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Lerner Publishing Group
Children's, Fiction, Independent
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Lerner
Lerner Publishing Group does not accept unsolicited submissions or queries from authors without an agent or a referral. It sometimes runs open calls, announced in its Press Room. It publishes children's fiction and nonfiction across many imprints.
Lerner Publishing Group was founded in 1959 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and calls itself one of the largest independent children’s book publishers in the US. Its imprints include Carolrhoda Books, Carolrhoda Lab, Millbrook Press, Graphic Universe, Zest Books and Kar-Ben Publishing.
Lerner reads work only from agents and referred authors. From time to time it announces an open call in its Press Room with its own instructions, so watch that page if you do not have an agent.
What Lerner is looking for
- Picture books and children's nonfiction
- Middle grade and young adult fiction
- Graphic novels (Graphic Universe)
- Jewish children's books (Kar-Ben)
Publishes
- Children's
- Fiction
- Independent
- Middle grade
- Nonfiction
- Picture book
- Young adult
How to submit to Lerner
From its own guidelines- Find a literary agent who represents children's books.
- Your agent submits to the right Lerner imprint.
- Without an agent, watch Lerner's Press Room for open calls and follow their instructions.
Is Lerner right for your book?
A good fit if
You have a literary agent or a referral, or you can act fast when Lerner posts an open call.
Look elsewhere if
You want to send an unsolicited manuscript or query. Lerner does not accept them from unagented or unreferred authors.
Lerner imprints
Which take submissions| Imprint | Direct submissions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carolrhoda Books | Agent only | Group-wide policy |
| Carolrhoda Lab | Agent only | Group-wide policy |
| Millbrook Press | Agent only | Group-wide policy |
| Lerner Publications | Agent only | Group-wide policy |
| Twenty-First Century Books | Agent only | Group-wide policy |
| Graphic Universe | Agent only | Group-wide policy |
| Zest Books | Agent only | Group-wide policy |
| Kar-Ben Publishing | Not stated | Jewish children's books; own policy not confirmed |
Questions about Lerner
Does Lerner Publishing Group accept unsolicited manuscripts?
No. Lerner Publishing Group does not accept unsolicited submissions or queries from authors who have no agent or referral. It sometimes announces open calls in its Press Room, each with its own instructions. Outside those calls, the route in is a literary agent.
What imprints are part of Lerner Publishing Group?
Lerner Publishing Group has many imprints, including Carolrhoda Books, Carolrhoda Lab, Millbrook Press, Lerner Publications, Twenty-First Century Books, Graphic Universe, Zest Books and Kar-Ben Publishing for Jewish children's books. The group-wide submission policy applies to them, so an agent or a referral is needed for each.
Where is Lerner Publishing Group based?
Lerner Publishing Group is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where it was founded in 1959. It describes itself as one of the largest independent children's book publishers in the United States. Writers anywhere can reach it the same way: through an agent, a referral or an open call.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
