At Captain PillowBelly, we believe in making bedtime magical again — one global adventure at a time. And now, after months of storytelling, editing, and building our family-led creative brand, we’re preparing to publish our first three books on Amazon.

This blog post is a transparent look at how we’re doing it — the tools we’re using, the steps we’re following, and why self-publishing has never been more achievable for indie authors, especially families like ours.

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Why We’re Choosing Amazon KDP

We’re starting with Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) because it’s accessible, scalable, and gives us full control over our content. It’s also a practical entry point for families or creators who want to test ideas and build a library of titles without waiting for traditional publishers.

We’re creating picture books that can work as both eBooks (for tablets) and paperbacks — with vibrant illustrations, journal-type stories from that country, and plenty of warmth and curiosity.

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What’s Going in the First Launch?

We’re publishing several stories from our growing Captain PillowBelly universe. Probably one story per week (if we manage to keep the consistency – lol). These are beautifully illustrated tales, each based on a real country, culture, and local moment — from snorkeling in Mauritius to sushi feasts in Japan and a safari in Tanzania.

Each book includes:

• A full-color cover with country themes
• 10–15 pages of story and illustrations
• A local dish and greeting to introduce kids to global cultures
• A warm, gentle tone that fits any bedtime routine

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Our Publishing Checklist

If you’re looking to publish your own stories — whether as a parent, teacher, or independent creator — here’s the exact checklist we’re following:

✅ 1. Finalize and Export the Book Files

We created our books using Canva, which makes it easy to manage images, layout, and text. Each finished book is exported as:

• A PDF for print (used for paperback)
• A PNG set for Kindle eBook conversion
  We keep all files sized to 8.5×8.5 inches to meet Amazon’s square picture book format.

✅ 2. Design the Cover

We use a consistent layout: a similar header where he travels, a background from that country, and Captain PillowBelly in action. These are all built in Canva as well. The covers help readers immediately spot the cultural theme of each book.

✅ 3. Upload to Amazon KDP

We create a new book listing for each title and upload the manuscript, cover, and book details. Amazon guides you through pricing, print options, and previewing both Kindle and paperback formats.

✅ 4. Write the Metadata

This includes the book title, author name, description, categories, and keywords. We’re optimizing each listing with parent-friendly phrases like:

• “Global bedtime stories”
• “Gentle travel-themed books for kids”
• “Stories that teach kindness, curiosity, and culture”

✅ 5. Order a Proof Copy

Before going live, we are planning to order printed copies to check quality. Once approved, we’ll launch and link the books through our website, blog, and social media. You can imagine how excited our kids are to hold these books in their hands! And so are we to be honest… it’s been a long time drafting the stories.

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What Makes These Books Different?

There are thousands of children’s books on Amazon — but very few that bring together:

• Travel + Culture + Bedtime
• A consistent, friendly character like Captain PillowBelly
• Stories designed and selected by kids, for kids (our own daughters help pick every country!)
• A mission that goes beyond selling books — to build a whole bedtime movement for modern families

These aren’t just one-off books. They’re the beginning of a 100-title collection and an app that helps families explore the world together — through stories.

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What We’ve Learned (So Far)

We’re not professional authors or illustrators. We’re a family building something meaningful from scratch. And what we’ve learned is this:

• You don’t need permission to publish.
• You don’t need a big team to get started.
• You can ship faster by simplifying.
• Good stories, shared with love, always find their audience.

This first book drop is just the start. But we’re proud of what we’ve built — and excited to share it with the world.

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Follow Our Journey

If you want to see the books once they’re live, or follow our behind-the-scenes adventures, you can subscribe to our Substack newsletter or follow us on Instagram.

Thanks for cheering us on as we launch our first stories into the world — bedtime by bedtime, one gentle adventure at a time.

— The Captain PillowBelly Family