Posted by : Why Children’s Authors in India Are Choosing Books Mantra for Affordable Book Publishing
Not long ago, publishing a children’s book in India was a dream only a few authors could afford. A picture book needs much more than a manuscript: it needs an illustrator, a designer who understands how children read, colour printing and a way to reach parents and schools. Hiring each of these separately could cost lakhs of rupees, and most traditional publishers accepted only a handful of children’s titles each year.
Books Mantra Publications was created to change that. As the children’s book brand of Clever Fox Publishing Private Limited, we focus only on books for young readers, and we have built a process that brings professional publishing within reach of first-time authors, parents, teachers and grandparents with a story to tell.
Why children’s book publishing used to be so expensive
- Illustration: every page of a picture book needs artwork, and commissioning a full set of illustrations from a freelancer was often the single biggest cost.
- Colour printing: large print runs were the only way to bring down the cost per copy, so authors had to pay upfront for hundreds or thousands of books.
- Design and layout: children’s books need careful page design, readable fonts and a cover that stands out on a crowded shelf.
- Distribution: getting into online stores, bookshops and schools was hard without a publisher behind you.
How Books Mantra makes it cost-effective
We bring every service an author needs under one roof, priced as simple packages. Our plans start at just ₹2,499, and every plan includes an ISBN and gives you 100% of the profit from your book. You can see every plan and service on our publishing packages page.
- In-house illustration and design: our illustrators create your characters, storyboard and pages, so you don’t have to find and manage freelancers yourself.
- Print on demand: books are printed as orders come in, so you don’t need to pay for a large print run before you sell a single copy.
- Built-in distribution: depending on your plan, your book is listed on Amazon, Flipkart, Kindle, Ziffy Bees, Google Books and more.
- Marketing support: from Amazon and Flipkart advertising to social media reels, book reviews and book fairs, our plans include marketing that helps your book find readers.
A rare specialist in children’s hybrid and self-publishing
India has many self-publishing companies, but very few that focus only on children’s books. Most treat a picture book like any other title. Children’s books are different: the words, pictures, page count and price all have to work for a young reader and the adult buying the book. Because we publish only for children, our whole team, from editors to marketers, understands what makes a child turn the page.
Clever Fox Funlab: toys that bring stories to life
Books Mantra has a sister brand, Clever Fox Funlab, our toys brand. Toys and books go hand in hand: children who love a character want to play with it, and parents who buy learning toys are looking for good books too. Clever Fox Funlab helps us reach families who care about play-based learning, and it gives our authors’ stories a wider, more playful audience.
Together with Ziffy Bees, where you can browse the Books Mantra store on Ziffy Bees, our family of brands helps children’s books reach the homes and schools where they belong.
Ready to publish your children’s book?
If you have a story waiting to be shared, there has never been a more affordable time to publish it. Create your free author account to get started, or explore our publishing packages to find the plan that fits your book.