Please note: This article contains affiliate links to Reedsy. That means Writing Tips Oasis receive a small % of the sale if you hire the services of any of the following editors, or another professional on Reedsy, but at no extra cost to you.
If you’ve written a children’s fiction, or nonfiction book and need editing support before sending it to a publisher, below we’ve featured 19 of the best children’s book editors spread across the United States.
1. Sirah Jarocki
A Boston-based freelance editor who has around 7 years of experience, Sirah Jarocki specializes in copy editing, developmental editing, proofreading, and editorial assessment. With a B.A. in English and Journalism, most of her projects involve children’s books, blogs, or short stories, but she is also open to working on longer manuscripts. Her favorite genres are middle grade fiction & fantasy, children’s nonfiction, picture books, and DIY & crafts. If you’d like to see some of the titles she edited so far, check out “The Time of Green Magic”, by Hilary McKay, and “The Tea Dragon Tapestry”, by Katie O’Neill. Quotes can be requested here.
2. Sara Schonfeld
Living in New York, NY, Sara Schonfeld is both a freelance editor and an assistant editor at HarperCollins. In terms of qualifications, she has a B.A. in English and Hispanic Studies from University of Pennsylvania and around 7 years of editing experience, to give a few examples. Sara is passionate about middle grade fiction, middle grade & YA fantasy, picture books, children’s nonfiction, and social & family issues. To get an idea of her portfolio, you should look up “Unchosen”, by Katharyn Blair and “Ghost Girl”, by Ally Malinenko. If you need developmental editing, query letter review, or editorial assessment for your project, Sara could be the right choice for you – learn more here.
3. Cara Stevens
Specializing in developmental editing, proofreading, copy editing, and editorial assessment, Cara Stevens is a Los Angeles-based freelance editor. In around 30 years of activity, Cara managed to add renowned publishers such as HarperCollins and Penguin Random House on her client list, and to become a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Her genres of choice are middle grade & YA fiction, picture books, children’s nonfiction, comics & graphic novels, and parenting & families, to give some examples. To learn more about her past projects, look up “Snow Fight (Tales of a Terrarian Warrior 2)”, by Winter Morgan, and “60 Super Simple After School Activities”, by Cara Copperman. If interested, quotes can be requested here.
4. Catherine Nichols
Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Catherine Nichols is a freelance editor with a B.A. in English and over 20 years of experience in the publishing field. Also an author, Catherine’s specialties are children’s nonfiction, picture books, DIY & crafts, middle grade fiction, and mystery & crime. In terms of services, she can provide copy editing, developmental editing, proofreading, editorial assessment, and query letter review. “Missing Heir (Sherlock Files)”, by Tracy Barrett, and “Don’t Try This at Home (MythBusters)”, by Mary Packard are just two of the titles you will find in her portfolio. To learn more about Catherine and to request a quote, access this page.
5. Jessica Lee Anderson
Jessica Lee Anderson is an author and freelance editor who lives in Austin, Texas. Jessica won numerous prizes during her almost 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, such as the Milkweed Prize for Children’s Literature and the Shirley Henn Memorial Award. Since she’s written more than 40 children’s titles, it’s clear that her areas of specialty are children’s nonfiction, middle grade & YA fiction, and picture books. To get an idea of her portfolio, check out “Once Upon a Princess”, by Christine Marciniak, and “The Bully Who Learned To Love”, by Claudia Villarreal and Michael Koch. If you ever need developmental editing, query letter review, or editorial assessment services from Jessica, you can request a quote here.
6. Cassie Gutman
Editor of “Babysitting Nightmares: The Twilight Curse”, by Kat Shepherd, and “The School’s on Fire!”, by Rebecca C. Jones, Cassie Gutman is based in Chicago, Illinois. With a B.A. in English and a background in project management and journalism, Cassie started her career in the publishing field around 6 years ago. Presently, she can provide developmental editing, copy editing, query letter review, editorial assessment, and proofreading. In terms of genres, her areas of interest are children’s fiction and nonfiction, YA fiction, true crime, and romance, to give some examples. To learn more about Cassie and to request a quote, click here.
7. Nevin Mays
Nevin Mays is a Portland-based freelance editor with over 15 years of experience in the publishing field. In terms of qualifications, she has a Book Publishing certificate from the NYU School of Professional Studies and has previously worked at Penguin Random House and Scholastic. Nevin is passionate about middle grade & YA fiction, children’s nonfiction, picture books, and romance, to name some genres. She can provide copy editing, developmental editing, proofreading, editorial assessment, and query letter review. To get an idea of her skills, look up “Malala: My Story of Standing Up for Girls’ Rights”, by Malala Yousafzai. Quotes can be requested here.
8. Paige Towler
Living in Washington D.C., Paige Towler is an author and freelance editor who started her career at National Geographic Partners. She has been working in the children’s publishing field for around 7 years now, and her client list includes Britannica, Scholastic, and Highlights, to give some examples. Passionate about children’s fiction and nonfiction, history, and parenting & families, Paige can provide copy editing, developmental editing, proofreading, and editorial assessment. “Girls Can!”, by Marissa Sebastian, and “125 Animals That Changed the World”, by Brenna Maloney are just two of the titles you will find in her portfolio. To learn more about her favorite genres and to request a quote, access this page.
9. Stacy Tornio
Stacy Tornio is an author and freelance editor who lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With an experience of more than 15 years in the publishing field and a B.A. in Journalism/Mass Communications, Stacy knows exactly what her clients need. She can provide proofreading, copy editing, developmental editing, and editorial assessment, and her services have been requested by publishers such as Simon & Schuster and The Princeton Review. In terms of genres, she prefers children’s nonfiction, middle grade fiction, picture books, education & reference, and nature, to give some examples. Since she only features her own titles on her Reedsy portfolio, you can check out any of them to get an idea of her skills – “Cathy’s Animal Garden: Enter at Your Own Risk” would be a good choice. Learn more about Stacy and request a quote here.
10. Gene Hult
In his over 30 years of activity in the publishing industry, Gene Hult has written 125 children’s titles and has provided editing services to clients such as HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster. His specialties are developmental editing, copy editing, editorial assessment, and proofreading – approximate fees are listed here, so you’ll have an idea of the final price before requesting a quote. Some of Gene’s favorite genres are middle grade fiction, action & adventure, and comics & graphic novels. To learn more about his past projects, make sure to look up “Noddy’s Super Busy Day”, by Enid Blyton, and “Recess Heroes Face the Moon Fumes (Vol.1)”, by J. E. Bright. If you would like to collaborate with a freelance editor from Houston, feel free to reach out to Gene.
11. Kate Lockwood
Based in San Diego, California, Kate Lockwood is an author and freelance editor who started her career in the publishing industry at Houghton Mifflin. During her more than 15 years of activity, Kate edited titles such as “Goodnight Sleepyheads”, by Maggie Fischer and Dan Taylor, and “Smithsonian Build the Rocket”, by Ian Graham. In terms of services, she can provide developmental editing, editorial assessment, and copy editing for children’s fiction and nonfiction books. To learn more about Kate and to request a quote, click here.
12. Alexandra Ott
A freelance editor and author based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Alexandra Ott specializes in middle grade fiction & fantasy, YA fiction, action & adventure, romance, fantasy, and dystopian fiction. With a B.A. in English and an editing experience of more than 7 years, Alexandra has worked on titles such as “Scaredy Bat and the Frozen Vampires”, by Marina J Bowman, and “Anya and the Dragon”, by Sofiya Pasternack. She has so far written three books, which were all published by Simon & Schuster, so she finds it easy to understand the needs of her fellow writers. In terms of services, Alexandra can provide copy editing, proofreading, developmental editing, query letter review, and editorial assessment. If she seems like a good fit for your project, feel free to request a quote here.
13. Laura Silverman
Editor of “The Summer of Impossibilities”, by Rachael Allen, and “Love Sugar Magic: A Dash of Trouble”, by Anna Meriano, Laura Silverman lives in New York, NY. In terms of qualifications, she has a B.A. in English from University of Georgia, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from The New School, and around 8 years of experience in freelance editing. Laura is passionate about middle grade fiction, YA fiction, thriller & suspense, and women’s fiction, to name some genres. If you’re in need of developmental editing, query letter review, or editorial assessment for your project, she could definitely help you out. If you want to request a quote, you can do so here.
14. Kate Sederstrom
Living in New York, NY, Kate Sederstorm is a freelance editor with around 6 years of experience in the publishing field. Her work at Random House Publishing Group, Bright Group USA, and Bloomsbury Children’s Books helped her discover her passion for children’s nonfiction, middle grade & YA fiction, and for picture books. However, she also edits literary fiction, science fiction, art, and entertainment books. Kate can provide developmental editing, copy editing, query letter review, and editorial assessment. If you’d like to see some of her past projects, you can look up “Princesses Wear Pants”, by Savannah Guthrie and Allison Oppenheim, and “Leyla”, by Galia Bernstein. Quotes can be requested here.
15. Amber Ross
Amber Ross is a freelance editor who lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Specializing in picture books, children’s nonfiction, and middle grade fiction, Amber has so far edited titles such as “Journey to a Promised Land (I Am America)”, by Allison Lassieur, and “Runway ZomBee”, by J. A. Watson and Arpad Olbey. During her over 14 years in the publishing field, she has worked for Pearson, North Star Editions, Capstone Publishers, and PDI Ninth House. Presently, Amber can provide developmental editing and editorial assessment. If you’d like to request a quote, access this page.
16. Elena Marinaccio
Specializing in developmental editing, proofreading, copy editing, and editorial assessment, Elena Marinaccio is a freelancer based in Richmond, Virginia. During her over 10 years of activity, she worked for employers such as Archie Comics, Cinco Puntos Press, and Advertising Concepts, Inc. Elena is passionate about picture books, middle grade fiction, poetry, comics & graphic novels, and political science & current affairs, to give some examples. To learn about her portfolio, check out “Don’t Say a Word, Mama”, by Joe Hayes, and “Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light”, by Tim Tingle. Quotes can be requested here.
17. Catherine Findlay
Living in Jericho, Vermont, Catherine Findlay is a freelance editor with an M.A. in English Literature and an Ed.D. in Language Arts and Literacy Education. After 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, children’s books remain Catherine’s main passion, which is why you will find middle grade & YA fiction and picture books on her list. She specializes in developmental editing, editorial assessment, and copy editing, and you can get an idea of her skills by checking out some of her past projects – “My Dad Can Do Anything”, by Stephen Krensky, and “We Love Ballet!”, by Jane Feldman are two great choices. If you want to request a quote, access this page.
18. Sally Apokedak
A freelance editor, publisher, and literary agent, Sally Apokedak, of Atlanta, Georgia, has been working in the publishing field for over 20 years now. In terms of genres, she specializes in children’s nonfiction, middle grade & YA fiction, picture books, fantasy, Christian nonfiction, and more. To get an idea of her portfolio, you should check out “How to (Almost) Ruin Your Summer”, by Taryn Souders, and “That’s What Love Is”, by Hannah C. Hall and Brendan Kearney. If you’re looking for developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, editorial assessment, or query letter review, Sally can help – request a quote here.
19. Abi Pollokoff
Based in Seattle, Washington, Abi Pollokoff is a freelance editor with a B.A. in English, French, and Italian. During her 9 years of experience, Abi won both the Louisiana Literary Award and the SCWBI Crystal Kite Award. Her main passions are picture books, children’s nonfiction, history, photography, and poetry, to give some examples. In terms of services, she can provide copy editing, proofreading, indexing, and editorial assessment. “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Read”, by Denise McConduit and David Harrington, and “The Boy and the Dragon”, by Eric Ode and Jim Harris are two titles that could help you get an idea of her portfolio. If you’d like to work with Abi, feel free to request a quote here.
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