Short answer: Paper should be selected around the way the child will use the book, the illustration style, the binding structure, the target price, and the evidence required by the destination market.
Decisions to make before requesting a quote
Age and use
Compare the available choices against use, appearance, durability, cost, proofing, production, and delivery requirements.
Artwork and color
Compare the available choices against use, appearance, durability, cost, proofing, production, and delivery requirements.
Opacity and weight
Compare the available choices against use, appearance, durability, cost, proofing, production, and delivery requirements.
Safety documentation
Compare the available choices against use, appearance, durability, cost, proofing, production, and delivery requirements.
A practical approval sequence
- Define the finished product and who will use it.
- Identify the choices that affect appearance, durability, cost, and freight.
- Choose proofs or samples that answer specific risks.
- Record approved specifications before bulk production.
- Inspect packing and delivery requirements as part of the product—not as an afterthought.
What to send a printer
Provide finished size, page count or box dimensions, materials if known, quantity tiers, destination, target date, artwork status, sample needs, and reference products. If a decision is still open, describe the result you want rather than guessing a technical specification.