A rough layout serves as a preliminary blueprint for a children's book, illustrating the initial arrangement of artwork, text, and key elements on each page. This phase provides authors, illustrators, and designers with a visual guide to structure and flow, allowing for essential storytelling dynamics to take shape. It helps identify potential issues in pacing, spacing, and interactivity, giving creators a clearer sense of how words and images will work together before moving on to detailed illustrations and final designs.