Kids love books. But they’re pretty picky when it comes to choosing a book. Making the right choice can be a pretty difficult task for parents and teachers alike. That’s where book covers come in. If you’ve ever tried to get your child to read, you’ll know how important it is to get them excited about reading from an early age. A great way to do this is by creating a book cover that will inspire them to dig into the text on the inside of the book!
Start with a Design Template
Did you know that good design is important? Okay, so maybe you knew that, but did you know that it’s even more important when designing a book cover? Children are naturally drawn to bright colors and eye-catching images. This means that the design of your book cover should be just as appealing as its content.
A great way to get started with creating a professional-looking book cover is by using the designhill book cover maker as a starting point and then customizing it to fit your own needs! Below are some reasons why this approach makes sense:
- Easy to use: The templates are already formatted with all elements in place (text boxes, images) so there’s no need to spend time on those kinds of details before getting started on the design itself. Simply open up the template file and add text boxes where needed (the placement is already determined within each template). When completed, save your new file in PDF format and print out copies for yourself or for others!
- Easy customization: You can easily change fonts within these free design templates by highlighting words or phrases; just click “select text” from an available menu item at the top left corner of the window (or press CTRL+A). Once selected, simply type over existing text using desired font style – easy peasy! And if there are any other changes needed like size or color changes just select those options from the window’s dropdown menus too! No need to worry about disarraying anything.
Choose an Image
The next step to designing a book cover that will take your audience on a journey of learning is choosing an image. Choose an image that fits the book’s theme or is relevant to this theme. You want something eye-catching, so choose an image that grabs the attention of your child and makes them want to read more. If possible, choose an image with no more than one or two colors in it; otherwise, it might be too busy and distracting for young children who are just beginning their reading adventures!
Use a Creative Title
The title of your book should be creative, but it should also relate to the story. A title that is easy to read and memorize is best. The audience loves catchy titles that are easy to say! If you want them to catch your attention, make sure your title is one they’ll remember and be able to pronounce easily.
Create Text Boxes
- Create a Visual Hierarchy
- Use Text Boxes to Create a Focal Point
- Highlight Important Information
- Create a Sense of Depth, Movement, and Balance
Customize the Fonts
There are plenty of fonts to choose from, but you can’t get away with any old font. You need to make sure it’s easy to read in the size, color, and background you’re using.
You want your book cover to stand out above all else—but if the font is too hard for kids or parents to read then it won’t matter how great your design looks because no one will ever buy it! Find a font that is simple enough for young readers but also attractive enough so that adults aren’t embarrassed by it either!
Some fonts are very difficult to read when they’re small. Others may look great in large sizes, but if they’re too small they can be hard on the eyes and make reading unpleasant or even painful for your readers. It’s also important that your font is designed for print rather than a typeface that was made for screen display (like Comic Sans).
Keep these things/metiers in mind when choosing a font:
- Make sure it’s readable both horizontally and vertically within the same word (e.g., “he” should not look different from “be”). If it does not appear balanced then re-evaluate your choice!
- Is there enough contrast between letters? The smaller text needs more space around each letter so that readers don’t confuse them with another one (e.g., “a” should not look like an upside-down “e”).
Add Graphic Elements
To add graphic elements to your book cover, you can use images or text. Images are the most common choice for graphic elements because they’re easier to find and can be used without having to worry about copyright issues. Text is also good for adding a focal point to your book cover because it’s quick and easy, but it may not catch the reader’s eye as quickly as an image would.
Make a Color Palette That Fits Your Cover’s Storyline
There are several ways to choose colors for your book cover. Following are some of the most common practices/ways:
- Colors that fit the story. If the story takes place in a dark forest, use dark green and black. If it’s a lighthearted tale about a dog, use bright reds and yellows.
- Colors that fit the author or illustrator’s style. If they typically draw illustrations with pink backgrounds, they might want to keep their color palette limited to pinks on their book covers as well. Colors related to genre or audience age range (think picture books versus young adult novels). For example, if you’re writing children’s fiction set in an enchanted land filled with magic and mystery, you might opt for rich jewel tones like emerald green or deep purples — shades that evoke feelings of magic without being too juvenile looking.
Make It Inviting
Your book cover should be inviting, like an ice cream shop on a hot summer day. Students will want to pick it up and explore the colors, fonts, and design elements that make it stand out from other books in the same genre. Try not to use too many colors (it can be distracting), but also don’t give them too little information about what they’re about to read!
Add Your Final Touches
- Make sure all spelling, grammar, and flow are correct.
- Check your layout. Did you use consistent spacing throughout the book? Is there a good balance between text and photos/images? How does it look when you flip through it from front to back?
- Add a final layer of polish by checking your cover design against these tips:
- Is it professional-looking?
- Does it relate to what’s inside the book without giving away too much detail or being too vague?
Now go ahead and check those margins!
Final words
If you’re looking for ways to inspire your kids, then a good book cover can be just the thing! It’s easy to get started with some basic design skills and an understanding of what makes a great children’s book. We hope this guide/directory has given you everything you need.
