Have you written a children’s book and are now looking for a publisher? Below we’ve featured 19 of the best children’s book publishing companies that are accepting submissions.
1. Peachtree Publishing Company Inc.
Helen Elliot founded Peachtree Publishing Company Inc. in 1977. Initially, the publisher based in Atlanta, Georgia, only focused on writers from the South who wrote adult fiction. Today, they’re known for their entertaining and highly educational children’s books.
Peachtree Publishing Company Inc. works on several types of children’s books: illustrated chapter books, picture books, board books, and fiction and nonfiction for middle-grade readers.
Its portfolio includes Leslie Bulion’s At the Sea Floor Cafe: Odd Ocean Critter Poems and Jane Buchanan’s Seed Magic.
They’re not interested in unsolicited works. If you have a literary agent soliciting your manuscript, then it will be considered for review. Check their submissions page for updates.
2. Sleeping Bear Press
Are you looking for a publisher in Ann Arbor, Michigan? Sleeping Bear Press is a renowned publisher of children’s books. The company began in April 1998 when it launched Kathy-jo Wargin’s The Legend of Sleeping Bear. Since then, they have introduced beautiful, critically acclaimed works that inspire kids.
The publisher accepts unsolicited fiction and nonfiction manuscripts. Whether you have picture books, board books, beginning readers, or middle-grade books, Sleeping Bear Press will consider them. They aim to diversify their book selection and promote inclusion and diversity.
Sleeping Bear Press publishes books such as Barbara Joosse’s Everybody’s Tree and Clayton Anderson’s Letters from Space, both of which are in the language arts category.
If you are BIPOC and/or part of the LGBTQ+, you should consider submitting your work for the Own Voices, Own Stories Award. Otherwise, you must send your manuscript by email as an attached Word document.
3. Tilbury House Publishers
Tilbury House Publishers in Thomaston, Maine, began four decades ago as the independent publisher known as Harpswell Press. As they developed and accepted children’s books, they merged with Dog Ear Press to become the distinguished publisher they are today.
The company’s core target is children’s books. In particular, they want nonfiction picture books. These should appeal to both parents and their kids aged between 2 and 12.
Picture books that focus on nature, history, science, and cultural diversity are welcome — and so are nonfiction chapter books and graphic books for kids between 8 and 13.
Two of their award-winning books are Fran Hodgkins’ The Secret Galaxy and Allen Sockabasin’s Thanks to the Animals.
Anyone can submit their manuscripts and proposals to Tilbury House Publishers. However, it’s best if you first evaluate how well your book would fit their selection.
4. Flying Eye Books
For folks in London, United Kingdom, they should check Flying Eye Books. They were founded in 2013 as an imprint of visual publisher Nobrow.
Like their parent company, they aim to provide authors of children’s fiction and nonfiction with detailed and masterful illustrations that complement their works.
Many readers around the world know Flying Eye Books since they’re the publisher of Luke Pearson’s award-winning Hilda graphic novel series and Dominic Walliman’s Professor Astro Cat’s Frontiers of Space.
Flying Eye Books does not accept any website links or open portfolios. Other than these, they will gladly accept children’s nonfiction, picture books, activity books, graphic novels from authors.
Take a moment to read their submission guidelines to ensure your manuscript gets considered.
5. Free Spirit Publishing
Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Free Spirit Publishing was founded in 1983 by author Judy Galbraith. She’s the recipient of the Midwest Publisher of the Year Award in 2014 and the NAGC Annemarie Roeper Global Awareness Award in 2015.
They prioritize books that provide emotional, intellectual, and social guidance to children and teenagers. Summer Batte’s Name and Tame Your Anxiety and Bernardo Marçolla’s Me and You and the Universe are two such books from them.
Free Spirit Publishing is currently accepting unagented proposals for books for readers up to 18 years old.
Picture books and board books that explore character education, anti-bullying, conflict management, special education, social skills, and positive behavior are welcome.
Head to their submission guidelines page for more details.
6. Blue Dot Kids Press
Heidi Hill established Blue Dot Kids Press in 2018. Located in San Francisco, California, the children’s book publishing company hopes to connect young readers to nature and people around the world.
If you look at their books such as Elizabeth Pulford’s Seeking an Aurora and Christina Booth’s Welcome Home, Whales, you’ll have a great understanding of the kind of books they want.
Blue Dot Kids Press accepts agented and unagented manuscripts. Board books, fiction, and narrative nonfiction are requested. Specifically, they prefer stories that focus on the environment, science, and global citizenship.
You may also submit manuscripts of your graphic novel, activity book, or art-and-craft book for children. Go to the submissions page for the complete details.
7. Holiday House
Founded in 1935, Holiday House in New York City, New York, is the first publishing company in the United States that was launched solely for children’s books.
Many classics and acclaimed titles for children and teenagers found their home in Holiday House. For one, Lesa Cline-Ransome’s Before She Was Harriet won the Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book Award in 2017. Similarly, Paul Meisel’s I See a Cat was recognized as a 2018 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book.
Holiday House publishes fiction and nonfiction hardcovers for kids as young as four years old.
Thus, authors can submit manuscripts of picture books and novels that cover cultural diversity, history, math, holidays, concepts, character education, and general themes like fantasy and science fiction.
Read all about their submission requirements here.
8. Annick Press
Annick Press is a celebrated children’s book publisher in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With a dream to help young minds develop a better understanding of themselves and the world around them, Rick Wilks and Anne Millyard established the independent company in 1975.
The publisher is part of The Canadian Children’s Book Centre and the American Booksellers Association.
Furthermore, Annick Press published Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak’s picture book called The Most Amazing Bird, which was part of the Kirkus Best Books List for 2020. Likewise, Allison Mills’ middle-grade book The Ghost Collector won the Sunburst Award in 2020.
Annick Press accepts middle-grade fiction, children’s non-fiction, and picture book manuscripts from authors. Works that have meaningful lessons and inspire critical thinking and a love for reading are especially welcome.
For more information on submissions, check this page on their website.
9. Pants on Fire Press
Given its simple yet humorous name, it’s no wonder that Pants on Fire Press is quite known in Winter Garden, Florida. They’re a traditional publishing company that produces both print books and ebooks.
Pants on Fire Press focuses on fiction with innovative ideas and captivating characters. Some of its books for middle-grade readers include John Edward Stein’s The Capture of Rafael Ortega and Michelle Brown’s Tales of An Alien Invader.
They have picture books too, but the publisher currently doesn’t accept such manuscripts. If you have an unagented middle-grade manuscript, ensure that it has an engaging plot with convincing individuals.
View their submission guidelines properly before submitting your unsolicited manuscript.
10. Arbordale Publishing
Lee German and his wife, author Donna German, founded Sylvan Dell Publishing in 2004. The company then became Arbordale Publishing in 2014 and continues to bring out educational, imaginative picture books for kids today.
Arbordale Publishing’s books cover everything from animals and nature to space and multiplication. Such titles include Kevin Kurtz’s A Day in a Forest Wetland and Marta Lindsey’s Little Gray’s Great Migration.
Fiction picture books that involve math or science are favored the most, but Arbordale Publishing also accepts narrative nonfiction with the same characteristics.
Moreover, they want authors to submit manuscripts that are perfect for parents and their children to read together. If you think you have a fitting written project, check the manuscript submission process.
11. Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing is part of Andrews McMeel Universal in Kansas, Missouri. Launched in 1970 by Jim Andrews and John McMeel, the company is now home to many popular and creative bestsellers.
Each year, the independent publisher prints as many as 150 new titles that range from humor and poetry to children’s books.
Animals by Agnese Baruzzi and Chiara Piroddi is an adorable educational book for kids aged between 0 and 12 months. On the other hand, Patrick McDonnell’s Mutts Go Green: Earth-Friendly Tips and Comic Strips is a great way for children to appreciate animals and the environment.
Andrews McMeel Publishing accepts proposals for children’s books from authors and literary agents — and you can submit them online or by mail.
12. Formac Publishing
Situated in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Formac Publishing’s primary goal is to print books about The Maritimes or ones written by those in the Maritime provinces.
But when it comes to children’s books, they aim for a national scope and accept works from authors in various parts of Canada.
Their books for kids and teens cover Canadian history, nature, and fiction that are humorous or discuss themes such as friendship and bullying. Two such titles are Lori Morgan’s Healing the Bruises and Susan Biagi’s Touring the Cabot Trail and Beyond.
Formac Publishing currently accepts proposals from any writer for beginner chapter novels aimed at children between 6 and 9 years old. Find out more about their author guidelines here.
13. Charlesbridge
Charlesbridge in Watertown, Massachusetts, is always on the lookout for innovative writers whose ideas and stories can hone the innate curiosity of kids.
Natalie Dias Lorenzi’s A Long Pitch Home and Lynn Plourde’s A Mountain of Mittens are just a couple of its award-winning titles. In general, Charlesbridge produces middle-grade fiction and nonfiction, picture books, and fiction and nonfiction board books.
Nonfiction manuscripts should explore topics such as math, science, history, and the arts. Both fiction and nonfiction submissions must recognize and value the diversity of the world.
As of May 2020, Charlesbridge no longer accepts submissions by mail — writers must submit their manuscripts online. Read their submission guidelines for further details.
14. Prufrock Press
Joel McIntosh established Prufrock Press, which released its first publication way back in 1989. By 2016, the company based in Waco, Texas, had acquired a few publishers and debuted its imprint for scholarly, peer-reviewed works.
Prufrock Press is known across the United States for its impeccable and well-researched texts that serve gifted kids, advanced learners, and students with special needs.
They have educational nonfiction for kids like Bob Korpella’s Dinosaur Dictionary for Kids: The Everything Guide for Kids Who Love Dinosaurs and Stephanie Bearce’s Twisted True Tales From Science: Disaster Discoveries.
Currently, Prufrock Press is looking for nonfiction trade books for kids. Instead of sending an unsolicited manuscript, you’re required to submit a book prospectus.
15. Tanglewood
Peggy Tierney has been an editor of children’s books since 1995 and is the founder of Tanglewood. With a degree in comparative literature, she’s well-equipped to manage a company dedicated to inspiring kids to read and learn more about the world.
The publisher from Indianapolis, Indiana, prints board books, picture books, and middle-grade books full of adventures and new things to learn.
A couple of their titles include Audrey Penn’s A Color Game for Chester Raccoon and Ginger Churchill’s Wild Rose’s Weaving.
Tanglewood accepts agented and unagented manuscripts. They are prioritizing middle-grade fiction of mostly any genre except high fantasy. However, it’s okay if your book only has aspects of fantasy.
Read the submission guidelines here.
16. Just Us Books
In 1988, Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson established Just Us Books, a children’s book publishing company that celebrates and prints books about the history and diverse experiences of Black people.
Based in West Orange, New Jersey, they have books of all kinds to serve not only the Black community but also every interested reader.
They publish exciting chapter books, middle-grade books, vivid picture books, and board books. James’ Haskins’ The March on Washington and Denise Lewis Patrick’s Ma Dear’s Old Green House are excellent reads for kids.
Just Us Books is open to agented and unagented queries for fiction and nonfiction middle-grade books, chapter books, and picture books.
Find out more about their submission process to ensure your query is considered.
17. Albert Whitman & Company
Albert Whitman & Company in Park Ridge, Illinois, is owned by John Quattrocchi and Pat McPartland who serve as president and vice president, respectively. The independent company’s goal is to print children’s books worthy of acclaim.
They have board books, chapter books, early reader books, middle-grade books, and picture books such as Sheila Bair’s Princess Persephone Loses the Castle and Charles Beyl’s My Friend Ben and the Sleepover.
Authors can freely submit manuscripts of fiction and nonfiction picture books and middle-grade fiction since Albert Whitman & Company accepts unsolicited manuscripts and proposals — and you can submit to other publishers at the same time.
Read all about their amazing open submissions policy here.
18. Lantana Publishing
Alice Curry is the recipient of the 2017 Kim Scott Walwyn Prize for women in publishing. She’s also the founder and CEO of Lantana Publishing, which is a children’s book publisher in Oxford, United Kingdom.
With a mission to celebrate and acknowledge diversity, Lantana Publishing prints inclusive books that wonderfully tell the stories of minorities and marginalized groups.
They’ve published beautiful works such as Nansubuga Nagadya Isdhals’ Sing to the Moon and Mahtab Narsimhan’s Looking for Lord Ganesh.
Lantana Publishing is looking for narrative picture books for kids aged between 2 and 5. Similarly, they want fiction for children between 5 and 12 years old. More importantly, they want manuscripts from authors who feel they’re underrepresented in books.
Go to their submissions page for the full details.
19. Allen & Unwin
Allen & Unwin in St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia, has its origins dating back to 1914 when Sir Stanley Unwin created the company in the United Kingdom. It was only in 1976 when Patrick Gallagher founded a division of the publishing company in Australia.
Given how they have won the Publisher of the Year Award at least 14 times, it’s no wonder that Allen & Unwin release around 250 amazing new books annually — more than 80 of which are for kids and young adults.
A couple of their award-winning titles for children are Kathryn Barker’s In the Skin of a Monster and Bren McDibble’s How to Bee.
Allen & Unwin have a unique submission process called The Friday Pitch. Anyone can submit their work, especially those who have a diverse background.
They’re looking for innovative fiction for children between 5 and 13 years old and narrative nonfiction primarily for kids in primary school.
Learn all about The Friday Pitch here.