The latest children's plastic books highlight pages with pop-up sections and multifunction aspects.

China makers of children’s plastic books are incorporating innovative elements to promote the category.

	Shanghai Longbai’s model LB-3A039 children's book is made of 0.18mm-thick 6P PVC. OEM orders are accepted.

The latest releases come in novelty cartoon character- or animal-shaped pages, and a number even employ pop-up sections. The latter includes elevated cutouts and compartments that can be opened.

Manufacturers provide multifunction models as well. The leaves on several EVA foam versions may be taken apart and reassembled similar to jigsaw puzzles. Moreover, these pieces sometimes double as craft materials for DIY projects.

Because plastic books from China often target users below 3 years old, many serve as bath accompaniments and early educational tools. Among the typical subject matters are numbers, letters, basic words, pictures and fairy tales.

Products are mainly available in PVC or EVA sheets, or EVA foam. The first two are typically printed then attached to a 1.2 to 3mm sponge. The edges are sealed with high-frequency welding machines before the pages are cut into shape. Square 10x10 or 15x15cm versions are conventional.

As regards EVA foam releases, very few makers are capable of printing multicolor images on the material. Most companies therefore opt to put the pictures and text on paper, which is later adhered to the synthetic.

Other companies offering EVA foam variants employ precision laser-cutting machines to create thousands of shapes such as numbers, letters, geometric figures and animals. These are then embedded onto pages that have matching hollow spaces.

China-made children’s plastic books are between $0.25 and $2. Prices are determined by the printing process and materials used, the number of pages and design complexity.

Regular single-color silk-screened patterns are a less expensive option, suitable for symmetric solid-toned sheets. Costlier CMYK versions are multihued and can even provide gradient effects.

In terms of materials, EVA is generally valued higher than PVC. Granules in the former are $4,000 to $4,200 per ton, while PVC counterparts are $1,080 to $1,400. Further, one page in EVA and PVC sheet is $0.25 and $0.10, respectively. A single 1.5 to 8mm-thick EVA foam leaf is $0.10 to $0.25.

Rates, however, vary when the different processes and inputs are combined. For instance, a 10x10cm EVA book with eight pages and single-color silk-screened graphics is $0.90. Six-leafed PVC models that measure 15x15cm and boast CMYK prints are between $0.35 and $0.50.

In general, low-end releases are $0.25 to $0.50. Most are in 3P PVC sheets, with some utilizing 1.5 to 2mm EVA foam. Midrange models are quoted at $0.55 to $1. They are made of 6P PVC or EVA sheets, or 2 to 5mm-thick EVA sponge.

High-end children’s plastic books are $1.50 to $2, and boast laser-cut, pop-up and multifunction DIY craft versions.

Product gallery

Product gallery Fuqing Shengde Plastic & Rubber Products Co. Ltd Model: SDL052-001 MOQ: 5,000 pieces Delivery: 35 days Description: EVA foam, coated paper; 11 pages; easy to clean; environment-friendly, nontoxic, acid-free; 16.5x21.2x4cm; 500g ± 10g; in various shapes, colors; one piece per plastic bag or custom packaging Fuqing Shengde Plastic & Rubber Products Co. Ltd Model: SDL075-002 MOQ: 5,000 pieces Delivery: 35 days Description: EVA foam, coated paper; 16.5x21.2x4.1cm; multicolor; one piece per OPP bag; 24 bags per 51.5x23.2x35.8cm carton; EN 71 Shanghai Longbai Plastic Toys Co. Ltd Model: LB-3A038 MOQ: 5,000 pieces Delivery: 35 days Description: 0.18mm-thick 6P PVC; 14x14cm; OEM orders accepted; CE, EN 71 1/2/3 Shanghai Longbai Plastic Toys Co. Ltd Model: LB-3A039 MOQ: 5,000 pieces Delivery: 35 days Description: 0.18mm-thick 6P PVC; 12x13.5cm; OEM orders accepted; CE, EN 71 1/2/3 Teemway Industrial Ltd Model: TW-YO-002 MOQ: 10,000 pieces Delivery: 30 days Description: 5mm EVA foam; 350g cardboard; 30x16x3.7cm; 12 titles available; custom designs accepted; one piece per OPP shrink pack, 110 pieces per 82x61.5x45cm carton packaging Teemway Industrial Ltd Model: TW-YO-003 MOQ: 10,000 pieces Delivery: 30 days Description: 5mm EVA foam; 350g cardboard; 30x16x3.7cm; 12 titles available; custom designs accepted; one piece per OPP shrink pack, 110 pieces per 82x61.5x45cm carton packaging Note: This article "Novelty features update the children's plastic book line" was originally published by Global Sources, a leading business-to- business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with China manufacturers and India suppliers, providing essential sourcing information to volume buyers through our e-magazines, trade shows and industry research. All price quotes in this report are in US dollars unless otherwise specified. FOB prices were provided by the companies interviewed only as reference prices at the time of interview and may have changed. Disclaimer: All product images are provided by the companies interviewed and are for reference purposes only. Those product images featuring products with trademarks, brand names or logos are not intended for sale. We, our affiliates, and our affiliates' respective directors, officers, employees, representatives, agents or contractors, do not accept and will not have any responsibility or liability for product images (or any part thereof) which infringe on any intellectual property or other rights of a third party.