Type the contents of the book in a word processing program on your computer. Format the pages in whatever style is appropriate for the book you are creating. If you would like a 5-by-8-inch book, format your pages to be 5 inches by 8 inches. You will also need a margin of 1/2 inch to 1 inch from the top, right, left and bottom of each page. Books usually are printed in a font from 12 to 14 points.
Proofread the book for grammar and spelling errors, then have someone from outside the family--perhaps a friend or colleague--read it over for mistakes.
Convert the pages into a portable document file (PDF) format. Most print-on-demand publishers accept only this type of format. Download a free program (see Resources) that will transfer your document into PDF format. You can then view your finished document using a program such as Adobe Reader, Foxit or OpenOffice.
Compare print-on-demand publishers and choose one based on the appearance of their books, customer service and their per-book price. View the forums or feedback sections on each publisher's website and note any difficulties that people are having with the publisher's services. Once you choose a publisher, enter the name of your project and choose the characteristics of your book. You can input the desired size, as well as the number of pages and whether you want it to be in hardcover.
Upload the PDF file of the book to the publisher's website. Use the publisher's free, online cover creation program to create a book cover with your child. If your publisher does not have a cover program, find someone who will create a cover for you. Most print-on-demand forums are full of people who work in related fields, so it should be easy to find someone willing to create a cover for your book for a reasonable fee.
Submit your project for approval. Once the book is approved, you can order a proof copy to preview. Approve the proof copy after checking that it's to your satisfaction, then put the book up for sale on the publisher's website and order copies for friends and family members. Each time a book is ordered, the publisher prints a copy and takes care of the purchase order and the shipping.