Match the ReadKidz page ratio to a KDP trim size, understand bleed and margins, and check which source files to download.
You will leave with the correct Canva page size and the source files for the interior and cover.
ReadKidz exports source material, not upload-ready KDP files. Finish the page size, bleed, margins, image quality, and cover in Canva; use KDP Print Previewer for the final check.
A PDF with page text included and an art-only PDF, both in whole-book reading order with separate cover and back-cover pages.
Split out the cover/back cover and rebuild the interior at the actual KDP page size.
A PNG ZIP in reading order, useful for checking pixels and rebuilding the layout.
Place each image on one correctly sized print page and export one interior PDF.
Optional trim, bleed, and safe-area guides while editing in ReadKidz.
Treat them as visual aids only; they do not set KDP physical page dimensions in the export.
Cover and back-cover artwork as separate book pages.
Build the single back + spine + front cover file in KDP Cover Creator or another layout tool.
ReadKidz does not have a 300 DPI export option.
Do not enlarge the PNG in Canva. Download PDF Print and upload it to KDP. If KDP says Low resolution, choose a smaller book size or upscale the image, then export again.
On PC, ReadKidz lets you create pages in 1:1, 3:4, 4:3, or 16:9. These labels describe the shape of the artwork, not the physical size of a KDP PDF. If an illustration reaches the page edge, use the larger Canva page size below.
Finish the picture book in the square format.
This is the final printed page after cutting, not the upload page size.
Fill this slightly taller page with the artwork. Crop the outer edge if needed; do not stretch the image.
Do not create an 8.5 × 8.5 in Canva page for a full-bleed book. It leaves no extra artwork for KDP to trim away.
For a recommended 300 DPI result, the full-bleed page needs at least 2588 × 2625 real pixels. ReadKidz does not guarantee this resolution.
| ReadKidz PC ratio | Recommended KDP trim | Canva page with bleed | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:1Recommended path | 8.5 × 8.5 in | 8.625 × 8.75 in | Rebuild the interior in Canva; do not upload the ReadKidz PDF directly.Best match for a square KDP picture book. Leave the standalone cover and back-cover pages out of the interior. |
| 3:4Usable with rework | 8.25 × 11 in | 8.375 × 11.25 in | Rebuild in Canva and check the effective image resolution.The ratio matches, but ReadKidz does not guarantee enough real pixels for KDP's recommended 300 DPI. |
| 4:3Advanced | Custom 8 × 6 in paperback | 8.125 × 6.25 in | Use only if you intentionally choose a custom landscape trim.This route needs manual margin, bleed, and resolution checks and is not the recommended beginner workflow. |
| 16:9Not recommended | No matching standard KDP trim | — | Do not use this ratio for the KDP paperback workflow in this guide.If print publishing is the goal, choose 1:1 or 3:4 before creating the page illustrations. |
Which ReadKidz download should you use? Start from the individual-page PNG ZIP. Do not upload the whole-book PDF directly: its pages are not built at the KDP full-bleed size, and its cover and back cover are still separate book pages.
Choose the trim size first. Bleed, margins, required pixels, and the cover template all depend on it.
The final width and height of one printed page after the printer cuts it.
An 8.5 × 8.5 in book finishes at that size; the working page may be larger when it includes bleed.
Extra artwork beyond the cut line, so small cutting shifts do not leave a white edge.
For KDP interiors, add 0.125 in to the outside width and 0.125 in to both top and bottom. If even one page needs edge-to-edge art, set the entire interior to bleed.
The protected area that keeps text and important faces away from cuts and the binding.
For 24–150 pages: inside/gutter at least 0.375 in; outside at least 0.25 in without bleed or 0.375 in with bleed.
How many real image pixels are available for each printed inch at the size you place the image.
Effective DPI = pixels ÷ printed inches. KDP recommends at least 300 DPI and calls anything below 200 DPI low resolution.
Page width = trim width + 0.125 inPage height = trim height + 0.25 in8.5 × 8.5 in trim with bleed → 8.625 × 8.75 in page → at least 2588 × 2625 px at 300 DPI.
Most users can skip this calculator. Build the Canva page at the final KDP size, do not enlarge the ReadKidz PNG, and download PDF Print. Only calculate pixels if KDP shows Low resolution.
Print check
Treat the ReadKidz export as your source material. Your final KDP files must match the trim size, bleed, page count, and cover dimensions selected for the paperback.
| From ReadKidz | Use it for | Check in KDP |
|---|---|---|
| PDF with text | A visual reference or starting PDF for the finished book | Remove separate cover/back-cover pages and rebuild physical trim, bleed, margins, and effective resolution |
| PDF without text | An alternate art-only interior or a layout source | Add and proof all text before uploading a final interior |
| PNG ZIP | Individual pages for layout changes or another design tool | Rebuild a single print PDF at the selected physical size |
| Front-cover artwork | Artwork for the front panel in Cover Creator or a cover template | It is not the cover file by itself; KDP still needs back cover, spine area, bleed, safe areas, and barcode space |
ReadKidz does not currently generate a KDP-ready interior or full cover wrap for a selected physical trim. Use the source exports in the preparation routes above.
Not for a full-bleed book. Select 8.5 × 8.5 inches as the KDP trim size, then create each Canva interior page at 8.625 × 8.75 inches so KDP has artwork to trim. Keep text and important details inside the safe margins.
No. Treat the ReadKidz PDF and PNG files as source material. ReadKidz currently does not export a KDP-sized 300 DPI interior or a full cover. Rebuild the interior at the final page size in Canva, create the full cover separately, and check both files in KDP Print Previewer.