If you’re a children’s book author and facing many difficulties publishing your work, then this post is for you. Below we’ve featured 8 top children’s book publishers in Michigan.
1. Kregel Publications
Established in 1949 by Harold and Esther Kregel and currently located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kregel Publications is one of the three main businesses of Kregel Inc. Its creation served to provide the Christian community with quality written materials about their spiritual life.
Now, this publisher has more than a thousand titles ranging from books about the history of the church to theology and evangelism. For its youngest Christian readers, Kregel Publications has a wide selection of religious children’s titles.
Labeled under either Kregel Children’s Books or Lion Children’s Books, these colorful kids’ titles include Emily King & Ed Olson’s storybook named Clopper, the Christmas Donkey, and Sophie Piper’s The Easter Story.
Kregel Publications accepts proposals from literary agents and select organizations. For more details on both agents and author resources, check the submissions policy page.
2. Zondervan
Similar to Kregel Publications, Zondervan is another major publisher of Christian texts that was founded in 1931 by Pat and Bernard Zondervan. Its main operations are done in Grand Rapids City and it’s part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing.
Zondervan introduces hundreds of new books each year — and its imprints cater to scholars and fiction readers alike. One such imprint, Zonderkidz, is dedicated to inspiring and enlightening Christian children.
From board books and picture books to storybook bibles and middle-grade fiction & non-fiction, it’s filled with more than enough spiritual books for kids. Two wondrous titles in the imprint are Melanie Shankle’s Fearless Faith and Nancy N. Rue’s Lucy’s Perfect Summer.
Zondervan currently doesn’t accept submissions for ZonderKidz and is only looking for its Zondervan Reflective and Zondervan Academic imprints.
Still, keep note of its manuscript submissions page for possible future announcements about proposals to ZonderKidz.
3. Parkhurst Brothers Publishers
Headquartered in Marion, Michigan, Parkhurst Brothers Publishers is always in the search for quality storytelling, especially from ethnic and seasoned authors. It serves not only the general reading public but also those in the field of education, library science, and writing.
Parkhurst Brothers Publishers is a huge advocate for storytelling whether in local or regional circles. Its books are grouped into six different categories: psychology, art & poetry, memoirs, novels, storytelling, psychology, and non-fiction.
Under the storytelling group, you can find children’s fiction like The Stable Boy: The First Witness Tells His Story by Shirley A. Taylor and The Boo Baby Girl: Meets the Ghost of Mable’s Gable by Jim May.
As of writing, Parkhurst Brothers Publishers is looking for folktales, story anthologies, and books about social issues. If your children’s book manuscript fits in one or more areas of interest, read all the details on the submission guidelines page.
4. Sleeping Bear Press
Perhaps the most popular children’s book publisher in all of Michigan, Sleeping Bear Press was founded in 1998 and is situated in Ann Arbor. Since then, it’s published acclaimed works that are read in schools, libraries, and at home.
Its primary mission has always been to provide excellent books for kids. Sleeping Bear Press encourages every young reader from preschoolers to eighth-graders to keep learning and enhancing their creativity through picture books, board books, and middle-grade fiction and non-fiction.
Furthermore, its portfolio covers subjects like social studies, natural sciences, and language arts. Some amazing books from Sleeping Bear Press are the poignant Bevan: A Well-Loved Bear by Petra Brown and Full Moon Lore by Ellen Wahi.
Sleeping Bear Press is open to online manuscript submissions. In your email, specify the subject of your book and say whether it’s fiction or nonfiction. Sleeping Bear Press will reply to you within six months if they like your work.
For more information about its regular submission process and its Own Voices, Own Stories Award, look at this page.
5. Our Daily Bread Publishing
Apart from Kregel Publications and Zondervan, you can also approach Our Daily Bread Publishing if you have a children’s book for the Christian community. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, it wants all of its materials to guide believers in their everyday lives, especially in the spiritual aspect.
Led by President Rick De Haan, Our Daily Bread Publishing has devotionals, bible references, biography books, and children’s books. Two colorful titles that are perfect for kids are The Story of Two Builders by Tim Ladwig and Good News! It’s Easter! by Glenys Nellist.
Our Daily Bread Publishing is only currently open to agented submissions. Check the FAQ page at a later date for any announcements about unsolicited manuscripts.
6. Cardinal Rule Press
Situated in Wixom, Michigan, Cardinal Rule Press is a traditional publisher of children’s books. While it doesn’t release as many books as other publishers annually, its titles are always worth reading to kids who want to be inspired, entertained, and educated.
Cardinal Rule Press is acclaimed not only for its stories but also for its visual presentation. The publisher ensures that book covers and illustrations evoke a sense of childlike wonder and optimism. If you need proof, just look at The Potato Chip Champ by Maria Dismondy and Cookie & Milk by Michele McAvoy.
It’s currently closed for book proposals. However, Cardinal Rule Press has announced that it will begin accepting both unsolicited and agented manuscripts in September 2021. Read the guidelines and other important details here.
7. Baker Publishing Group
Whether it’s about the history of Christianity or modern musings about the evangelical way of life, Baker Publishing Group will have a multitude of books for the Christian reader. Based in Ada, Michigan, it has 6 divisions like Revell, BakerBooks, and Bethany House.
Baker Publishing Group offers many titles for kids to read — and they have both children’s nonfiction and fiction. Thus, you can find picture books, storybooks, and Children’s bibles, among others.
The publisher has kids’ books like A Place Called Heaven for Kids by Dr. Robert Jeffree and the upcoming The Happy Crab by Layla Palmer and Kevin Palmer.
Baker Publishing Group only accepts solicited and agented proposals for three of its divisions, namely, Revell, Baker Books, and Bethany House. Read the submissions policy to learn more.
8. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
This publisher from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is known for its spectacular selection of academic, cultural, and religious books. Established back in 1911 by William B. Eerdmans Sr., Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company has since further improved its core offerings while introducing new topics.
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company has Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint dedicated to children’s books. It’s home to award-winning titles like the adorable Sweet Dreamers by Isabelle Simler and the insightful and heartfelt Hidden City by Sarah Grace Tuttle.
The children’s book imprint is currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts in both fiction and nonfiction. So whether you have a picture book or middle-grade novel in the works, view the submission guidelines to ensure your project gets considered.