According to American Book Production, the number of children’s titles published in 2009 was 22,395. The total number of books published in 2009 was 288,355 traditionally published and 764,000 self-published, so children’s books were about 7.6% of total books published with traditional publishers. In 2010 the number of children’s titles published was 20,100.
Children’s books usually have a longer shelf life than their adult counterparts, and Christian books have a longer shelf life than their secular counterparts. Many favorite children’s books have outlasted the life span of their authors: Black Beauty (1877), Heidi (1880), Treasure Island (1883), and Little Women (1868) are excellent examples.
Do you know who buys children’s books? 85% of the buyers are women 25-49. These books must be written for Mom as well as for Brianna and Lance. Also, girls will do what appeals to boys, and they will read about boys, but boys won’t read about girls for the most part, nor will they be interested in feminine activities. Know your audience.