How to name characters kids remember
Bluey. Gruffalo. Pippi. Memorable names have patterns. Here's how naming children's book characters gives you one kids ask for again.
The Storybench blog
Notes from the desk
Guides, stories & honest notes on writing illustrated books you actually authored, with a cast that stays itself page after page.
Make a lesson picture book without drawing it yourself
Got a lesson and no book that fits? Here's the low-fuss way for a teacher to make a custom picture book that fits the topic exactly.
Make a print-ready PDF for KDP, no designer
What "print-ready" actually means for KDP, and how to export a children's book PDF that uploads cleanly the first time.
Why most picture books are 32 pages
The 32-page picture book isn't an accident. Here's the printing math behind the most common length on the shelf.
How to market a self-published children's book
You're not selling to kids, you're reaching the grown-ups who buy for them. A practical guide to marketing a self-published children's book.
How to publish your children's book on Amazon KDP: a step-by-step guide (2026)
Set up KDP, prepare a print-ready interior and cover, fill in the details screen, and go live. A step-by-step KDP guide for children's books, with sources.
How to self-publish a children's book: the complete 2026 guide
Write it, illustrate it, get it print-ready, and publish it yourself. A plain, step-by-step guide to self-publishing a children's book in 2026.
Choosing an illustration style for your kids' book
Watercolor, flat, papercut, 3D? How to pick an illustration style for a children's book that fits your story's age and tone, and hold it.
Character sheets for AI illustration, explained
A character sheet locks your character's look so it stays the same everywhere. Here's what to put in one and how to use it.
KDP picture books: trim size, bleed & pitfalls
Trim, bleed, margins, DPI: the print specs that trip up first-time picture-book authors on KDP, explained simply.
Build a recurring character readers come back for
Bluey. The Gruffalo. Elephant & Piggie. Readers return for characters they know. Here's how to build one and keep it consistent across books.