ordering?
You do not have to make decisions about binding and materials on your own. Our multilingual sales team of native speakers guides you through the entire ordering process, from choosing the binding and materials to technical and production details. This way, the solution fits the nature of your project.
The simplest way to assess the materials, construction and workmanship in person is to order our free Sample Books. We send them entirely at our expense—all you need to do is fill in a short form. A board book is best judged in your hands, just as parents will judge it.
Frequently asked questions
How is a board book different from a regular children’s book?
A board book has all its pages made of thick, rigid board instead of paper. This makes it more durable and better able to withstand heavy use by young children.
Can a board book be printed in a small print run?
Yes. With digital printing, you can print a board book in a small run, see how the market responds and only then increase the print run. Books Factory prints board books digitally, including in small print runs.
How thick are the pages of a board book?
In the Books Factory specification, each page of a board book is 1.2 mm thick.
Which bindings are available for a board book?
A board book can be a softcover, a hardcover or a hardcover with foam. The last option gives a softer, more gift-like effect.
Can an illustration in a board book run across a spread?
Yes, if the construction allows the book to open flat. The illustration can then run across the entire spread without losing elements near the spine.
Will the colours in a reprint look the same as in the first print run?
Colour consistency between print runs depends on how the printing process is controlled. Books Factory works to the FOGRA standard, which helps keep illustrations consistent in the first print run and in reprints.
How can I check the quality of a board book before ordering?
The simplest way is to order free Books Factory Sample Books. We send them at our expense once you have filled in a short form.