Interior file 'XXX.pdf' only has 18 page(s) but must have a minimum of 72

[E Allen]

I'm attempting to publish a children's book (18 pages) with Amazon's KDP self publishing but get "Interior file 'XXX.pdf' only has 18 page(s) but must have a minimum of 72". 

I'm exporting as 'pages' into a PDF file.
I can't find any help at the KDP site - so I thought I'd try here.
I know it is possible, because I did it once before - but can't seem to duplicate my previous success.

Can anyone lend their expertise here?

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

I thought children's books at KDP could have very low page counts, fewer than other categories. In checking, it looks as if as few as 24 pages are allowed, but one category — standard color interiors — requires at least 72.

https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201857950

You will need to go to premium color printing, and have at least 24 pages, somehow. KDP can be quite arbitary, but even at that, 18 pages is... a skimpy book. 🙂

[E Allen · Accepted solution]

Thank you James.
I changed to 'premium color printing', then added 6 blank pages to the end - and it accepted my file!
Oh, you may feel 18 pages is 'skimpy' but it has actually worked out quite well for reading to young children in the past.

This would be my wife's 12th children's book.

I appreciate your help! 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Well, speaking as an editor, publisher and father of six... by the time you have a title page and a copyright page, and maybe a proper colophon page with one more picture or story element on it, 12 leaves or 24 pages is about as small as most children's books get. If you've only got a dozen or so content pages, I think most (commercial) publishers would think that below a publishable/salable size. Maybe another story, or such, to give the property more 'value' — but that's just my opinion. I honestly might be a little honked off to find six blank pages in a copy I bought. But it's your production, and good luck with it!

[rob day · Accepted solution]

Hi @E Allen , The requirement seems to relate to the binding method--perfect binding needs a minimum number of pages in order to get the bulk needed for a spine. With fewer pages the binding would be saddle stitch.