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Sleeping Bear Press
Children's, Diverse and BIPOC voices, Fiction
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Sleeping Bear Press
Sleeping Bear Press takes picture book and middle grade submissions from authors without an agent, by email only. It replies within six months if interested and runs a yearly award for unagented BIPOC and LGBTQ writers.
Sleeping Bear Press publishes picture books and middle grade novels, fiction and nonfiction, from Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is part of Cherry Lake Publishing Group, alongside its sister imprint Tilbury House.
Any author can submit by email. Each year from January 1 to March 31 it also runs the Own Voices, Own Stories Award for unagented BIPOC and LGBTQ writers in the US who have not yet published a children’s book. The award winner receives a publishing contract with an advance and royalties.
What Sleeping Bear Press is looking for
- Picture books, fiction and nonfiction
- Middle grade novels
- Stories by BIPOC and LGBTQ writers through its yearly award
Publishes
- Children's
- Diverse and BIPOC voices
- Fiction
- LGBTQ+
- Middle grade
- Nonfiction
- Picture book
Readers
- Middle grade
- Picture book
How to submit to Sleeping Bear Press
From its own guidelines- Browse its website or catalog to see what it publishes.
- Write the cover letter in the email: name, postal address, publishing experience, word count and a short summary.
- Attach the manuscript as a Word file and use the subject line format on its submissions page.
- Wait up to six months. It replies only if interested.
Is Sleeping Bear Press right for your book?
A good fit if
You have a picture book or middle grade manuscript and have studied the books Sleeping Bear already publishes.
Look elsewhere if
You want to follow up by phone, mail a manuscript or attach your cover letter. It asks for email only, with the letter in the body of the message.
Questions about Sleeping Bear Press
Does Sleeping Bear Press accept unsolicited manuscripts?
Yes. Sleeping Bear Press reads picture book and middle grade submissions from authors without an agent. Send them by email only, with the cover letter in the body of the email and the manuscript attached as a Word file. It responds within six months if it is interested.
What is the Sleeping Bear Press Own Voices, Own Stories Award?
It is a yearly award for unagented BIPOC and LGBTQ writers in the US who have not published a traditional children's book. Entries are open from January 1 to March 31 for stories for ages 4 to 10. The winner receives a publishing contract and a cash prize.
Is Sleeping Bear Press part of a bigger company?
Yes. Sleeping Bear Press is part of Cherry Lake Publishing Group in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with Tilbury House as a sister imprint. Penguin Random House announced plans to buy the group in November 2025. Submissions still go through Sleeping Bear's own email process.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
