N° 16 — Toddler years
A studio service
Children's books for toddlers..
The first books in a child's life have rules of their own. Thick pages, simple shapes, strong colors, very few words — because the hero at this age looks, points, reaches, names. A toddler book that treats this seriously becomes a first object of deep attachment.
The first book stays with them.
N° 01What works for toddlers
Simple, not simplistic.
A picture book for a one-year-old follows different rules than one for a three-year-old. The focus at age one is recognition — single objects, clearly delineated, in colors the child can already name. Text is brief or absent; a single word per page is often enough.
At age two, the book becomes a first story book. Simple plot, recognizable main character, lots of repetition. By three, the picture book opens up: longer narrative, real conflict, characters who learn something by the end.
The best books in this span — Bruna, Oxenbury, the early Carle works — are carefully composed. Nothing feels accidental. Each spread is a small deliberate choice.
01
Board books (ages 1-2)
Thick board pages, rounded corners, laminated surface. Survives teeth, saliva, drops.
02
First story books (ages 2-3)
Simple plot, repeating refrain, consistent main character on every page.
03
Early picture books (age 3)
Full narrative arc, conflict and resolution, richer illustration with detail to return to.
04
Personalized toddler book
Your child as the hero — name on every page, family members in supporting roles.
05
Alphabet and counting
Concept books that teach letters, numbers, colors through illustration.
06
Bedtime books
Gentle, quiet, repetitive. Built for the wind-down at the end of the day.
N° 02Investment
Three ways to work together.
First board book
from $1,800
Simple 12–16 page board book with one word per spread.
- Cover illustration
- Up to 14 interior pages
- Simple shapes and primary colors
- Board-book print-ready PDF
- 1 revision round
Personalized toddler book
from $2,400
Board book or early picture book with your child as the main character.
- Character built from photos
- Up to 16 interior pages
- Child's name on every page
- Favorite objects woven in
- 2 printed board books
- 2 revision rounds
Family toddler book
from $3,600
First book with multiple family members — siblings, parents, pets.
- Multiple characters
- Family context
- Up to 20 interior pages
- Printed hardcover board book
- Full digital files
N° 03Questions
The answers we give most often.
- Why does a 16-page book cost this much?
- Page count is misleading. A 16-page board book requires the same character design, the same color decisions, and often more compositional care per spread than a longer book. The composition has to be flawless — in a toddler book there's no text to carry the load.
- Can we personalize for a child who doesn't speak yet?
- Especially then. The child's name, the colors of their room, their pet, their favorite stuffed animal — these are anchors the child recognizes before they can read. The first "That's me!" often happens before the first real word.
- How durable is the print?
- We print on laminated board with rounded corners. Survives saliva, teeth, hands, floor impact. We explicitly recommend against regular picture books for this age — they don't hold up.
- Isn't this too early for a real book?
- Many pediatricians recommend shared picture-book time from around 6 months. By age one, children actively point, laugh, recognize. A book designed specifically for this developmental stage often becomes a favorite object.
Start your book
The very first book.
Tell us briefly about the child — age, name, what they love. We reply within two working days with a first concept and a quote.