Soft Cover Children’s Books: 5 Options to Enhance Durability

estimated reading time: 6 minutes

The majority of Children's Books are created with hardcover binding. This is because the rigidity of a hard cover helps a book withstand rough handling by children. However, the higher cost of hardcover books will often exceed the dollar amount many Children's Book authors have budgeted for their project.

Compared to hardcover books, softcover books are much more economically priced. Though often viewed as being less durable, softcover books can be enhanced with various features to boost their durability and extend their longevity.

By implementing some or all of the recommendations outlined below, you can substantially increase the durability of your softcover Children's Book project...

1. Use PUR Binding Adhesive

The manufacturing process for softcover books involves applying a strong adhesive to the spinal edge of a book's page block and then affixing it within a one-piece wraparound cover. The adhesive bonds the cover and pages together at the spine. After the adhesive cures, the three open sides of the book are neatly trimmed, creating edges that are clean and straight.

There are two primary types of hot-melt adhesives used to bind softcover books - Polyurethane Reactive (PUR) and Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA). PUR is a high-performance adhesive that outperforms traditional Ethylene Vinyl Acetate binding glue.

PUR has significantly better adhesion than EVA and bonds securely to virtually all printing substrates, including heavy cardstocks and recycled paper, as well as glossy stocks like UV-coated or laminated sheets.

PUR offers lasting durability and remains strong and flexible, even when an open book is pressed down firmly or the book is opened very wide. Plus, it is almost impossible to pull pages out of a softcover book bound with PUR.

As such, PUR is the perfect binding adhesive for children's books, which are often subject to the yanking of pages and other rough handling. Equally important, PUR is safe and non-toxic.

2. Upgrade to a Heavier Cover Stock

The cover of a book performs many functions. It provides the book's title and author information, it attracts attention through the use of color and design, and it adds structural integrity to the book.

However, the primary function of a book's cover is to protect the interior pages. The cover shields the pages from incurring physical damage and helps to preserve the book's condition over time.

Since softcover books are made with a cover formed from printed cardstock, you will almost always have a choice regarding which thickness of cardstock to use. Naturally, if your goal is to enhance the book's durability, you should choose one of the thicker cardstocks offered by your printing company.

Though the standard cover weight for a softcover book intended for use by adults may be 10pt (.010"), a softcover book intended for children should be thicker, such as 12pt (.012") or .14pt (.014"). Needless to say, a thicker cover will resist more wear and tear than a thinner cover, allowing the book to hold up better over time.

3. Choose Thicker Paper for the Interior Pages

Choosing a thicker weight of paper for the interior pages follows the same reasoning as using a heavier stock for the cover - it will stand up better to frequent use and extend the book's lifespan.

Though a book geared toward adults might commonly use a 60# or 70# paper stock for its pages, the pages of children's books should be thicker, such as 80# or 100#.

Thicker paper will provide more resistance to creasing, crumpling, and other forms of damage that might occur when the book's pages are handled by young children.

Of course, thicker paper is also stiffer. This can actually make it easier for small hands to grip and turn the pages without accidentally tearing them. Also, since most children's books are image-heavy, thicker pages will help prevent pictures and designs from showing through to the other side.

In addition to using a thicker paper for the pages, it is also recommended that the paper be a gloss coated stock. A gloss coated stock will not only enhance the vibrancy of the ink colors on each page, it will also add some resistance to dirt, smudges, and moisture.

4. Apply a UV Coating or Laminate to the Cover

When it comes to extending the life of a softcover children's book, a durable top coat applied to the cover is one of the most commonly chosen options. This is because a UV coating or Laminate will add a tough and resilient layer of protection to the book.

A UV coating is a polymer resin, applied in liquid form and then cured under UV light. It dries very hard and protects the ink and substrate from scuffs and scratches. Though not exactly waterproof, a UV coating will provide some resistance to light spills.

UV coatings are available in gloss, matte, and soft touch finishes. Of these three finish choices, gloss is by far the most popular choice for children's books. The slick surface of a gloss UV not only provides more stain resistance than its matte and soft touch counterparts, it yields a glass-like shine that really makes the ink colors "pop."

A Laminate refers to a thin plastic film that is bonded to the printing. Like a UV coating, laminate films are available with a gloss, matte, or soft touch finish. Also, just like with the UV coating, the gloss finish is the most popular laminate choice for the covers of children's books because of its slick feel, ultra-high sheen, and ability to make ink colors more deep and vibrant.

A laminate film offers the ultimate protection to the cover of a book. The surface is waterproof and spills and grime can be easily wiped off. Since it is made of plastic, the laminate film is extremely durable and wear-resistant. Laminates are available in a variety of thicknesses, including 1.5mil, 3mil, 5mil, and 10mil.

5. Round the Corners

Books with standard square corners have the potential to snag on objects or fabric, causing the corners to become bent or frayed. However, rounding the corners of a softcover book's cover and pages reduces the chance that the corners will become damaged from frequent use.

Rounded corners also distribute impact forces more evenly should a book be dropped or thrust against something. The curvature of a rounded corner minimizes the stress on any single point and prevents the cover and pages from becoming dog-eared and unsightly.

In addition to maintaining the professional appearance of a book, rounded corners also minimize the risk of a child being bumped by a sharp corner. Plus, the gentler lines provided by rounded corners can make a book more inviting and visually pleasing to young children, thus enhancing the reading experience.

Are you looking to print Children's Books that are both durable and affordable?

Hardcover books are a popular choice for children's books because they are durable and long-lasting. However, the hardcover format is rather expensive to produce.

Though not as hard-wearing, softcover books have long been the affordable alternative to hardcover books. Fortunately, by implementing some or all of the options outlined above, you can increase the durability of your softcover children's book project. By the way, these options will also enhance the perception of quality to a parent or other adult who is purchasing your book for a child.

Color Vision has been printing and binding all types of books for decades, so if you are looking for affordable printing services be sure to get in touch with us.

Just give us a call at 800-543-6299 and we will be happy to discuss your project. Or, use our easy Quote Request form to submit your specifications and we will send you a quote by email.

One more thing, because PUR adhesive is far superior to traditional EVA adhesive, Color Vision uses PUR exclusively in its softcover binding process. Even though we give you all the benefits of PUR, there is no additional charge for it.

As always, we hope to hear from you soon and look forward to assisting with your printing and binding needs!