Good Stories Don't Grow on Trees
A Guide to Effective Costing of Storybooks in the Global South
Determining how much it costs to produce a children's story with high-quality writing, illustrations, and design is complicated and nuanced. There is no single method for producing a good story. Story types and levels differ; publishers can be not-for-profit or commercial; production can be in print, online, or both. Differing products and content development processes bring varying benefits and challenges. What is clear, however, is that good stories come with a price tag of one kind or another.
Understanding the real costs of storybook creation, production, and dissemination is an important component of the early literacy research that Neil Butcher & Associates (NBA) has been conducting. This research is relevant because decision-makers who commission early literacy resources should understand the cost drivers involved in children's story creation and value the role of local content producers, especially where they require that those resources carry open licenses.