Mid-size
Holiday House
Children's, Fiction, Middle grade
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Holiday House
Holiday House is open to children's book submissions from authors without an agent. Email a query letter with the full manuscript attached, or send it by mail. It replies within four months only if it is interested.
Holiday House has published children’s books in New York since 1935 and is part of Walker Books Group. It publishes only for young readers: quality hardcovers from picture books to young adult, in fiction and nonfiction. Its imprints include Neal Porter Books and Margaret Ferguson Books.
Holiday House publishing submissions are open to any author. You do not need an agent, and you do not need illustrations for a picture book. The publisher says it never charges authors a fee.
What Holiday House is looking for
- Picture books
- Early readers and chapter books
- Middle grade and young adult novels
- Children's nonfiction
Illustrators can include sketches or copies of their art, never originals.
Publishes
- Children's
- Fiction
- Middle grade
- Nonfiction
- Picture book
- Young adult
Readers
- Early reader and chapter book
- Middle grade
- Picture book
- Young adult
How to submit to Holiday House
From its own guidelines- Write a short query letter in the body of an email.
- Attach the full manuscript as a Word or PDF file.
- Email it to the submissions address on the Holiday House FAQ page, or mail it to its New York office. Do not use certified mail.
- Wait four months. If it is interested, it contacts you. If not, you will not hear back.
Is Holiday House right for your book?
A good fit if
You have a finished children's manuscript, fiction or nonfiction, written for the trade hardcover market.
Look elsewhere if
- Pop-ups, activity, sticker or coloring books
- Licensed character books
- Anything created with AI
Holiday House imprints
Which take submissions| Imprint | Direct submissions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Margaret Ferguson Books | Not stated | Imprint launched in 2018 |
| Neal Porter Books | Not stated | Imprint launched in 2018 |
| I Like to Read | Not stated | Picture books for emerging readers |
Questions about Holiday House
Does Holiday House accept unagented submissions?
Yes. Holiday House reads children's book submissions sent directly by authors. Email a query letter in the body of the message with the full manuscript attached as a Word or PDF file, or mail it to the New York office. You do not need an agent or illustrations.
How long does Holiday House take to reply?
Holiday House replies within four months if it wants your book. If you hear nothing after four months, it has passed and it will not return your materials. Keep your own copies and do not send original artwork. Mail sent by certified or registered post is not accepted.
What does Holiday House not publish?
Holiday House does not publish mass market books such as pop-ups, activity books, sticker books, coloring books or licensed character books. It also will not consider material created with AI. Its focus is hardcover picture books, novels and nonfiction for young readers.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
