Picture Book Pagination
Getting the pagination just right for a hardcover picture book can be tricky without a visual aide. Here are some helpful examples of pagination options for books with separate ends and self-ends, along with downloadable templates to test out which pagination style works best for your book.
Separate Ends
This pagination style is usually 32 pages and the most common. You’ll have an option of using a flat color for the endpapers or 1-color illustrated artwork. The half title (if applicable), title and copyright/dedication pages (collectively called the “front matter”) will take up the first few pages of the book, so the story’s text generally won’t start until page 4. With this layout, the endpapers won’t count toward the pagination (they’re pasted in separately from the book’s signature), so it leaves about 28 or more pages for text. Some designers may also opt to place the copyright page in the back so the title page can be a full spread, which works well if your book is 40 pages.
Here’s a full diagram that illustrates the layout with an alternative start and end.
Self-Ended
When creating a 32 page book with this layout, you’ll normally have 24 pages for content. Pages 1 and 32 are included in your page count, but they’ll be pasted down and unseen. And similarly to the separate ends layout, the front matter will take up the first few pages of the book. But the story’s text usually won’t start until page 6, because the endpapers are apart of the page count as well.
Here’s another diagram that visualizes a self-ended layout, which is great for showcasing illustrated endpapers, but they can also be just flat colored ends as well.
Layout Template Downloads
Here are a few templates to help with paginating your next picture book by building a dummy. The PDFs are fillable, so you can type your text right on the pages and get an idea of how your story will flow and if more or less text is needed per page/spread. Each PDF is sized at a standard 8.5”x 11” for easy draft printing.
Keep in mind: As picture books are primarily for young readers, it’s better to have a few lines of text per spread, rather than large paragraphs. An editor can also help to shape and organize your text to fit this format.