Front matter is the term used for the information and pages that proceed the body text of a book. This material begins as the first printed page and ends before chapter one. There is far more detailed information about front matter available and should be searched out when creating your book layout. Below are listed the more common elements that we see in the books that we produce. They are listed in the order in which they should appear in the layout and unless noted otherwise, all elements begin on a right side page.

Half Title Page - This is a page with the title of the book and nothing else.

Frontispiece - A left page illustration that precedes (faces) the title page. Not very common but is still used from time to time.

Title Page - Includes the full book title, subtitle and author and can include the editor, illustrator, publisher and so on.

Edition Notice - A left page, sometimes called the copyright page. This page contains technical and legal information about the book including; copyright notice, legal notices, publication info, printing history, catalog information and ISBN number.

Dedication Page

Table of Contents

Foreword - Written by someone besides the author of the book. Generally about a relationship between the author of the book and the author of the foreword.

Preface or Introduction - An introduction of the book written by the book’s author.

Acknowledgements - A list of those that helped the author in the creation of the book through editorial, financial, moral or technical support.

Prologue - Similar to a preface but written by the author in the voice of a character in the book.