Children's Book Publishers in the UK Accepting Submissions
Every UK 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
UK children's publishers open to authors
Houses with a direct route for children's writers or illustrators.
- 1
Lantana Publishing
Inclusive picture books to young adult from creators from under-represented groups, through an online form.
Reply: About 24 weeks
- 2
Owlet Press
Graphic novels and chapter books by email; its picture book list is full.
Reply: Not stated
- 3
Frances Lincoln
Illustrated children's and nonfiction proposals by email through Quarto.
Reply: About 13 weeks
- 4
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Nonfiction proposals from authors without an agent through Submittable, with an answer in about 8 weeks.
Reply: About 8 weeks
- 5
Walker Books
No unsolicited manuscripts, but illustrators can email picture-book stories and samples.
Reply: Not stated
- 6
Chicken House
Agent-only, with a yearly competition for unagented, unpublished writers.
Reply: Not stated
All UK 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.
Mid-sizeBlack & White PublishingChildren's, Cookbook, FictionEdinburgh, Scotland, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Black & White Publishing is open to unagented nonfiction proposals by email. Send a one-page proposal covering your background and a book summary. Unsolicited fiction is accepted only in announced windows, which are currently closed, and no reply within six months means no.No agent neededSend: One-page nonfiction proposal by emailEmail26 wks replyest. 1999View profile →
Traditional publisherFaberChildren's, Fiction, Literary fictionLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Faber & Faber now accepts unsolicited submissions of poetry only, and poets do not need an agent. Send six examples of your work; no reply within eight weeks means no. It does not take unsolicited fiction, nonfiction, plays, screenplays or children's books.Some imprints unagentedSend: Poetry only: six poems8 wks replyest. 1929View 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 →
Independent publishing companyFlying Eye BooksChildren's, Comics, Middle gradeLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Flying Eye Books is open to unagented submissions by email for children's picture books, comics and graphic novels for ages 4 to young adult, plus illustrated nonfiction. Put the project type in the subject line and attach two PDFs. No reply within 6 weeks means no.No agent neededSend: Manuscript PDF + supporting PDF by emailEmail6 wks replyest. 2008View 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-sizeHardie GrantChildren's, Cookbook, Diverse and BIPOC voicesLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Hardie Grant reads adult proposals, including cookbooks and travel, through Submittable. Its UK office reviews unsolicited proposals by email. Send an outline, chapter outline, sample chapter and visuals with a cover letter. Its Australian children's list is open only to Australian creators from marginalized backgrounds.No agent neededSend: Outline, chapter outline, sample chapter and visualsSubmittable, Email, PostReply time not statedView 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 →
Major publishing houseLaurence KingChildren's, Art and Photography, NonfictionLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Laurence King is open to unagented proposals for illustrated nonfiction, gift and children's books. Email a proposal with a summary, overview, market, competing titles, bio and sample visuals to commissioning@laurenceking.com. It does not publish fiction.No agent neededSend: Proposal + sample visuals by emailEmailReply time not statedest. 1991View profile →Independent publishing companyOneworldChildren's, Academic, FictionLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Oneworld Publications is open to nonfiction proposals from authors without an agent. Fill in its nonfiction form and email it to submissions@oneworld-publications.com. All fiction, including its Point Blank, Magpie and Rock the Boat lists, is closed for now.No agent neededSend: Nonfiction proposal form by emailEmailReply time not statedest. 1986View 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 →
Independent publishing companyRyland Peters & SmallChildren's, Art and Photography, CookbookLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Ryland Peters & Small, an independent London publisher of illustrated nonfiction, reads proposals for books including cookbooks. Send a covering letter and synopsis, contents list, short bio and an optional sample, not a complete manuscript, to enquiries@rps.co.uk. No reply within four to six weeks means no.Send: Letter, synopsis, contents and bio; no full manuscriptsEmail4 to 6 wks replyest. 1995View profile →
Mid-sizeTate PublishingChildren's, Art and Photography, NonfictionLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Tate Publishing in London is open to proposals from unagented authors. You email submissions@tate.org.uk or post a 2 to 3 page proposal with sample material to Millbank, London SW1P 4RG. It publishes books on the visual arts and books for children, and no reply within 3 months means no.No agent neededSend: 2 to 3 page proposal + sample material by email or postEmail, Post12 wks replyest. 1911View profile →
Independent publishing companyThames & HudsonChildren's, Art and Photography, HistoryLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Thames & Hudson is open to unagented nonfiction proposals in its subject areas. Email a proposal with an overview, chapter outline and up to 6 sample images to submissions@thameshudson.co.uk, or post it to the London head office. It does not publish fiction or poetry.No agent neededSend: Proposal + up to 6 sample images by email or postEmail, Post12 wks replyest. 1949View 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 →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 →
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 →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 →
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 →
Independent publishing companyPushkin PressChildren's, Fiction, IndependentLondon, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Pushkin Press is not accepting unsolicited submissions and will not respond to manuscripts or pitches. The independent London publisher still considers translation projects, so translators can query by email using the address on its about page.Send: Closed; translation queries onlyNo reopening date givenReply time not statedest. 1997View profile →
Small pressScotland Street PressChildren's, Art and Photography, Diverse and BIPOC voicesEdinburgh, Scotland, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Scotland Street Press, an independent publisher in Edinburgh, is closed to submissions right now and does not read unsolicited work sent while it is closed. When it reopens, you send a link to your full manuscript through its online submission form.Send: Closed now; when open, manuscript link via online formOnline formNo reopening date givenReply time not statedest. 2014View 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.
Our list of children's book publishers in the UK covers 24 houses, from independent picture book presses to large groups, and 15 are open to submissions today. Every listing was checked on the publisher's own site and shows whether you need an agent, what to send and how long a reply takes. Many big UK children's houses read only agented work, so use the filters to find those reading now. Every profile gives the exact package each house wants, from picture books to teen novels.
Children’s book publishers UK: who reads unagented work
Among children’s publishers UK writers ask about, a handful still read work sent directly by writers. Lantana Publishing reads picture books, chapter books and young adult work from creators from under-represented groups. Owlet Press takes graphic novels and chapter books by email. Frances Lincoln takes illustrated children’s proposals through Quarto’s subject addresses.
Picture book publishers UK
Picture book publishers in the UK are often the hardest to reach without an agent. Owlet Press says its picture book list is full for now, while Lantana still reads picture books. Walker Books does not take unsolicited manuscripts but accepts illustrated picture-book stories and artwork samples by email. Usborne writes its picture books in-house.
Independent children’s book publishers UK
Several independent children’s book publishers in the UK appear here, including Andersen Press, Firefly Press, Floris Books and Nosy Crow. Independents often run competitions and open windows: Firefly announces windows on social media, and Chicken House runs a yearly competition for unagented, unpublished writers.
Best children’s book publishers UK: how to choose
The best children’s book publishers in the UK for you are the ones that publish books like yours and read work from writers in your position. A big house with an agent-only rule will not read an unagented manuscript, however good it is. Start with the open houses on this page, then compare the agent-only ones such as Usborne and Little Tiger once you have representation.
How we check these listings
Every publisher on this page was checked on its own website, and we review each listing every month. We list only traditional publishers, which pay authors and do not charge them to publish. If a house adds fees, packages or a paid route, we say so on its profile or leave it out of the directory.
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Questions authors ask
Answers use the live data on this page.
Which UK children's book publishers accept unagented submissions?
On this page, Lantana Publishing and Owlet Press read children's work sent directly, and Frances Lincoln takes illustrated proposals through Quarto. Walker Books accepts illustrator samples by email. Chicken House runs a competition for unagented writers. Most other UK children's publishers listed here, such as Usborne, read only agented work.
Do UK children's publishers need illustrations with a picture book?
Usually not. Owlet Press says authors do not need to supply illustrations, and Lantana says picture book authors do not need to find an illustrator. Author-illustrators should send samples or a portfolio link. Read each profile for the exact package before you send anything.
Are there UK children's publishers for diverse authors?
Yes. Lantana Publishing reads work from authors and illustrators from under-represented groups, and Owlet Press welcomes chapter books and graphic novels from diverse creators. Floris Books reads children's work from members of the Scottish BPOC Writers Network. Each profile explains who can submit.
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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.
