Children Book Publishers

Children Book Publishers are always on the hunt for the next Harry Potter. Read what they are looking for and which online publishers may actually give you a better shot.

Guidelines for What Children Book Publishers Want

If you want to be a successful writer of books for children, book publishers aren’t going to come to you. You have to seek them out, tailor your product to them, and play by their rules. This is one of the least fun parts of the writing process, but unless you’re content to write only as a hobby, it’s essential. Look up what children book publishers want, and follow their instructions exactly. If you don’t, your manuscripts will get sent back to you with form rejection letters, which is never fun.

So, if you want to appeal to that reader, keep these things in mind.

1. Make your book editor-friendly: When your book finally makes its way to the desk of an editor at a children book publisher, there are certain things that the editor is going to automatically cross out. After all, this is children’s writing, so the fewer words the better. Go through your manuscript, and get rid of any words that don’t add to the content. Then, when the editor sees your work, she’ll see a book that doesn’t need much polishing, which greatly helps your chances.

2. Title page: First of all, every page of your manuscript should have your last name along with a page number in the upper right corner. Some children book publishers request something different, though, so pay attention to what they say. And for your title page, provide your name, your telephone number and email, your address, and the word count of the story. In the middle, place the title of your work in capital letters.

3. Cover letter: You should include a cover letter, unless the company specifically says they don’t want one. Writing cover letters is one of the most difficult part of the process. You want to present yourself as intelligent and serious, but you don’t want to sound desperate or overselling. Don’t suck up to the company; they get that a lot, and it doesn’t impress them. Even if you’ve read every book they’ve ever published, that’s what everyone says, so it’s not going to earn you any points. Keep it simple: a short introduction to you, and a short introduction to your book. 3-4 short paragraphs is about right.

4. Printing: When you print your manuscript, don’t try to make it look flashy. Use standard 8.5 x 11 inch paper with one-inch margins on all sides. Use a standard font size—preferably Times New Roman or Arial—and print it all in black. Keep your illustrations separate; but preferably don’t include them at all. Mention in your cover letter that you have illustrations, if they are interested.

5. Following up: Most children book publishers frown upon any type of follow-up. However, if 6 months pass and you still haven’t heard anything, it’s acceptable to send a letter or an email making clear that you sent a manuscript on a certain date and that you haven’t heard back. It’s a good idea to keep a record of all your submissions. This way, you’ll know when 6 months have passed. And don’t jump the gun. Manuscript readers find pushy and impatient submitters quite annoying, and it can be sufficient grounds to make them reject your work.