FAQ CUSTOM PUBLISHING
About Serving Books
Q: What is Serving Books?
Serving Books is a full-service book producer dedicated to creating, curating and distributing affordable, culturally rich children’s books in many languages for nonprofit organizations.
Q: What is the difference between creating books and curating books?
Creating Books:
We partner with nonprofits to develop their own custom books from start to finish. Our team handles the heavy lifting—guiding organizations through writing, editing, design, illustration, translation, manufacturing, and, when needed, warehousing and distribution. This gives nonprofits the ability to create high-quality, mission-aligned books at an affordable cost.
Curating Books:
We also curate books for nonprofit organizations. This means we search for existing books across all publishing sources to hand-select titles that meet the developmental, cultural, and programmatic needs of each partner. We provide a thoughtful assortment of books to choose from, and we offer optional warehousing and pick-pack-ship services to streamline distribution.
Q: Who do you work with?
We partner exclusively with organizations that share our mission of improving literacy and supporting families from birth to age five.
Publishing Process
Q: How does custom publishing work?
It’s simple! We guide you every step of the way—from concept to finding the perfect author and illustrator to everything in between (editing, design, translations, production, manufacturing, etc.). We can also warehouse and distribute your books. Yup, one-stop-shop! We collaborate with you throughout the entire process to ensure your book aligns with your mission and meets the needs of the communities you serve.
Q: Do we need to have a manuscript ready?
Not at all. Some partners bring us finished manuscripts, while others come with an idea or just a desire to create their own book. Our team does the rest!
Q: How long does the process take?
Timelines vary depending on the scope of the project.
Q: Can we include our logo or branding?
Absolutely! We can design your book with your logo, branding, and messaging so that families know it came directly from your organization. It's your book!
Book Features
Q: What kinds of books do you create?
We specialize in board books, picture books, beginning readers, and interactive formats - designed for babies, toddlers, and young children.
Q: Are your books available in bilingual editions?
Yes! We have full translation services. We translate books in to many languages including: Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Dari, Pashto, Mandarin/Chinese, Lingala, Swahili, Arabic and so many more!! Families feel valued and excited to get a book in their native language.
Ordering & Costs
Q: How much does custom publishing cost?
Pricing depends on many factors like print quantity, book trim, page count, book format, translations, etc. We’ll provide a clear quote before any project begins.
Q: What is the minimum order quantity?
We work with you to produce a quantity that is comfortable for your organization.
Getting Started
Q: How do we begin?
It’s easy! Just reach out to connect@servingbooks.com and we’ll set up a call to walk you through the process.
The right book—affordable, relevant, and designed with purpose—can nourish a child’s mind just like food nourishes the body. Our team brings decades of experience in early childhood education and children’s publishing and a heart for getting great books in the hands of ALL kids.
We'd love to work with you to bring your book to life!