According to their website, "Albert Whitman & Company currently has an open submissions policy. We will read and review un-agented manuscripts and proposals for picture books, middle-grade fiction, and young adult novels. Please read (our) instructions carefully. We will not review any submissions that do not follow these guidelines."
For more information, click here:
https://www.albertwhitman.com/submission-guidelines-for-unrepresented-authors/
For more information, click here:
As promised, here is the first in a series of posts about publishers who accept submissions of kidlit manuscripts from un-agented authors. Allow me to introduce... Flash Light Press! According to their website, "Flashlight Press books explore and illuminate the touching and humorous moments of family situations and social interactions through captivating writing and outstanding illustrations.”
For more information,
please visit:
https://flashlightpress.com/submission-guidelines/
#picturebookpublisher #unsolicitedsubs #unagentedauthor #pbpublisher #kidlitpublisher #SEL #family #relationships #grandparents #community #communication
My friend, and brilliant kidlit author, Jen Swanson writes the most fabulous NF books for younger audiences. And she teaches about it! Here is a link to one of her (many) posts on the subject:
For more, head to her website at:
Happy News! Happy News! PW just announced the sale of my picture book, GOODNIGHT SCHOOL, to Union Square Kids, with Cori Doerrfeld illustrating. I am over the moon excited for this two-book deal, and grateful to FLSCBWI for all their support. Yay!
According to their website: " Holiday House is a publisher of children’s books only. We specialize in
quality hardcovers, from picture books to young adult, both fiction and
nonfiction. We publish children’s books for ages four and up. We do not publish
mass-market books, including, but not limited to, pop-ups, activity books,
sticker books, coloring books, or licensed books."
For more information, click here:
https://holidayhouse.com/faqs/
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When I was 8 years old, I met James Howe at the local library. He wrote some of my favorite books, HOWLIDAY INN and BUNNICULA. Our local newspaper covered the event and snapped my photo, describing me as “an author of sorts.” I still have the books that he graciously signed, and I am still a super fan of librarians and authors everywhere.
According to their website: "We publish books for children ages zero to twelve. We are looking for the following:
Middle-grade fiction, as well as nonfiction books, for kids ages eight to twelve
Fiction chapter books, as well as nonfiction books, for kids ages six to ten
Fiction and narrative nonfiction picture books for kids ages three to eight
Board books for kids ages zero to three
To support our mission, we only look for stories that fall into one or more of these categories:
1. Appreciation of nature, conservation, environmental stewardship, science
2. Social/Emotional learning: empathy, resilience, emotional intelligence, creative problem solving
In addition:
We are open to various forms of storytelling, including graphic novels.
If you are submitting a nonfiction picture book manuscript, note that we are only looking for narrative nonfiction manuscripts. Nonfiction material must be suited to supplement a school curriculum in some way and must include informative back matter."
For more information, click here:
According to their website: "Thank you for your interest in becoming a Page Street author. We publish young adult (YA) fiction (for ages 12 and up), in all genres, and a variety of nonfiction books in such categories as cooking, sports, science, nature, interior design, crafts, and parenting. We also publish picture books in all genres for ages 4-8 with particular focus on new talent, artist-led narratives, engaging story arcs, and visually driven concepts. We do not publish board books, early readers, chapter books, or middle grade at this time."
For more information, click here:
https://www.pagestreetpublishing.com/submission-guidelines
#picturebook #unsolicitedmanuscript #pbmanuscript #publisher #YAfiction #newauthor #authorillustrator #artistled #strongstoryarc #engagingstory #visuallydriven #picturebookart #illustratorwriter
According to their website: "We accept all manuscript submissions and have no specific requirements for submitting at this time. You can submit manuscripts digitally via email editor@flowerpotpress.com or mail in a copy of your manuscript to our design office."
For more information, click here:
"It’s a challenge to write an informational book in rhyme without the word choices seeming forced, but this one succeeds. With text that flows naturally; it begs to be read aloud. The rhyming phrases are accompanied by companion facts that appear as scraps of paper taped onto the pages. While there are many other insect books, this one employs a distinct concept. The work of each of the bugs being considered is compared to different jobs humans may have. Many of the connections are especially inventive and surprising. Bailey writes “rain or shine, sleet or snow, it’s one big bug world on the go!” In this way, she shows that they are like postal workers who do their work in all kinds of weather. She compares fireflies to park rangers, as both send out protective warnings. Excellent for vocabulary building, a lot of strong words, such as chomp, chew, croon, dance, trek and trap, stand out in contrasting colors. Eldridge has constructed scenes using real environmental materials like sticks, leaves, and dirt, employing a variety of craft materials to sculpt the bugs and the two inquisitive characters. Back matter includes additional fun facts. VERDICT A worthwhile purchase for collection seeking to expand their insect resources or informational books in rhyme."
"Rhyming couplets meet larger-than-life creatures … How could a bug lover not appreciate two dung beetles who seem to be conversing across their ball of poop? Beyond its three-dimensional flora and fauna, the art includes two wide-eyed, observant girls, both brown-skinned. ... Lively affirmation for budding entomologists."
Here is a fabulous article I wish had been available way back in 2010!
For more information, please visit:
https://www.freespirit.com/Submission-Guidelines#Children%E2%80%99s%20and%20Teen%E2%80%99s%20Books
#picturebookpublisher #unsolicitedsubs #unagentedauthor #pbpublisher #kidlitpublisher #SELpublisher #selfhelpublisher
According to their website, "Charlesbridge publishes high-quality books for young people with a goal of creating lifelong readers and learners. We believe that books for children should offer accurate information, promote a positive worldview, and embrace a child’s innate sense of wonder and fun. To this end, we seek new voices, new visions, and new directions in children’s literature. We are especially interested in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) voices and other perspectives that have been traditionally underrepresented in publishing. Charlesbridge publishes fiction and nonfiction board books, picture books, early readers, middle-grade fiction and nonfiction (ages 8–12), and young adult novels (ages 12+). Our nonfiction tends to focus on nature, science, math, social studies, biography, history, and the arts. In both fiction and nonfiction, we are committed to reflecting and celebrating our diverse world. To find out if your book is a good match for us, get to know our program by downloading our catalog or visiting www.charlesbridge.com. These guidelines are for informational purposes only and do not constitute a solicitation of any manuscript, artwork, or other material. Submission of any materials shall be done at the author/illustrator's own risk."
For more information, click here:
Whenever I write a new PB I always also draft a little blurb to go along with the story. I do this even when my manuscripts are very, very rough because it helps me focus on my main idea. I am easily distracted and will often - SQUIRREL! Oh yea, and just like the main story, my blurb gets edited over and over again.
Since drafting blurbs (and pitches and synopsis) is one of my favorite author "hacks" for creating a strong MS, I was thrilled to come across the following blog post by author Stef Gemmill. She brilliantly explains the difference between these itty bitty - but oh so important - word piles.
https://www.stefgemmill.com/blog/2021/2/15/pitches-vs-synopsis-vs-blurb
