KID'S BOOK AND COMICS: We specialize in providing fixed-format books, for Children's illustrated titles as well as Comic books and other "fixed-layout" books (books that emulate the look of print books, with spreads or other advanced aspects). Make sure you visit our Showcase for some examples of fixed-format books that we've made. (I know that there's a lot of confusing information out there; please try to read everything available on our site, thanks, to assist you and to help us help you.)
Fixed-Layout books are unique, in that their text does not "reflow." In regular ebooks, the reader can determine the size of the font, and in many cases the margin-settings, which causes the pages in the book to "reflow" to suit the reader's wishes. (Please see our Knowledgebase articles on reflow: Is it true that readers can change how my book looks?, and Text reflows--or wraps. ) Fixed layout books, on the other hand, create a layout that is almost identical to the original print layout, allowing non-reflowable text that can be placed atop graphics, like text on an illustration for a children's book. Fixed-layout also allows "two-page spreads," which cannot be done in traditional ebooks. Fixed layout is a great solution for fully-illustrated children's books, comic books, some coffee-table books, and cookbooks that are complex in layout.
Important note: Amazon fixed-format books, of any type, and iBooks iAuthor eBooks cannot be pinch-zoomed. Keep this in mind when you are debating on whether or not fixed-format is right for your book.
Sample Kids' Books, in Fixed-Format:
FIXED FORMAT BOOKS GENERALLY: However, fixed-layout books are very expensive to create, and are both device-limited and device unique. At this time, (January, 2013), fixed-layout books are only viewable on the Kindle Fire devices and Kindle for Droid readers, iBooks on the iPad, Kobo, and, (for children's books only), NookKids' on the Barnes & Noble Nook. B&N Fixed-Format Alert!. Each device requires a book to be made for it. Unlike traditional ebooks, like ePUB, which works on multiple readers, every device--Kindle, iBooks, Kobo and Nook--must have a separate and unique book made to work in accordance with that manufacturer's and retailer's specifications. We are capable of providing books for all of these readers, including the NookKids layout (as well as animated NookKids' books). We can also provide audio-file embedding for "read-along" (iBooks and Nook Kids' only) and of course, region magnification (text pop-up) for Kindle fixed-format. iBooks' fixed-format books can have not only voice narration, for text-highlighted read-along, but background sound effects, as well. On Nook, only NookKids' can have audio embeds.
COMICS PRICING: at this time, only the Kindle fixed-format offers a unique comic-book format, which allows for panel magnification for each panel within a page. Some types of comics--those with full-page format--maybe be better served by simply using region magnification for text-pop-ups, rather than panel magnification. Comics have to be assessed individually for pricing, based on the number of pages, and the pop-up panels per page that will be needed. There are page discounts for longer books, of course.
KIDS' BOOKS PRICING, GENERALLY: UPDATE: Please ask us about pricing on these types of books. The old prices, from 2011-2015, are no longer relevant, as many things have changed. These types of books are extremely time-consuming and expensive to make, particularly those with embedded audio. There are page discounts available a) above 60 pages and b) for multiple titles.
OTHER FIXED-FORMAT BOOKS: (Cookbooks, Art books, experimental fixed-format fiction): Custom Quotes.
Samples of Fixed-Format Books, other than Kids' Books:
Audio Embedding: For iBooks, with read-along highlighting (required by Apple): $150.00 flat fee plus $0.35/word. For NookKids', $150.00, for books smaller than 34 pages, $200 for books larger than 34 pages. Amazon: Currently not available for self-publishers.
1Distribution Note: To publish a NookKids' book to Nook, you must be an approved NookKids' book publisher, or be using an Aggregator/Distributor to put your book on the NookKids' platform. You cannot upload a fixed-format NookKids' book via the PubIt! Nook platform, so please be certain that you have a distribution mechanism before you pay us to create a book that you then cannot sell.
