How to reference a book in APA 7
A book reference in APA 7 has 5 parts. See them labelled on an example, then build your own and copy it.
- In your essay: (Author, year)
- Checked 21 October 2026
Pip tip: in KanBananza, right-click any page and choose “Save as a source”. Most of this is filled in for you.
The 5 parts
Author (Year). Title (Edition ed.). Publisher.
2 · DATE(2023). 3 · TITLEAttachment in early childhood (4 · EDITION2nd ed.). 5 · PUBLISHERNorthgate Press.
- 2 · DateThe year. In round brackets.On the back of the title page, by the © sign. Use the edition you read.
- 3 · TitleIn italics.On the title page, with any subtitle after a colon.
- 4 · EditionWritten like this: 2nd. Then “ed.”.On the title page or its back. Leave it out for a first edition.
- 5 · PublisherAs the source gives it.On the title page or the spine.
Two places, one source
Early bonds shape how children cope with new places (Okafor, 2023).
The author and the year, in brackets.Okafor, D. (2023). Attachment in early childhood (2nd ed.). Northgate Press.
The full reference, in A to Z order by surname.Build your reference
Fill in what you have. Anything still missing is highlighted. Nothing you type leaves this page.
What if…
Made by an organisation
Give the organisation’s name where the author goes.
Riverside Media Bureau. (2023). Attachment in early childhood (2nd ed.). Northgate Press.
In your essay: (Riverside Media Bureau, 2023)
No date
Write “n.d.” where the date goes.
Okafor, D. (n.d.). Attachment in early childhood (2nd ed.). Northgate Press.
In your essay: (Okafor, n.d.)
Two authors
Give both names, joined with “&”.
Green, A., & Patel, R. (2023). Attachment in early childhood (2nd ed.). Northgate Press.
In your essay: (Green & Patel, 2023)
Four or more authors
Name all four in the reference list. In your essay, give the first author and “et al.”.
Green, A., Patel, R., Okafor, D., & Lee, H. (2023). Attachment in early childhood (2nd ed.). Northgate Press.
In your essay: (Green et al., 2023)
Easy to get wrong
The title not in italics
NOT QUITEOkafor, D. (2023). Attachment in early childhood (2nd ed.). Northgate Press.
RIGHTOkafor, D. (2023). Attachment in early childhood (2nd ed.). Northgate Press.
Check your university’s version
Some universities and departments make small changes to APA. Your module handbook always wins.
This guide follows the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition.
Questions
How do I cite a book in the text?
Give the author and the year, in brackets: (Okafor, 2023). To point to one place in it: (Okafor, 2023, p. 81)
What if there’s no date?
Check the page or document again first. If there really is none, here’s how APA 7 sets it out: Okafor, D. (n.d.). Attachment in early childhood (2nd ed.). Northgate Press.
Is APA 7 the same at every university?
Some universities and departments make small changes to APA. Your module handbook always wins.
Referencing is easier as you go
Our step-by-step guides show how to keep your sources in order while you research and write, so the reference list is ready when you are.
Skip the typing next time
In KanBananza, right-click any page and choose “Save as a source”. The details are filled in for you, anything missing is flagged, and your reference list is made in your style. Harvard is free; the other styles come with Full Bananza.
These guides and KanBananza’s references are here to help, but they don’t replace your course’s own referencing guide: check your references against your handbook, and ask your tutor or library if you’re not sure. You’re responsible for your own work. Style names belong to their owners, who aren’t connected with KanBananza and don’t endorse it. See our terms.