Children's Book Publishers Accepting Submissions
Every children's publishing house below was checked on its own website in October 2026: who is open, who needs an agent, what to send and how long replies take.
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
42publishing houses checked
22open to submissions now
23take authors without an agent
12 wksmedian reply time
Children's book publishers for first-time authors
Children's publishers that are open now and read work from authors without an agent. Status and checked dates are live.
- 1
Holiday House
Reads full manuscripts from unagented authors by email or mail, from picture books to young adult. No illustrations needed.
Reply: About 16 weeks
- 2
Albert Whitman
An open submissions policy for picture books, middle grade and young adult, with clear word limits for each.
Reply: About 24 weeks
- 3
Sleeping Bear Press
Takes picture book and middle grade manuscripts by email, and runs a yearly award for unagented BIPOC and LGBTQ writers.
Reply: About 24 weeks
- 4
Tilbury House
Reads board books to middle grade by email, with a focus on diversity, nature and social justice.
Reply: About 24 weeks
- 5
Free Spirit
Open all year to proposals on social and emotional learning for children, teens and the adults who support them.
Reply: 8 to 24 weeks
All Children's publishers
Filter by what you write and how you want to submit. Open publishers come first; every card shows when we last checked it.
No publishers match all of these. Try removing a filter.
Independent publishing companyAlbert WhitmanChildren's, Fiction, IndependentPark Ridge, Illinois, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Albert Whitman & Company has an open submissions policy for unagented authors. Email picture books, middle grade or young adult manuscripts with a cover letter. Simultaneous submissions are fine, and silence after six months means no.No agent neededSend: Cover letter in the email and the full manuscriptEmail+1 more24 wks replyest. 1919View profile →
Small pressArbordaleChildren's, Fiction, NonfictionMount Pleasant, United StatesOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Arbordale Publishing takes picture book manuscripts from authors directly. It wants fiction or narrative nonfiction under 1,000 words with science or math woven into the story, and pays small advances against royalties.No agent neededSend: The full manuscript under 1,000 words by emailEmail+2 moreReply time not statedest. 2004View profile →
Mid-sizeAugsburg FortressChristian, Academic, Children'sMinneapolis, Minnesota, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Augsburg Fortress, the publisher of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, reads direct proposals for its core line, Fortress Press and Broadleaf Books. Its children's imprint, Beaming Books, takes agented work only.Some imprints unagentedSend: Inquiry, proposal or manuscript by emailEmail, Through an agent8 wks replyView profile →Independent publishing companyBirlinnChildren's, Academic, FictionEdinburgh, Scotland, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Birlinn takes nonfiction, sport, children's and academic proposals from authors without an agent, by email. Its Polygon fiction imprint is closed to unsolicited work. Replies take up to three months.Some imprints unagentedSend: A synopsis and sample material by emailEmail12 wks replyest. 1992View profile →
Mid-sizeConcordia Publishing HouseChristian, Academic, Children'sSt. Louis, Missouri, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Concordia Publishing House is the publisher of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. It reads proposals from authors without an agent through an online form: upload its proposal form, a writing sample and an outline. If it is interested, it replies within about 12 weeks.No agent neededSend: CPH proposal form, writing sample and outline, uploaded onlineOnline form12 wks replyest. 1869View profile →
Independent publishing companyFeldheimChildren's, Nonfiction, Religion and SpiritualityNanuet, New York, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Feldheim Publishers reads completed manuscripts from authors without an agent, by email or mail. It publishes books true to Torah values for Torah-observant readers and tries to reply within three months.No agent neededSend: The completed manuscript with a cover letterEmail, Post12 wks replyView profile →Independent publishing companyFloris BooksChildren's, Independent, Middle gradeEdinburgh, Scotland, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Floris Books, in Edinburgh, takes proposals through an online form only for adult nonfiction connected to the Steiner-Waldorf or anthroposophical communities. Its Kelpies children's list is closed to general submissions and reads work only from set groups, such as Scottish BPOC Writers Network members and literary agents.Some imprints unagentedSend: Online form: bio, proposal, contents and sample chaptersOnline form12 wks replyest. 1976View profile →
Mid-sizeFrances LincolnChildren's, Art and Photography, Diverse and BIPOC voicesLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Frances Lincoln, part of The Quarto Group, takes illustrated nonfiction and children's book proposals from authors by email. Proposals go to Quarto's subject addresses with a signed Submission Agreement. Silence after three months means no.No agent neededSend: Full proposal by email with a signed Quarto agreementEmail13 wks replyest. 1977View profile →Mid-sizeFree SpiritChildren's, Diverse and BIPOC voices, Middle gradeMinneapolis, Minnesota, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Free Spirit Publishing is open year-round to proposals from authors without an agent. It publishes books on social and emotional learning for children, teens and educators, and replies within about two to six months.No agent neededSend: Full proposal with 2 sample chapters through SubmittableSubmittable, Post8 to 24 wks replyest. 1983View profile →
Mid-sizeHoliday HouseChildren's, Fiction, Middle gradeNew York, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Holiday 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.No agent neededSend: Query letter and the full manuscript by emailEmail, Post16 wks replyest. 1935View profile →Major publishing houseJessica Kingsley PublishersChildren's, Academic, Diverse and BIPOC voicesUKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Jessica Kingsley Publishers is open to nonfiction proposals from authors without an agent. Fill in its form on Submittable and expect an answer within about 8 weeks. It pays royalties but no advance as standard.No agent neededSend: Proposal form on Submittable; sample chapter optionalSubmittable+1 more8 wks replyest. 1987View profile →Small pressLantana PublishingChildren's, Comics, Diverse and BIPOC voicesUKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Lantana Publishing is open to children's book submissions from authors and illustrators from under-represented groups, through its online form. Send one file with the manuscript, a synopsis and a short bio. It replies within 12 weeks for picture books and 24 for chapter books; no reply in that time means no.Send: One file: manuscript, synopsis and short bioOnline form24 wks replyest. 2014View profile →Independent publishing companyMenucha PublishersChildren's, Cookbook, FictionBrooklyn, New York, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Menucha Publishers takes complete manuscripts from authors directly, by email or mail. The Brooklyn publisher serves Orthodox Jewish readers with Torah, novels, biographies, cookbooks and children's books, and tells every author its decision.No agent neededSend: The complete manuscript as one file with a cover letterEmail, PostReply time not statedest. 2011View profile →Mid-sizeOur Sunday VisitorChristian, Catholic, Children'sHuntington, Indiana, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Our Sunday Visitor is open to query letters from authors without an agent through its Submittable portal. Editors ask for the manuscript and proposal if the topic fits, and they aim to reply within 8 to 10 weeks. It does not accept simultaneous submissions. Adult books cannot be fiction or poetry; OSV Kids books must be overtly Catholic.No agent neededSend: Query letter first through SubmittableSubmittable8 to 10 wks replyest. 1912View profile →Small pressOwlet PressChildren's, Comics, Diverse and BIPOC voicesLeamington Spa, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Owlet Press, an independent publisher in Leamington Spa, takes children's book submissions by email. Its picture book list is full, and it most wants graphic novels and chapter books from diverse creators. Attach the manuscript with about 50 words on the book and 100 on you. It gets in touch only if interested.Send: Manuscript + 50 words on the book + 100 words on youEmailReply time not statedView profile →Mid-sizePauline Books & MediaChristian, Catholic, Children'sBoston, Massachusetts, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Pauline Books & Media is open to submissions from authors without an agent, by email or post. It pays a royalty with an advance and charges no fees. Adult proposals need sample chapters of at least 6,000 words; children's fiction needs the full manuscript and a synopsis. Replies take 8 to 10 weeks, and simultaneous submissions are fine.No agent neededSend: Cover letter + proposal + samples; kids: full textEmail, Post+2 more8 to 10 wks replyView profile →Mid-sizePaulist PressChristian, Academic, CatholicMahwah, New Jersey, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Paulist Press is open to proposals from authors without an agent, by email or post. Send a cover letter, a sample chapter, the table of contents, word count, completion date and your CV; send a full manuscript only on request. Children's books need the whole manuscript. Replies take 6 to 8 weeks. It does not publish dissertations.No agent neededSend: Cover letter + sample chapter + TOC + CVEmail, Post6 to 8 wks replyest. 1865View profile →
Small pressPentecostal Publishing HouseChristian, Academic, Children'sWeldon Spring, Missouri, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Pentecostal Publishing House, through Word Aflame Press, takes manuscripts from authors through an online form. It wants Apostolic nonfiction, pays all publishing costs and pays a 10 percent royalty. Authors do not need to be ministers.No agent neededSend: Manuscript through its online formOnline form8 to 12 wks replyView profile →
Independent publishing companyPloughChristian, Children's, ComicsWalden, New York, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Plough Publishing House, run by the Bruderhof, reads proposals from authors without an agent through an online form or by mail. It wants books on faith, community and justice and replies in about 3 to 6 weeks.No agent neededSend: Cover letter, sample chapter, contents and prospectusOnline form, Post3 to 6 wks replyest. 1920View profile →
Mid-sizeSleeping Bear PressChildren's, Diverse and BIPOC voices, FictionAnn Arbor, Michigan, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Sleeping 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.No agent neededSend: Cover letter in the email and the manuscript as a Word fileEmail+1 more24 wks replyView profile →
Small pressTilbury HouseChildren's, Diverse and BIPOC voices, FictionAnn Arbor, Michigan, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Tilbury House Publishers takes children's book submissions from authors without an agent, by email only. It publishes board books to middle grade, welcomes diverse voices and replies within six months if interested.No agent neededSend: Cover letter in the email and the manuscript as a Word fileEmail24 wks replyView profile →
Big 5 publishing houseZondervanChristian, Academic, Children'sGrand Rapids, Michigan, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Zondervan reads unsolicited proposals only for Zondervan Academic: textbooks, reference and scholarly books. Its other imprints work through literary agents. Academic proposals go by email, and silence after 6 weeks means no.Some imprints unagentedSend: Academic: proposal of up to 5 pagesEmail6 wks replyest. 1931View profile →
Major publishing houseB&H PublishingChristian, Academic, Children'sBrentwood, Tennessee, USAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026B&H Publishing, home of Holman Bible Publishers, takes book proposals only from literary agents. It is part of Lifeway Christian Resources and publishes trade, church and academic books plus the Christian Standard Bible.Send: Proposal, sent by your literary agentThrough an agentReply time not statedView profile →
Major publishing houseChicken HouseChildren's, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, FictionFrome, UKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Chicken House reads general submissions only through literary agents. Unagented, unpublished writers can enter its yearly Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition, which closed for 2026 on 1 June.Send: Through a literary agent, or its yearly competitionThrough an agentPays an advanceReply time not statedest. 2000View profile →
Big 5 publishing houseHachette Book GroupChildren's, Diverse and BIPOC voices, Fantasy and Sci-FiNew York, USAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Hachette Book Group works mainly with literary agents, but three imprints take work directly: Forever reads romance and women's fiction from unagented BIPOC writers, and Storey and Timber Press read nonfiction proposals.Some imprints unagentedSend: Through an agent; some imprints take proposals directlyThrough an agent, Email, PostReply time not statedView profile →Independent publishing companyLee & LowChildren's, Diverse and BIPOC voices, FictionNew York, USAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Lee & Low Books is closed to unsolicited manuscripts until further notice. It reads work from agents and from writers its editors meet at conferences, and runs New Voices and New Visions contests for unpublished writers of color.Send: Through an agent, or a contest when one is openThrough an agentReply time not statedest. 1991View profile →
Mid-sizeLernerChildren's, Fiction, IndependentMinneapolis, Minnesota, USAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Lerner 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.Send: Through a literary agent or a referralThrough an agentReply time not statedest. 1959View profile →
Big 5 publishing houseMacmillanChildren's, Cookbook, FictionNew York, USAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Macmillan Publishers does not accept unsolicited manuscripts, proposals or queries in the US. Its houses, including St. Martin's, Minotaur, Henry Holt and Celadon, read work sent by literary agents.Send: Through a literary agent onlyThrough an agentReply time not statedView profile →Independent publishing companyNosy CrowChildren's, Fiction, IndependentLondon, UKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Nosy Crow does not accept unsolicited manuscripts or proposals. The London children's publisher reads agented work and sometimes runs time-limited open calls, announced on its blog.Send: Through a literary agent, or an open call when one runsThrough an agentReply time not statedView profile →Mid-sizePeachtreeChildren's, Fiction, Middle gradeAtlanta, Georgia, USAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Peachtree Publishing does not accept unsolicited manuscripts or picture book dummies. Its staff reviews only work queried through a literary agent or materials it has asked for. It publishes picture books to young adult.Send: Through a literary agent onlyThrough an agentReply time not statedest. 1977View profile →
Big 5 publishing housePenguin Random HouseChristian, Children's, Fantasy and Sci-FiNew York, USAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Penguin Random House does not accept unsolicited submissions, proposals or manuscripts. Its imprints read work from literary agents. Its Berkley imprint has run short open windows for unagented writers, but none is open or announced in October 2026.Send: Through a literary agent onlyThrough an agentReply time not statedest. 2013View profile →Big 5 publishing houseSimon & SchusterChildren's, Diverse and BIPOC voices, FictionNew York, USAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Simon & Schuster does not accept unsolicited or unagented submissions, with one standing exception: Salaam Reads, its children's imprint, reads manuscripts by email. Its other imprints work through literary agents.Some imprints unagentedSend: Through a literary agent; Salaam Reads takes email submissionsThrough an agent, EmailReply time not statedest. 1924View profile →Major publishing houseTyndaleChristian, Children's, FictionCarol Stream, Illinois, USAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Tyndale House Publishers no longer reads unsolicited manuscripts. It takes proposals from literary agents, its own authors and people it knows in publishing. It publishes Christian fiction, nonfiction, children's books and the New Living Translation.Send: Manuscript or proposal, sent by your agentThrough an agentReply time not statedest. 1962View profile →Major publishing houseUsborneChildren's, Fiction, IndependentLondon, UKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Usborne accepts fiction manuscripts only through literary agents and does not read unsolicited work. Its baby, picture, activity, novelty and nonfiction books are written in-house, so it takes no submissions for those. It suggests finding an agent through The Children's Writers' and Artists' Yearbook.Send: Fiction through a literary agent onlyThrough an agentReply time not statedest. 1973View profile →Major publishing houseWalker BooksChildren's, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, FictionUKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Walker Books does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Writers need another route, usually a literary agent. Illustrators and author-illustrators can email illustrated picture-book stories or artwork samples to its illustrator submissions address, though a reply is not guaranteed. It says it never charges authors a fee.Send: No manuscripts; illustrators may email samplesThrough an agent, EmailReply time not statedest. 1978View profile →Independent publishing companyAndersen PressChildren's, Fiction, IndependentLondon, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Andersen Press is currently unable to accept unsolicited manuscripts or book proposals. The independent London children's publisher, home of Elmer and Little Princess, publishes picture books, fiction and graphic novels. Watch its contact page for changes, or work with a literary agent.Send: No unsolicited manuscripts or proposalsNo reopening date givenReply time not statedest. 1976View profile →Independent publishing companyCharlesbridgeChildren's, Diverse and BIPOC voices, FictionWatertown, Massachusetts, USClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Charlesbridge has paused its open children's submissions program, with no reopening date as of October 2026. When open, it reads picture books to young adult by email from January to June.Send: Program paused; usual route is email January to JuneEmailNo reopening date given24 wks replyView profile →Small pressFirefly PressChildren's, Fiction, IndependentCaerphilly, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Firefly Press is closed to fiction and nonfiction submissions right now. It opens occasional windows, announced in advance on its social media, and publishes fiction for readers aged 5 to 19. Illustrators can still email a small sample and a website link at any time.Send: Closed; illustrators may email a sample and linkEmailNo reopening date givenReply time not statedest. 2013View profile →Mid-sizeHarvest HouseChristian, Children's, FictionEugene, Oregon, USClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Harvest House Publishers does not accept unsolicited manuscripts, proposals or self-published books. It finds new writers through agents, paid manuscript listing services and Christian writers conferences.Send: Nothing direct: agents and conferences onlyNo reopening date givenReply time not statedest. 1974View profile →Major publishing houseLittle TigerChildren's, Fiction, Middle gradeLondon, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Little Tiger Group is unable to accept unsolicited submissions. The London children's publisher, owned by Penguin Random House, publishes board books, picture books, chapter books, novels and nonfiction. Watch its guidelines page for any change, or work with a literary agent.Send: No unsolicited submissionsNo reopening date givenReply time not statedest. 1987View profile →
Mid-sizeMoody PublishersChristian, Children's, NonfictionUnited StatesClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Moody Publishers is closed to unsolicited manuscripts as of October 2026. It gives priority to proposals from literary agents, its own authors and writers it meets at conferences, and it replies within about 6 weeks when it does read one.Send: Full proposal with 2 sample chapters (when open)EmailNo reopening date given6 wks replyest. 1894View profile →
Independent publishing companyOrca BooksChildren's, Comics, Diverse and BIPOC voicesVictoria, CanadaClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Orca 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.No agent neededSend: Depends on the series; through CanSubmit during the windowOnline form+1 moreNo reopening date given16 wks replyest. 1984View profile → What do Open, Closed and Agent needed mean?
- Open now: the publisher's own site says it is reading submissions today, in at least one genre listed.
- Closed: not reading new submissions right now. We show the reopening date when the publisher gives one.
- Agent needed: it only reads manuscripts sent by a literary agent.
Submit with confidence
Four checks before you send anything to a publisher, whichever list you use.
Check it on their own site
Guidelines change. Read the publisher's own submissions page on the day you send.
Never pay to be published
A traditional publisher pays you. If a company asks for money, it is a paid service.
Send exactly what they ask
Query, proposal or sample chapters: follow the format and word count to the letter.
Track every submission
Note the date, the reply time and whether no reply means no before you follow up.
These children's book publishers were each checked on their own websites in October 2026. Every one is a traditional publisher that pays authors. Some children's book publishing companies read picture books and novels straight from writers, while others take work only through agents or during short windows. Each card shows which, what to send and how long the publishing house takes to reply. Filter by age group, genre or agent rule to find publishers for your children's book.
Children’s book publishing companies that welcome first-time authors
23 of the 42 children’s book publishers on this page read submissions from authors without an agent, and 22 are open now. For a first picture book, look for a publisher that accepts the full text by email and does not require illustrations. Holiday House, Albert Whitman and Tilbury House all review the text on its own.
Do you need illustrations to submit a picture book?
Usually not. Most children’s book publishers on this list ask writers to send the text only and choose an illustrator themselves. Author-illustrators can add sketches or a portfolio, but never original art. Check each profile, because a few publishers ask for sample art from illustrators.
Publishers with submission windows and contests
Some children’s publishers open only at set times. Orca reads during submission periods for Canadian writers, and Charlesbridge has paused its usual January to June window. Others run contests for unagented writers, such as Lee & Low‘s New Voices and New Visions awards and Chicken House‘s yearly fiction competition. We recheck every page monthly and update the status here.
How to submit a children’s book to a publisher
- Know your category and word count. Picture books are often under 1,000 words; middle grade and young adult are much longer.
- Shortlist publishers that take your age group and read work without an agent.
- Follow each publisher’s format exactly: cover letter in the email body or attached, full text or sample chapters.
- Note the reply time. Many children’s publishers reply only if interested, often within four to six months.
Thinking of publishing it yourself instead? Compare both routes in our guide to how to publish a children’s book.
Children’s publishers that charge are not listed
A traditional children’s book publisher pays you and covers illustration, design and printing. Companies that ask you to pay for illustration or printing packages are paid services, so they are not on this list. See the warning signs in our guide to vanity presses.
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Questions authors ask
Answers use the live data on this page.
Which children's book publishers accept unsolicited manuscripts?
Several children's book publishers accept unsolicited manuscripts, including Holiday House, Albert Whitman, Sleeping Bear Press, Tilbury House, Free Spirit Publishing and Arbordale. Use the No agent needed filter on this page for the current list, and read each publisher's guidelines before you send.
Do I need an illustrator before I submit a picture book?
No, not usually. Most children's book publishers want the text only from writers and choose the illustrator themselves. Author-illustrators may add sketches or a portfolio. Check each publisher's profile, since a few ask illustrators for sample art. Never send original artwork.
How long do children's book publishers take to reply?
Many children's book publishers take four to six months and reply only if they are interested, so no reply means no. Each card on this page shows the publisher's stated reply time, and the live line at the top shows the median.
What are the best children's book publishers for first-time authors?
The best children's book publishers for first-time authors are open now, read work without an agent and publish your age group. Holiday House, Albert Whitman, Sleeping Bear Press and Tilbury House are good starting points. Check each one's word limits first.
Browse more:Memoir book publishersFantasy and Sci-Fi book publishersIndependent book publishersPoetry book publishersReligion and Spirituality book publishersRomance book publishersNonfiction book publishersNew York book publishersFiction book publishersAcademic book publishersSelf-publishing services
How we verify listings. We list traditional publishers only: no hybrid, vanity or paid self-publishing companies. Every listing is checked on the publisher's own website and rechecked every month. This page was last updated 25 Oct 2026; next review November 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us.
