Help your child publish a real book of their own

A short illustrated children's book, written by your child, designed and printed properly, and listed on Amazon under their name. Done together, over a few weeks, with someone who has been through the same process with his own daughter.

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The story that started this

A few years ago my daughter Sophie wrote a story on a piece of paper. She was seven, and the story was about a unicorn who'd lost her horn. We liked it enough that we decided to publish it together as a real book, mostly to see if we could.

We did. The result is on Amazon today, alongside two other titles she's written since. The book sits in her school library. Her friends have read it. The look on her face the first time she held the printed copy is most of the reason this service exists.

What we'd build together

A real children's book from your child's story or idea. Around 24 to 32 pages, with simple illustrations, properly designed and typeset, with an ISBN, listed on Amazon under their name as the author. The kind of book they can take into school, share with grandparents, and keep on a shelf for the rest of their life.

You don't need to handle the writing, the editing, the design, the formatting, or anything to do with Amazon. I handle all of that. What your child needs is an idea (a story they want to tell, even a rough one) and an hour or two with me, in person or by video, to walk through it together.

The whole project usually takes a few weeks from first conversation to printed book.

What it actually changes

The book is the artefact. The thing that lasts is the moment your child realises something they imagined has become a real thing in the world that strangers can pick up and read. That moment doesn't go anywhere. It shapes how they think about themselves for years afterwards.

For most families this turns out to be:

A significant gift, often given for a birthday or end of school year

A confidence and self-image marker that outlasts the project itself

A keepsake the family revisits years later

Something the child might one day show their own children

Who this is for

Children with an idea for a story, even a rough one

Parents who want to give their child something they'll remember rather than something that ends up in a drawer

Families who like the idea of building something real together

Grandparents looking for a meaningful birthday or Christmas project for a grandchild

About me

I'm Stéphane, based in Stevenage. SPV Creative Press is the small publishing outfit I run, mostly from home. I started it after publishing Sophie's first book, when other parents started asking how we'd done it.

This isn't a faceless online service or an upload-your-PDF platform. I work directly with families, often in person, and the project is something we build together rather than something delivered to you.

Common Questions

My child has an idea but hasn't written anything down properly.

That's the normal starting point. Most children come to this with a half-formed idea, a few rough scribbles, or a story they've told you in the car. We work the rest out together over the first conversation, where I help your child get the shape of the story clear before we start building it into a book.

My child is young and can't really write or type yet.

They don't have to. The story can be told to me out loud, drawn on paper, scribbled in pencil, or recorded on your phone. I do the writing and the editing. Children as young as six can do this comfortably; for younger ones we'd talk first to make sure the timing is right.

What about the illustrations?

I work with an illustrator who brings your child's story to visual life. Your child describes what they want each scene to look like, often by sketching it roughly or pointing at things in other books they like, and the illustrator builds from there. If your child wants to do their own illustrations, that's also possible, and we work with what they create.

How much does it cost?

Prices start from £347 and final cost will be depend on any additional options you select.

Will the book be private or can anyone buy it?

The book is listed on Amazon, so technically anyone can buy a copy, but in practice almost no one does outside the family circle unless you actively promote it. Most families like that the book is publicly available (so a teacher, a relative, or a school librarian can order one without going through you). If you'd rather keep the listing more private, we can discuss options on the first call.

How to start

Send me a WhatsApp message or give me a ring. We'll talk for ten minutes about your child, the idea (or the possible idea), and whether this feels right for your family.

If it isn't the right thing for you, you'll come away from the chat with a clear view of what would suit, which is its own useful outcome.

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