Children's book query example

Consult a written or online guide to childrens book publishers. Query letter basics for the childrens book market book editing. Editors see a gazillion manuscripts every day, and the sight of certain common errors makes them sigh with impatience. I am a member of scbwi and the author of a childrens picture book. How to draft proposals to childrens book publishers dummies. Traditional publishing, for example, requires an agent and read article. Tips include formatting the manuscript, finding publisher. This vid is a nononsense guide to submitting a picture book or a longer piece of fiction or nonfiction to a children s book publisher. After all, there are now more publishing options than ever. A query letter is a onepage letter sent to literary agents in an effort to get them excited about your book.

Read aloud eat your peas childrens book by kes gray. If you dont make a good first impression, your childrens book manuscript will likely get sent right back to you accompanied by one of those dreaded rejection letters. Its an example of a great picture book with an outsidethebox friendship hook. In my role as coadmin for the query critique forum on 12 x 12, i recently wrote a post on writing a picture book query. Remember that picture book format is just one small component of a successful childrens book submission. There are lots of query howtos out there, but im hard to educate. For example, agent x may be one those with a rampant distaste for queries beginning with a rhetorical question. Why else would you be subjecting yourself to this query torture. I know an editor who says if you cant tell me what your book is about. Query letters for children s book fiction musings archive for april 2003. It is either sent without an accompanying manuscript, or with two or three sample chapters the publishers guidelines will state which form the query should take. If you read the sample query below, and check out the information sources offered in this article, you will realize there are many different ways to write a successful query letter.

Ann stampler has written many absolutely wonderful children s books, and when she verged into the ya category, i know i was extremely ha. Write a killer picture book query to hook a literary agents. Simple query letter for picture book tips and a sample so you can publish a picture. If youre hoping to secure a traditional publisher for your next great american. If the query letter stands alone, its your only chance to sell the editor on your book. Picture book format and how to format your manuscript kidlit. Query letters for childrens book fiction harold underdown. For example, if youre an elementary school teacher or librarian, it is. Secrets of successful childrens book authors parents. You would never do a proposal for a board book, for example unless for some strange reason thats how the publisher youre targeting wants board books.

How to write a darn good query letter ny book editors. You also have your picture book query letter, and, well, the most important thing. Wow children book publishers with perfect query letters. You have one page and 300 words or less to woo a literary agent into falling in love with your story and then requesting your manuscript. How to format your childrens book manuscript dummies. Depaola advises sending query letters instead of unsolicited manuscripts.

The children s book eat your peas, written by kes gray, is narrated by characters from the red apple reading program. Ive had a book by katie van camp and illustrated by lincoln agnew called harry and horsie on my recommended reading list for a while. A query is a business letter asking permission to send the project described. Query letter basics for the childrens book market book. But dont try to plump up your bio with irrelevant details or tell them about your dream of being an author. If you havent picked it up yet, im sorry for you, because youre missing out. Remember the old saying, there is more than one way to skin a cat. Doo doo doo doo doo doo paperback at walmart and save. Dont focus so much on picture book manuscript format that you lose sight of character, plot, and writing style. I have also had stories published in childrens magazines. If you read the sample query below, and check out the information sources offered in this. Picture books queries are a different animal from mid grade and ya. And if its your first book, dont be embarrassed to say so. A query letter is meant to elicit an invitation to send sample chapters or even the whole manuscript to the agent.

It is either sent without an accompanying manuscript, or with two or three sample. Childrens book coach and bestselling authoreditor emma walton hamilton gives a stepbystep lesson in how to write a pitchperfect query. How to draft proposals to childrens book publishers. How to format a picture book manuscript for publishers.