How to Create and Sell an AI Kids Question Book on Amazon KDP Using Claude Code—Complete Automation
A new AI-generated children's book on Amazon is just two months old, yet its bestseller rank suggests it is selling up to 11,000 copies per month. At an estimated royalty of $13.33 per sale, this single book could be generating between $84,000 and over $151,000 monthly. The book is sold through Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), Amazon's self-publishing service where creators upload AI-generated book PDFs, Amazon prints and ships each copy when ordered, and royalties flow back to the creator after printing costs are deducted. This guide covers the complete process of creating a similar book using Claude Code to automate everything from niche research through image generation, book assembly, cover design, and Amazon listing optimization.
Step 1: Find a Low-Competition Niche
The first step is identifying a topic with proven demand but no direct competition. Start by asking Claude in chat mode to research popular and trendy topics for children aged 6 to 12. Claude produces a research report with niche ideas. Take each idea and search Amazon to see what already exists.
For example, searching Amazon for generic children's encyclopedia question books reveals many options, each earning thousands of dollars monthly. Searching for "kids encyclopedia question books" themed specifically around "horses" reveals generic popular encyclopedia books and generic popular horse fact books—but no encyclopedia question books themed specifically to horses. This gap means a book on this topic would be unique on Amazon, with no direct competitors. When parents of horse-loving children search for books like this, the book would appear at the top of results, making free search traffic much easier to obtain.
Step 2: Generate the Book's Question Content
Ask Claude to brainstorm 130 different "why" questions that children might ask, themed specifically around the chosen niche. Claude produces a list of questions. Review them, provide feedback for improvements, and let Claude rewrite the questions. Make final tweaks to produce the definitive list.
Step 3: Set Up Claude Code With an Image Generator
Claude has two versions: the browser-based chat interface and the downloadable desktop application called Claude Code. The image generation process requires Claude Code, which is the coding AI agent only accessible through the installed desktop version.
Claude does not have a native built-in AI image generator. The solution is Hexfield, an AI image and video generation platform that recently added Claude Code Agent integration. After creating a Hexfield account, open the integration page, select CLI and Claude Agent, and copy the three lines of code provided. Paste them sequentially into Claude Code. The first line installs Hexfield. The second signs Claude into the Hexfield account. The third installs Hexfield skills. Once complete, Claude Code can generate images and videos using any model available in Hexfield.
Step 4: Create a Reference Image
The best results come from first creating a reference image manually to serve as a style guide. Open Nano Banana Pro inside Hexfield and manually prompt it to create a sample page. Generate multiple variations. Select the best one, then use it as a reference image to generate modified versions with specific adjustments. Download the final reference image.
Step 5: Generate All Book Pages Automatically
Upload the reference image to Claude Code. Tell it the file name and folder location. Explain that it should use Hexfield with Nano Banana Pro to create black and white images in a 3:4 aspect ratio, one image per question. Paste in the complete list of questions and submit.
Claude Code takes over. It runs the Hexfield skill, checks that it's working, and creates a test image. Review the test to confirm it matches the reference. Once confirmed, Claude asks for permission to generate all remaining images. Grant permission, step away, and let Claude work. The entire process takes approximately 15 minutes. Claude then checks all images for failures, fixes any issues, and saves everything to the computer and the Hexfield account.
Step 6: Assemble the Book PDF Automatically
Place all generated images into a single folder on the computer. Start a new Claude Code session. Tell it the folder name and location. Explain that it needs to create an 8.5 by 11-inch children's book. Specify exactly what the book should include: a contents page, a foreword, a copyright notice, all images turned into pages with white space removed and images placed within printing margins, and a closing. Also specify grayscale output. Claude Code takes over and assembles the complete PDF.
Claude asks for the book name and author name during the process, providing placeholder options if needed. A pen name is perfectly acceptable on Amazon. If any issues arise—such as duplicate pages—Claude can modify and regenerate the PDF, adjusting page numbers accordingly. The final PDF, once uploaded to Amazon KDP, shows all content fitting within margins with images perfectly matched to their pages.
Step 7: Generate the Book Cover
Amazon KDP requires a cover PDF with very specific measurements. Use Amazon's cover template calculator—searchable on Google—to generate a template. Enter the book's specifications (page count, trim size, paper type), and Amazon produces a downloadable template with print margins in both PDF and PNG formats. Download both. Create a new folder with the templates and include a screenshot of a similar book's front and back cover for design inspiration.
In Claude Code, explain that it will create a book cover using Nano Banana Pro with Hexfield. Provide the book title and author pen name. Explain the folder location containing all images and templates. Describe the desired design elements—color palette, inspiration from the uploaded screenshots, and instructions to leave the barcode space empty since Amazon adds barcodes automatically. Ask for text on the back cover.
Claude generates the front cover first, then the back cover, then combines them into a single PDF matching the template dimensions perfectly. Request multiple variations. Review the options. For the preferred design, ask Claude to check for glitches and generate additional versions with the title on the spine. Claude checks the cover, makes edits, generates spine variations, and stitches them into the existing cover images. Download the final cover PDF.
Step 8: Upload and Optimize for Amazon KDP
Sign up for Amazon KDP—it's free. Create a new paperback book. Enter the book title and, critically, a subtitle optimized with keywords. This is where the niche research pays off. Amazon's search algorithm reads subtitles to identify which books match customer search queries. Use Claude chat mode to create a subtitle packed with keywords that customers use when searching for books in the niche, ensuring the algorithm ranks the book highly in search results.
Enter the author name or pen name. Use Claude chat mode to write an SEO-optimized description that includes additional search phrases customers might use. Select the book's primary category and up to two subcategories. Add keywords—another opportunity to include terms the target audience searches for. Ask Claude for keyword suggestions, explicitly instructing it to avoid copyrighted terms, trademarked terms, and author names.
Obtain a free ISBN barcode through KDP if needed. Choose the paper and cover type—glossy is the most popular for children's books. Upload the manuscript PDF and cover PDF. Honestly disclose AI usage—Amazon has stated they are not penalizing AI-generated books; they track this for internal data purposes. Preview the book, checking for errors in both the manuscript and cover. If issues exist, Claude Code can fix them and new files can be uploaded.
Set pricing. A common strategy is starting low, such as $9.99, then increasing once consistent sales are established. Enable expanded distribution. Click publish.
