How to reference a book in Chicago
A book footnote in Chicago has 5 parts. See them labelled on an example, then build your own and copy it.
- In your essay: A footnote, or (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, Title, Edition ed. (Publisher, Year).
, 2 · TITLEAttachment in Early Childhood, 3 · EDITION2nd ed. (4 · PUBLISHERNorthgate Press, 5 · DATE2023).
- 2 · TitleCapital letters for the main words (KanBananza adds them). In italics.On the title page, with any subtitle after a colon.
- 3 · EditionWritten like this: 2nd. Then “ed.”.On the title page or its back. Leave it out for a first edition.
- 4 · PublisherAs the source gives it.On the title page or the spine.
- 5 · DateThe year.On the back of the title page, by the © sign. Use the edition you read.
In your bibliography
The bibliography at the end gives the same source like this, with the surname first:
. 2 · TITLEAttachment in Early Childhood. 3 · EDITION2nd ed. 4 · PUBLISHERNorthgate Press, 5 · DATE2023.
Two places, one source
Early bonds shape how children cope with new places.1
A footnote number, after the full stop.1 David Okafor, Attachment in Early Childhood, 2nd ed. (Northgate Press, 2023).
The footnote gives the full details, at the bottom of the page.Using Chicago author-date instead?
Some courses use Chicago’s other form: the author and year in brackets in your text, and a reference list at the end. Here’s the same book:
. 2 · DATE2023. 3 · TITLEAttachment in Early Childhood. 4 · EDITION2nd ed. 5 · PUBLISHERNorthgate Press.
In your essay: Early bonds shape how children cope with new places (Okafor 2023).
Build your footnote
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, Attachment in Early Childhood, 2nd ed. (Northgate Press, 2023).
No date
Write “n.d.” where the date goes.
David Okafor, Attachment in Early Childhood, 2nd ed. (Northgate Press, n.d.).
Two authors
Give both names, joined with “and”.
Amara Green and Ravi Patel, Attachment in Early Childhood, 2nd ed. (Northgate Press, 2023).
Four or more authors
Give the first author, then “et al.”, which means “and others”.
Amara Green et al., Attachment in Early Childhood, 2nd ed. (Northgate Press, 2023).
Easy to get wrong
The title not in italics
NOT QUITEDavid Okafor, Attachment in Early Childhood, 2nd ed. (Northgate Press, 2023).
RIGHTDavid Okafor, Attachment in Early Childhood, 2nd ed. (Northgate Press, 2023).
Check your university’s version
Chicago has two forms, and departments choose one. Don’t mix them in one piece of work. Your course handbook always wins.
This guide follows The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition, in both its forms: notes and bibliography, and author-date.
Questions
What goes in the footnote?
The first time you cite it, the footnote gives the full details: David Okafor, Attachment in Early Childhood, 2nd ed. (Northgate Press, 2023). To point to one place in it, add that at the end: David Okafor, Attachment in Early Childhood, 2nd ed. (Northgate Press, 2023), 81.
What if there’s no date?
Check the page or document again first. If there really is none, here’s how Chicago sets it out: David Okafor, Attachment in Early Childhood, 2nd ed. (Northgate Press, n.d.).
Is Chicago the same at every university?
Chicago has two forms, and departments choose one. Don’t mix them in one piece of work. Your course 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.