Competition is fierce if you're trying to get your book published by one of the few giant book publishing houses still publishing Children's Books in the U.S. -- mostly in New York -- today.
But don't dispair! If you've written/illustrated a special book that just hasn't fit in with what the large publishing houses are looking for right now, smaller and newer traditional publishing houses might be another great option for your manuscript! Here are two examples:
1.) CRESTON BOOKS
New California children's book Publisher CRESTON BOOKS focuses on picture books.
Their first books are being released this year!
According to the agency's website "Creston Books fills the void left behind by the major New York publishers who no longer put out a broad range of quality picture books. The golden age of picture books, when fine books were edited and published despite not being blockbusters, does not have to be over. Creston Books is author/illustrator driven, with talented, award-winning creators given more editorial freedom and control that a typical New York house."
Read an article here from Publisher's Weekly about author Marissa Moss and How she started Creston Books
2.) CHICKEN HOUSE
CHICKEN HOUSE PUBLISHES FICTION BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS
Per their website: "The Chicken House is a small, highly individual children’s book publishing company with an enthusiasm for new fiction. Chicken House books have found huge popularity with children, parents, teachers and librarians around the world."
Comments on the publisher from the following great names in Publishing tell us a bit more about them:
‘ ... a publisher with a growing reputation for ingenuity, not least in finding new talent.’SUNDAY TIMES
‘Chicken House has garnered itself a reputation for finding the quirky and original.’BOOKSELLER
‘Enterprising and interesting publishing of the best sort.’PHILIP PULLMAN, AUTHOR OF HIS DARK MATERIALS
‘In a very short period of time the Chicken House list has produced groundbreaking books that have left their mark on the field of children’s literature.’ELLIE BERGER, PRESIDENT OF TRADE PUBLISHING, SCHOLASTIC INC. NEW YORK
So if your book seems like a match, check out the CHICKEN HOUSE Submission Guidelines and website to see if this publisher is right for your manuscript! Note that they're not currently accepting picture books, nor "officially" unsolicited manuscripts, but they have a contest for novels for ages 7-18, and the winner of the contest gets published by Chicken House. So, you can submit your manuscript there.
There are a number of other small new publishers publishing Children's Books in the U.S. and around the world today. Just look them up online by searching "Children's Book Publisher." :)
Happy submitting!
Don't forget your chance to win great books by our featured interviewed authors by entering the
"Comments Contest' (writing a relevant comment on as many Writermorphosis blog posts as you can this summer.) Good Luck To All! - Janelle
Posts
1 comment:
Janelle,
You are so good about sharing helpful information for writers and illustrators. This post is another fine example of that. Small publishers have much to offer. Thanks!
Post a Comment