How to Get Preorders for Your Next Book Release

And is it worth it or not?

In the kidlit space, I see some authors and illustrators doing a fantastic job at getting preorders, and others not so much. But does it even matter?

Some authors have successful book launches without offering preorder gifts.

Some authors offer exciting preorder gifts, and it doesn’t move the needle on sales.

So is it necessary for children’s book authors and illustrators?

Here’s the inconvenient truth about marketing. There is no direct path to success. And most strategies have an ambiguous return on investment.

Some preorder campaigns provide momentum for book sales.

And some don’t.

You must decide if it is interesting to you and worth your (limited) time and energy.

If you decide to try a preorder campaign, remember that your goal is to connect and serve readers. Not to become a billionaire. Or burn yourself out.

Think about your options (listed below) and decide if you want to try one or two.

Ready? Let’s talk about ways to get preorders!

Ask for Preorders in Your Newsletter

1. Ask for the preorder.
   Just ask for what you want.
   “Would you consider preordering my new book?" Preorders can make a huge difference to a book’s success.”
   “If you like _____ book, then you’ll love my book, _____. It’s _____ meets _____. “

   “Thank you for believing in me and believing in this story. Here’s the preorder link.”

   “Thanks for asking how you can support me. Please preorder the book here.”
   If you have signed copies at a local bookstore, ask that people preorder there.

2. Ask readers and friends to spread the word to their friends.

3. Share your live events that people can attend, where they can buy or preorder the book.

4. Not a preorder ask, but you also can ask folks to mark your book as “want to read” on Goodreads and review it on Amazon.
   For this, please give all the information and links to make it easy. Adding step-by-step directions for how to write a review is also helpful.
   For example: “Go to xyz link. Then scroll down to the reviews. On the left-hand side, click on “Write a customer review.” Write and publish. Thank you in advance!”

Offer Gifts for Preorders

Many authors offer free or low-cost opportunities or gifts in exchange for preorders.

These gifts can help motivate preorders.

Think about what you can give in exchange for preorders of your book. (That doesn’t cost a fortune.)

The photo above is what SimonKids made for Jashar Awan’s 2026 picture book, Loops. Stickers and a magnet! (These are not for preorders per se, but could be if he were paying for them himself.)

For Tova’s Sweet Solution, my April 2026 book, I am also considering stickers. Why? Because large stickers on water bottles and notebooks are free advertising!

Preorder gift/incentive ideas:

• Signed bookplates (or signed white shipping labels)

• Coloring pages

• Bookmarks

• Entry in a giveaway of books

• Stickers

• Magnet

• Craft instructions

• Writing or drawing prompts

• Poster of your art or a quote from the book

• Free or low-cost Zoom Q&A, writing lesson, or book club discussion (See how Suleika Jaouad did this for The Book of Alchemy.)

• A free school visit (Josh Funk did this for his September 2026 release!)

  

Ask for Preorders with School Visits

Ask schools to preorder your book during your book launch months. I’ve seen this work very successfully. Schedule these launch author visits over several months to make it manageable.

Why would you want to do this?

Because if you’re getting 50 preorders x 50 school visits, that’s 2500 books during a set time frame. You bet that will move the needle! Even if you only do 20 school visits with 20 preorders each, that’s still 400 books sold.

This strategy worked last year for writer Scott Reington with his middle grade book, The Last Dragon on Mars. He landed on the New York Times bestseller list and stayed there for months. (His book is remarkably good, which is also essential.)

Scott told me in an Instagram message, “I did visits starting September 18th with an October 1st launch. Visits from September 18th to December 2nd had sales funneling to launch week. Either as preorders or postorders. I’ve done an even wider range with past launches, too, but didn’t do it in this case because summer is kind of a wash with schools.

If you ask schools to preorder 25-75 books, it moves the needle when you’re thinking about earning out your advance. I’m not saying you’ll be a bestseller, but you are moving the needle.

(Well-known authors like Katherine Applegate can ask for upwards of 100 books per school visit. And she gets it, too, according to my bookstore contact here in Denver.)

Do you try to get preorders?

What’s your current strategy?

Leave a comment and share! Let’s crowdsource even more ideas.

Want to transform your school visits from basic to engaging and inspirational—so librarians tell each other how great you are?

Message me, melissa at imaginationsoup.net, to schedule a free 20-minute discovery meeting!