Are you looking for literary agents specializing in children’s books?
Below we’ve featured 19 top children’s book literary agents you should know about.
1. Elana Roth Parker
Elana Roth Parker is a literary agent with Laura Dail Literary Agency, Inc (LDLA). She specializes in all things children’s publishing and aims to represent projects in the categories of juvenile fiction, children’s books, picture books middle grade, and young adult fiction. She has represented clients like New York Times bestseller Kiera Cass, Andy Marino, and Shannon Price.
Elana is currently accepting queries via email. She asks that you include a bit of information about your project such as its title, a short pitch, a plot summary, and a brief author bio to introduce yourself. If you have any previous publishing experience, you’re also welcome to mention that, too. Be sure to past the first five to ten pages of your book in the body of your email for consideration. You can find more information about LDLA’s submission guidelines here.
2. Bernadette Baker-Baughman
As a literary agent with the Victoria Sanders Agency, Bernadette Baker-Baughman specializes in representing authors of children’s books. She has represented an impressive number of New York Times bestselling authors and award-winning writers like Leslye Walton, Tony Cliff, and Carson Morton.
If you believe that your children’s book project would be well-represented by Bernadette, you can send her a query letter via email. Be sure to check out the Victoria Sanders Agency’s submission guidelines to be sure you meet all the necessary requirements.
3. Heather Cashman
Heather Cashman is the associate literary agent with Storm Literary Agency. Specializing in children’s books, middle grade, and young adult fiction, Heather has represented a wide range of talented authors and is always on the lookout for stories with distinctive voices, well-developed themes, and strong character arcs.
She is currently seeking both fiction and nonfiction projects. You can send your query letter via email, but be sure to check out Storm Literary Agency’s submission guidelines before proceeding.
4. Stephanie Fretwell-Hill
Stephanie Fretwell-Hill is a literary agent with Red Fox Literary, a literary agency based out of Shell Beach, California. Stephanie specializes in representing authors and illustrators of children’s picture books, middle grade fiction, and young adult fiction in any type of genre. She has represented a handful of award-winning projects that have gone on to win accolades like the YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, the Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year, and the Parent’s Choice Awards.
Stephanie is currently not accepting unsolicited submissions at this time, but you’re strongly encouraged to check back at a later date. For general inquiries or more information, you can reach Stephanie and the rest of the team at Red Fox Literary via email.
5. Cyle Young
Cyle Young is a literary agent with Hartline Literary Agency and the founder of Cyle Young Literary Elite. He has represented over 120 different authors, has contracted over 100 different book projects, and has combined sales of over 22 million books throughout the length of his career.
While he does represent a wide range of fiction and nonfiction, Cyle is more than capable of representing children’s books and juvenile fiction. He has even worked with PK Hallinan, an author of over 100 different children’s books. If you’re interested in working with Cyle, you can find his submission requirements here.
6. Kendra Marcus
Kendra Marcus is a literary agent and founder of BookStop Literary Agency, which she founded in 1984 with the express purpose of discovering brilliant new children’s books by talented authors and illustrators. She has a preference for funny children’s picture books, and is especially interested in children’s books that represent Hispanic or Latino characters. She has worked with children’s book authors like Marshal Chall, Kristy Dempsey, and Kristen Fulton.
Kendra is unfortunately closed to unsolicited submissions at this time, but you’re strongly encouraged to check back later. For more information or general inquiries, you can reach Kendra via email.
7. Rebecca Angus
Rebecca Angus is a talented literary agent with Golden Wheat Literary and experienced children’s book author. She knows exactly what it takes to impress publishing companies and is always on the lookout for the next rising star. She has represented children’s book authors like Barbara Lowell, June Smalls, and Annmarie Riley Guertin.
She is temporarily closed to query letter submissions at this time due to a high volume of submissions that she has received, but you’re more than welcome to review her submission guidelines and prepare your query letter in the meantime. Alternatively, you can reach her through her website’s online contact form to ask any general questions you may have.
8. Clelia Gore
Clelia Gore is a literary agent with Martin Literary Management (MLM) and specializes in represented children’s books, young adult fiction, middle grade fiction, and board books. Some of her leading clients include New York Times bestseller Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes, Jack Andraka, and Lulu Cerone.
She is currently accepting query letters of children’s picture books via email. You’re asked to include the text from the first ten pages of your manuscript and a link to any illustrations you wish to include in an online portfolio. You can read more about MLM’s submission guidelines here.
9. Sarah Davies
Sarah Davies is a literary agent with Greenhouse Literary and has an extensive amount of experience working for a UK-based children’s book publisher prior to her agenting career. She represents both American and Canadian clients and loves to work with projects intended for younger readerships. She is currently closed to accepting picture books at this time, but you are strongly encouraged to check back at a later time when she will reopen. You can review Greenhouse Literary’s submission guidelines in the meantime to prepare your query and submission.
10. Jennifer Rofé
Jennifer Rofé is the senior literary agent with Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She primarily represents all books intended for younger readers, including picture books all the way to young adult fiction. She is interested in projects with rich characters, unique perspectives, and overall narratives that help to transport their reader to an entirely different world. She has represented several award-winning authors like Newberry Medal winner Meg Medina, Christina Diaz Gonzalez, and Kim Tomsic.
You’re strongly encouraged to look through the list of projects Jennifer has represented to see if your book would be a good fit for her representation. Be sure to review Andrew Brown’s submission guidelines to make sure your project meets all of the agency’s requirements. Due to the high volume of submissions that Jennifer receives, only authors whose projects have interested her will be contacted.
11. Mary Cummings
Mary Cummings is a literary agent with Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises and founder of Cummings Kid Literature, specializing primarily in children’s picture books. She has sold projects to a wide variety of major publishing houses like Little Brown, Abrams, Holiday House, and Random House. Mary has represented children’s authors like George Shannon, Ariel Bernstein, and Loretta Ellsworth.
She is currently accepting query letters via email, but strongly encourages you to review her submission guidelines before sending anything in for consideration. For children’s picture books, be sure to embed the entire manuscript in the body of your email (no attachments will be opened). Due to the high volume of submissions that she receives, Mary will only contact those authors whose projects have interested her.
12. Stephen Barbara
Stephen Barbara is a literary agent with InkWell Management. He joined Inkwell in 2015 and has worked with several accomplished authors like New York Times and international bestselling author Lauren Oliver, USA Today bestseller Paul Tremblay, and Newberry Medal winner Laura Amy Schiltz. He represents a wide range of fiction, including juvenile fiction and children’s books.
He is currently open to accepting query letters via email. Be sure to review InkWell’s submission guidelines to make sure your submission meets their minimum requirements. If you’re submitting a children’s picture book, be sure to include the text of your manuscript int eh body of your email. Due to the high volume of submissions that Stephen receives, please note that it can take up to two months to hear back about your query. For general inquiries or more information, you can also contact the team at InkWell via email.
13. Carrie Hannigan
Carrie Hannigan is one of the founding literary agents of HSG Literary Agency, specializing in children’s picture books. She has represented a multitude of talented authors like New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Vashti Harrison, Erica Perl, and Jonathan Fenske. She loves projects that are both humorous and heartwarming, and is especially interested with stories with fantasy themes. Carries is also open to considering graphic novels and nonfiction projects.
If you’re interested in working with Carrie, you can submit a query letter via email. Be sure to review HSG’s submission guidelines to make sure your project meets their requirements. Please note that due to the high volume of submissions that Carrie receives, if you haven’t heard back with a response within ten weeks, this means that Carrie has likely passed on your project.
14. Jodi Reamer, Esq.
Jodi Reamer is a senior literary agent with Writers House. With over 20 years of experience with the agency, Jodi has represented projects like The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyers, “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green, and “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs.
Jodi represents a wide range of juvenile fiction and children’s books and is currently accepting queries via email. She asks that you include the first 10 pages of your manuscript for consideration. You’re also strongly encouraged to review Writers House’s submission guidelines before proceeding.
15. Adria Goetz
Adria Goetz is a literary manager with Martin Literary Management that is currently accepting queries for picture books, middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, and nonfiction titles about lifestyle, graphic novels, cookbooks, and other adult nonfiction. When it comes to children’s picture books, she’s looking for something fun and commercial with lyrical tonality. She’s also very interested in children’s picture book biographies about lesser known people of history.
If you believe your project would be well-represented by Adria, you can submit a query letter to her via email. Be sure to review MLM’s submission guidelines before submitting anything for consideration.
16. Victoria Selvaggio
Victoria Selvaggio is a literary agent and partner with Storm Literary Agency. She gained a great deal of her agenting experience with the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. Victoria represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction projects, but is also capable of representing juvenile fiction and children’s books. She is actively hoping to expand her client roster and hopes to specialize in representing board books, children’s picture books, chapter books, middle grade and young adult fiction.
Due to a high volume of submissions, Victoria is temporarily closed to submissions at this time. However, you can still review Storm Literary’s submission guidelines to prepare your query letter, as she should be reopening shortly.
17. Betsy Amster
Betsy Amster is the literary agent and founder of Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises, a full-service literary agency based out of Los Angeles, California. Some of her best-known children’s book projects include “You Are the Pea, I am the Carrot” by J. Theron Elkins, and “Hands Say Love” by George Shannon. While Betsy represents a wide range of commercial fiction and nonfiction, she has a talent for selling children’s books to major publishing houses.
She is currently accepting queries via email. For picture books, you should embed the entire manuscript in the body of your email for consideration. For chapbooks, middle grade, or young adult fiction, she asks that you include the first three pages of your manuscript in the body of your email for consideration. No attachments will be permitted. Be sure to review their submission guidelines before proceeding.
18. Sorche Elizabeth Fairbank
Sorche Elizabeth Fairbank is the literary agent and founder of Fairbank Literary Representation, based out of Hudson, New York. Sorche has represented an impressive list of children’s books and middle grade like “It’s Not Easy Being Number 3” by Drew Dernavich, and “Happy Birthday, Cupcake!” by Terry Border.
She is currently hoping to expand her client list when it comes to children’s picture books and is currently accepting queries via email or through her website’s online contact form. Be sure to include a synopsis of your work and a representative sample chapter (or up to ten pages) for consideration.
19. Helen Mangham
Helen Mangham is a literary agent with Jacaranda Agency, a literary agency based out of Singapore and Bangalore, India. At Jacaranda Agency, they strive to produce fiction that demonstrates diversity through their characters and unique stories. Helen herself has been an operating partner since 2013, representing both juvenile fiction and children’s books.
Helen is currently accepting queries via email. She asks that you include a bit of information about your project in the body of the email, including your project’s genre, intended audience, a brief summary of your work, and a short author biography. If interested in your book, Helen will reach out to you promptly to discuss how to proceed. For general inquiries or more information, you can also reach Helen through this email.
Are there any other literary agents specializing in children’s books that you know of? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.