61 children’s book publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts in November 2024
Congratulations on writing your children’s book! All of the publishers listed here are currently accepting manuscripts without a literary agent, and I’ve done my best to weed out any dodgy or vanity publishers.
Don’t forget to check out my picture book editing services or pre-querying package if you want to make sure your children’s book is in top shape before you sent it to a publisher for consideration.
Good luck with your manuscript submissions.
Penguin Random House New Zealand
Penguin Random House New Zealand celebrates writers, stories and ideas that entertain and inspire.
Genre: Adult fiction and nonfiction. Children's submissions are closed until 2025.
Word count: Around 80,000 words (guideline).Borealis Press
Borealis Press publishes most genres but focuses on works by Canadian authors or Canadian oriented materia.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Second Story Press
Second Story Press is a feminist publisher who focuses on publishing Canadian authors.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction looking at the lives of girls and women, social justice and children's empowerments from Canadian authors.
Word count: Not stated.Red Wheel / Weiser
Red Wheel / Weiser's goal is to publish "books to live by."
Genre: Nonfiction and children's books.
Word count: Not stated.UpLit Press
UpLit Press publishes books with a positive message.
Genre: Fiction and memoir. They do not accept crime, horror or anything that glorifies violence.
Word count: Not stated.Beacon Publishing Group
Beacon Publishing Group is based in New York.
Genre: All genres of fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.The Brucedale Press
The Brucedale Press is the publishing division of Broad Horizons Books and was established in 1976.
Genre: Literary and historical works by Canadian authors with a focus on the Queen's Bush and Bruce Peninsula area of Ontario, Canada.
Word count: Not stated.Owlkids
Owlkids is committed to creating books that represent a diversity of voices and experiences. Please note their submissions are currently open to BIPOC creators.
Genre: Early fiction for ages 6 to 9.
Word count: Not stated.Beatnik
Beatnik is an independent publishing company who has been in existence for over 15 years. They publish vibrant, meaningful books that tell the stories readers worldwide wish to read.
Genre: Nonfiction, children's books, and poetry.
Word count: Not stated.Tradewind Books
Tradewind Books has been in operation for over 20 years and publishes prize-winning picture books, novels and poetry for children.
Genre: Children's books.
Word count: Not stated.Blue River Press
Blue River Press opened their doors in 2004 and has since published over 200 books.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Arsenal Pulp Press
Arsenal Pulp Press is a small Vancouver-based publisher.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Chronicle Books
Chronicle Books is inspired by the enduring magic of books.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Heritage House
Heritage House publishes 20 to 30 books each year from Canadian authors who write about topics relevant to Western Canada.
Genre: Nonfiction and children's fiction from Canadian authors.
Word count: Not stated.MidnightSun Publishing
MidnightSun Publishing grew from a disenchantment with the established publishing houses in Australia. They want their readers to be entertained and accept manuscript submissions in the first week of every month.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction. They are not accepting poetry, horror, romance or memoirs at this time.
Word count: Not stated.Asabi Publishing
Asabi Publishing is an innovative publishing company who takes pride in establishing honest and sincere relationships with their authors.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.DCB Young Readers
DCB Young Readers is a Canadian imprint of Cormorant Books.
Genre: Middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction by Canadian authors.
Word count: Not stated.Nightwood Editions
Nightwood Editions' goal is to help readers explore high-quality work by emerging Canadian writers.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Bayeux Arts
Bayeux Arts entered the publishing world in 1994. They are committed to producing books of beauty that build bridges across cultures.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Schiffer Publishing
Schiffer Publishing was founded in 1974 in Pennsylvania.
Genre: Nonfiction and children's books.
Word count: Not stated.The Key Publishing House
The Key Publishing House is a progressive publisher built on creating a quality publishing experience.
Genre: Nonfiction including wellness, grief and loss, and journals.
Word count: Not stated.Little Moa
Little Moa is an imprint of Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand which champions diverse voices.
Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, and children's books with a strong New Zealand connection.
Word count: Varies by genre.Child's Play
Child's Play is an independent publisher who publishes books on child development that bring out the best in children.
Genre: Children's books.
Word count: Not stated.Tundra Book Group
Tundra Book Group is Canada's oldest English children's book publisher. They are currently only accepting manuscripts from underrepresented communities.
Genre: Middle grade and YA fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing is the children's division of Hardie Grant. They are the home of innovative and inclusive stories from tots to teens. They accept submissions from citizens or residents of Australia and/or New Zealand.
Genre: Picture books and graphic novels from author-illustrators.
Word count: Not stated.Candlewick Press
Candlewick Press opened its doors in 1992 and is now an independent publisher of children's books.
Genre: Children's books.
Word count: Not stated.Penguin Random House Australia
Penguin Random House Australia comprises an adult and children’s publishing division. They accept manuscripts from Australian and New Zealand residents or citizens.
Genre: Fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Our Street Books (Collective Ink)
Our Street Books is the children's imprint of Collective Ink.
Genre: Children's fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Ventura Press
Ventura Press is a Sydney-based independent publisher established in 2002.
Who: Anyone.
Genre: Fiction.
Word count: 40,000-120,000 words.Black Rose Writing
Black Rose Writing is a Texas-based publisher who strongly believes in developing a personal relationship with their authors.
Genre: Literary fiction, nonfiction and genre fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Beach House Publishing
Beach House Publishing publishes books that celebrate and share Hawai‘i's unique culture, history, ethnic landscape and geography.
Genre: Children's book manuscripts about Hawai‘i.
Word count: Not stated.Lantana
Lantana believes that all children deserve to see themselves in books they read.
Genre: Middle grade fiction.
Word count: Over 4,000 words.Annick Press
Annick Press is a proudly independent children's publisher in Toronto, Canada.
Genre: Middle grade and YA fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Pan Macmillan Australia
Pan Macmillan Australia is committed to investing in Australian authors and publishes a variety of bestselling books.
Genre: Fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Holiday House
Holiday House is a publisher of children's books, specializing in quality hardcovers.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction for children and young adults.
Word count: Not stated.Charlesbridge
Charlesbridge is on the lookout for high-quality books for young people that will help create lifelong readers and learners.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction for children, teens and adults.
Word count: Not stated.Yeehoo Press
Yeehoo Press publishes fun and socially responsible children's books for audiences around the world.
Genre: Children's books.
Word count: Not stated.Kids Can Press
Kids Can Press is a Canadian-owned children's book publisher established in 1973.
Genre: Middle grade fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Moa Books
Moa Press is an imprint of Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand who champion the diverse voices of writers across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Genre: Fiction.
Word count: Not stated.UQP
UQP is the wholly owned subsidiary of The University of Queensland. They produce culturally significant works across genres such as fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
Genre: Nonfiction, literary fiction, children's and YA books, and poetry.
Word count: Not stated.Acair
Acair was founded in 1977 and is a registered Scottish charity that publishes Scottish Gaelic children's books and a range of titles in Scottish Gaelic and English.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction. Many of their titles relate to Scotland, history, nature and social issues.
Word count: Not stated.August House
August House has been around for over thirty years and publishes highly acclaimed picture books, story collections and resource books.
Genre: Picture books, story collections and resource books.
Word count: Not stated.Plumleaf Press
Plumleaf Press was created in 2015 as a passion project to create "books to linger over".
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction. They are particularly looking for books aimed at women and children.
Word count: Not stated.Common Deer Press
Common Deer Press publishes uncommon and well-written books for children and teenagers.
Genre: Middle grade
Word count: Not stated.Islandport Press
Islandport Press publishes stories rooted in the essence and sensibilities of New England.
Genre: Mostly nonfiction but they will consider fiction.
Word count: Not stated.UNSW Press Limited
UNSW Press Limited is a not-for-profit Australian company that started operating in 1962. Its mission is to contribute to intellectual and cultural development.
Genre: General, scholarly, and literary nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.BookLife Publishing
BookLife Publishing is a UK-based educational children’s book publisher wish over 3,000 titles published over the past decade.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction for children.
Word count: Not stated.Candy Jar Books
Candy Jar Books is a small Cardiff-based publisher working to expand their business.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Sleeping Bear Press
Sleeping Bear Press was launched in 1998 as a children's book publisher. Their mission is to provide books that engage, entertain, and educate.
Genre: Children's books.
Word count: Not stated.Bess Press Inc.
Bess Press Inc. is a family owned publishing house in Kaimukī, Hawai‘i.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction related to the people, cultures, histories, and/or languages of Hawaiʻi and Oceania.
Word count: Not stated.Boulder Books
Boulder Books is an innovative Atlantic Canadian book publishing company, dedicated to high-quality works that explore unrepresented parts of Canadian culture.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Red Deer Press
Red Deer Press publishes upscale children's books, YA and adult fiction.
Genre: Children's, middle grade and YA fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Breakwater Books
Breakwater Books was established in 1973 to highlight the vibrant literary culture in Newfoundland and Labrador. Today, they welcome books from authors across Canada and overseas.
Genre: Literary fiction, commercial fiction, and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Mango Publishing
Mango Publishing is always looking for books that are thoughtful, unusual, and captivating.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Ekstasis Editions
Ekstasis Editions is a long-standing Canadian literary press who originally published poetry but has now branched out into fiction and criticism. They consider works from mostly Canadian authors.
Genre: Literary fiction and children’s fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Polar Bear and Co.
Polar Bear and Co. publishes books that fit into the following four themes: Inspiration, Place, History, and Imagination
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.MB Publishing
MB Publishing publishes memorable stories filled with courage, history, humor, adventure, determination, friendship and love.
Genre: Children's, middle grade and young adult fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Birlinn
Birlinn is an independent publishing house based in Edinburgh, Scotland. They accept direct submissions but encourage seeking a literary agent.
Genre: Literary and commercial fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Pegasus Publishers
Pegasus Publishers have been publishing high-quality Christian books for over 25 years, offering traditional and hybrid contracts.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Text Publishing
Text Publishing is an independent Melbourne-based publisher of fiction and nonfiction. They accept submissions from citizens or residents of Australia and New Zealand.
Genre: General fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: 40,000-120,000 words.Familius
Familius is a mission-driven company that publishes books that reflect their 10 Habits of Happy Families.
Genre: Nonfiction for children and families.
Word count: Not stated.Albert Whitman & Company
Albert Whitman & Company was founded over a century ago with the goal of making good books that kids want to read.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction for children and young adults.
Word count: Not stated.Baobab Press
Baobab Press strives to discover, cultivate, and nurture authors working in all genres.
Genre: Fiction and creative nonfiction. They charge a $15 fee for fiction submissions.
Word count: 125 to 400 pages.Wakefield Press
Wakefield Press is a leading independent publishing company based in Adelaide.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.PM Press
PM Press is an independent, radical publisher of critically necessary books.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.
Best of luck with your manuscript submissions! If you want to ensure your manuscript is in the best position to be accepted, check out my picture book editing, pre-querying package or my free writing advice. Otherwise, take a look at my genre-specific list of publishers for romance, fantasy and science fiction.