How to Set Up Pre-Orders for a Self-Published Picture Book (US Guide)

Most self-published picture books launch to silence because every bit of interest arrives on one day and then fades. Pre-orders change that. They let a parent, grandparent, teacher or librarian say "yes" the moment they hear about your book, weeks before it exists, and they give you a real number to plan your print run and launch events around.

Here is how to set up pre-orders for a self-published picture book in the US, which channels to use, and how to actually get people to order.

1. Decide what a pre-order is for

Before you touch any settings, be clear about why you want pre-orders. For most picture book authors it's one or more of these:

• Capturing interest early, so the people who see your cover reveal can buy then, not "later".
• Knowing your numbers, so you can order the right quantity of author copies for signed orders and events.
• Giving bookstores and libraries time to order ahead of your launch date.
• Making launch week busy, with copies arriving in families' homes at the same time.

Your goal decides your channels. If signed copies for local families matter most, your own order form may do more than an Amazon listing.

2. The three main ways to take pre-orders

Amazon KDP

KDP has long offered pre-orders for eBooks and now supports pre-orders for print formats too. You set a future release date and upload final files by KDP's deadline before release. The rules on lead times, deadlines and penalties for missing them change from time to time, so read the current KDP Help pages before you commit to a date. Never set a release date you aren't confident you can hit.

IngramSpark and bookstores

If you distribute through IngramSpark, you can set a future publication and on-sale date. That gives bookstores and libraries a window to order through their usual wholesale accounts before release. This is the route that matters for independent bookstores, which generally prefer to order through distribution rather than buy from Amazon. Pair it with an Advance Information sheet (sometimes called a sell sheet) so buyers have your ISBN, price, format, age range, release date and a short pitch on one page.

Signed pre-orders, direct from you

For picture books, this is often the most profitable route. Offer signed and dedicated copies through a simple order form or your own online store, or partner with a local independent bookstore that takes pre-orders and hosts your launch event, with you signing the copies there. Families love a named dedication, and these orders are ideal gifts.

3. Pick a release date that works for buyers

Picture books are bought around moments: back to school, the holidays, a new baby, summer reading. Work backwards from the moment your book fits. A realistic pre-order window for most self-published authors is around six to twelve weeks: long enough to build interest, short enough that people don't forget they ordered. Check that your proof copy is approved and your files are final before you announce a date.

4. An 8-week pre-order plan

• Week 8: Pre-order links live. Announce to your email list and personal network first; they are your most likely early buyers.
• Week 7: Cover reveal post with the pre-order link. Show a spread from inside the book, not just the cover.
• Week 6: Send your Advance Information sheet and a short pitch to local independent bookstores and your library system.
• Week 5: Invite early readers and reviewers so reviews are ready close to release.
• Week 4: Contact schools about launch-season visits. A visit with a parent order form turns one booking into many signed pre-orders.
• Week 3: Share the story behind the book: why you wrote it and who it's for.
• Week 2: Remind people of the signed-copy deadline. A real deadline (for example, the date you order author copies) is honest urgency.
• Week 1: Final reminder, launch event details, and thank-you messages to everyone who ordered.

For the full countdown beyond pre-orders, see the 90-day picture book launch checklist.

5. Common pre-order mistakes

• Announcing too early. A pre-order that runs for six months loses momentum.
• Only sharing an Amazon link. Bookstores and schools need their own route in.
• No reason to order now. Signed copies, a dedication or a launch event give people one, without fake scarcity.
• Not tracking. Keep a simple list of every order, channel and contact so you know what worked for your next book.

Where the Picture Book Launch Kit helps

The Picture Book Launch Kit includes a 90-day pre-launch plan and a day-by-day launch week, plus fill-in templates that cover every step of a pre-order campaign:

• 90-Day Calendar: map your pre-order window, cover reveal and outreach dates in one place.
• Advance Information Sheet and Bookshop Pitch: give bookstores and libraries what they need to order ahead.
• Parent Letter & Order Form: collect signed, dedicated pre-orders through schools.
• Early Reader Invitation and Press Release: line up reviews and local coverage before release.
• Sales Tracker and Outreach Tracker: see which channels brought in orders.

It's a 47-page instant PDF with 18 templates, written for both US and UK authors. See everything inside the Launch Kit, or if you're planning school visits as part of your launch, read our school visit email template next.

Just getting started? Download the free Picture Book Launch Checklist and work through the essentials first.