A binding specifically made for kids’ picture books is a juvenile picture book binding. Publishers use this binding more durable and sturdy than regular binding when they make books for children who are likely to enjoy them. Cloth reinforces the spine of the juvenile picture book binding, making it more resilient. Rather than glued together, sewn pages help keep the book intact longer.
Why might publishers choose a juvenile picture book binding for a children’s publication? For starters, it can take more punishment from wear and tear. Second, the sleeker look can mean marketing advantages that lead to better sales. Finally, producing one could be costlier, showing how much care goes into each volume.
The idea behind creating such bindings is to make them flexible enough that young readers won’t destroy or damage them while ensuring they’re tough enough for repeated use. Page-turning should feel effortless—a flat open makes viewing images easier—and any rounded corners must protect against cuts or bruises. Of course, you’d also like all those pages to stay bound together; hence, reinforced spines.
Juvenile picture book-binding exists so that people can ensure books look great and last long when published. Kids’ publications typically get subjected to more physical abuse than most others because of their target audiences. It’s possible that using said bindings will drive up production costs, but it shows how much effort has gone into ensuring quality anyway.