Independent publishing company
Orca Book Publishers
Children's, Comics, Diverse and BIPOC voices
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Orca Books
Orca Book Publishers is closed to submissions as of October 2026. Its last window ran until the end of August 2026. It publishes children's and teen books by Canadian citizens and permanent residents only, through CanSubmit.
Orca Book Publishers was founded in 1984 in Victoria, British Columbia, and is an independent children’s publisher. Orca book publishers release board books, picture books, early chapter books, middle grade, hi-lo novels for reluctant readers, graphic novels and nonfiction.
Orca reads submissions only during set periods, and only from Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Its last period ran until the end of August 2026 and no new date is posted yet. We recheck every month and will show the next window here.
What Orca Books is looking for
- Board books and picture books
- Orca Echoes early chapter books
- Middle grade fiction
- Hi-lo novels for teens who find reading hard
- Children's nonfiction
- Books by Indigenous creators
Publishes
- Children's
- Comics
- Diverse and BIPOC voices
- Fiction
- Horror
- Independent
- LGBTQ+
- Middle grade
- Nonfiction
- Picture book
- Young adult
Readers
- Board book
- Early reader and chapter book
- Middle grade
- Picture book
- Young adult
How to submit to Orca Books
From its own guidelines- Wait for the next submission period on the Orca author guidelines page.
- Pick the series that fits your book and check its word count and what to send.
- Create a CanSubmit account and upload your materials with a cover letter and short bio.
- If you hear nothing in four months, Orca has passed.
Is Orca Books right for your book?
A good fit if
You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with a children's or teen book that fits one of Orca's series.
Look elsewhere if
- Writers outside Canada
- Adult fiction, adult nonfiction or poetry
- Manga or anime-style graphic novels
- Anything made with AI
Questions about Orca Books
Is Orca Book Publishers accepting submissions?
Not right now. Orca Book Publishers reads submissions only during set periods, and its last one ran until the end of August 2026. No new date is posted yet. We recheck its guidelines every month and will update this page when the next window opens.
Who can submit to Orca Book Publishers?
Only Canadian citizens and permanent residents can submit to Orca Book Publishers. Submissions go through CanSubmit during an open period, never by email or mail. Each series has its own word count and materials, so read the guidelines for your series first.
How long does Orca take to reply?
Orca says that if you have not heard back within four months, your project is not right for its list. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but tell Orca if your book is accepted somewhere else. Mark it as a multiple submission when you upload it to CanSubmit.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
