Publishing a ReadKidz picture book on Amazon KDP means turning your exported pages into two print-ready PDFs — an interior and a full cover — and uploading them as a paperback. This guide follows one Canva-first path through sizing, both files, the checks, and the submission.
KDP controls its file requirements, policies, and review decisions. Always confirm the current requirements in KDP before you publish.
Official guidance last checked ·
KDP does not use the cover and interior as one continuous ReadKidz book export. Prepare these two files separately, then upload each one in its own KDP field.
Start with the ReadKidz PDF or PNG ZIP.
Remove the standalone cover and back-cover pages, rebuild every remaining page at the chosen trim and bleed size, and keep one book page per PDF page.
A single-page-sequence PDF containing only the inside of the book.
Start with the ReadKidz cover and back-cover artwork.
Use KDP Cover Creator, or place the artwork into KDP's exact cover template after the interior page count is final.
One PDF containing back cover + spine + front cover, with cover bleed and barcode space.
Do not upload the unedited ReadKidz whole-book PDF as both files. Its cover and back cover are separate book pages, not a KDP full cover wrap.
Start at Chapter 1 if this is your first KDP book, or open the chapter that matches the file or screen you are working on now.
Preparing your files means matching the ReadKidz page ratio to a KDP trim size, understanding bleed and margins, and knowing which source files to download before you open Canva.
Open this chapter → Chapter 2 of 4The KDP interior is a single PDF of the inside pages: one ReadKidz page image on each correctly sized Canva page, text kept inside the guides, exported as one file.
Open this chapter → Chapter 3 of 4A full KDP cover is one PDF that combines the back cover, spine, front cover, bleed, safe areas, and barcode space on the current KDP template for your trim size and page count.
Open this chapter → Chapter 4 of 4Publishing on KDP means completing the book details, disclosing AI-generated content, uploading both PDFs, clearing Previewer warnings, and submitting the paperback for review.
Open this chapter →This guide is for a print-on-demand paperback picture book. KDP Select, Kindle Create, and eBook royalty choices are separate eBook topics and are intentionally not part of this route.
KDP is a free self-publishing service. You do not pay KDP to upload or list the paperback, although you may choose to pay for outside editing, design, or marketing tools.
KDP account and scam guidanceYou do not buy an inventory run. KDP prints each copy on demand and subtracts its printing cost from the sale before your royalty is paid.
How paperback printing costs workThe rate depends on the list price and marketplace. Page count and ink type affect printing cost, so use the estimate shown in KDP instead of choosing a price by guesswork.
Paperback royalty rulesNo. KDP is a free self-publishing service — you do not pay to upload or list a paperback. You may still choose to pay for outside editing, design, or marketing tools, and KDP's printing cost is subtracted from each sale rather than charged to you up front.
Your royalty is 50% or 60% of the list price minus the printing cost, and which rate applies depends on the list price and the marketplace. Page count and ink type change the printing cost, so use the estimate shown inside KDP instead of picking a price by guesswork.
No. KDP prints each copy on demand after a customer orders it, so you never buy inventory. The printing cost for that copy is subtracted from the sale before your royalty is paid.
Two, uploaded in separate fields: one interior PDF containing only the inside pages in a single page sequence, and one full cover PDF containing the back cover, spine, and front cover together with bleed and barcode space.
Create and review every page in ReadKidz, then return to this checklist when your paperback files are ready.
