5 Picture Book Agents Open To Submissions
- Chelsea Tornetto
- Feb 6
- 2 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Finding agents open to picture books is its own part-time job. The searching, the tab-switching, the trying to figure out if that wishlist post is from last month or three years ago—it's a lot.
We've been there, so we put together this list of agents who have recently expressed interest in picture books. It's not exhaustive, and we update it when we can, so always verify directly with each agent before you query. Wishlists shift, inboxes close, life happens.
But hopefully this gives you a solid starting point and saves you a little of that frantic Googling.
Remember to read all submission guidelines carefully!
5 Picture Book Agents Open to Submissions Now
Kara is a former elementary teacher turned elementary behavioral interventionist. She works at 3 Seas where she's learned the ropes of agenting from her mom and owner of 3 Seas, Michelle Grajkowski.
In picture books, she's looking for:
Picture books that highlight the beauty in diversity, community, and childhood.
Humorous stories
Books that break the fourth wall and/or have non-traditional narration styles like “Press Here” or “The Book With No Pictures”!
Stories about disability, SEL, and/or regulation strategies.
Educational picture books that can easily align with curriculum.
Sally has more than fifteen years of experience in children’s book marketing and publicity at a variety of publishers including Macmillan, Penguin, and Chronicle Books. She has also worked as an independent consultant for global children’s book publishers and literacy-related non-profits.
In picture books, she wants:
Stories with a distinct voice, unexpected wit, aggressive pacing, punchy and/or emotionally resonant endings.
No rhyming books
Authentic explorations of underrepresented cultures, relationships, and identities.
Erin graduated from Hamilton College with a B.A. in Creative Writing. She is open to all kid lit age groups, from picture books through YA, and is particularly drawn to work that shows the author’s world- and character-building ability.
In picture books she wants:
Humorous, character-driven picture books, especially if the main character(s) could carry a series.
Hollie has a M.A. in Creative Writing (Scripts) from City University of London, and is an author herself. She's written chapter books, middle grade and youth plays. Hollie lives in commuting distance to NYC, with her husband, two kids and two fur babies. She is currently building her kidlit list.
In picture books she wants:
Authors and author / illustrators
Humor, dark humor, wacky humor, kids being kids, commercial fiction, nonfiction told in a fun / engaging way.
She's not the best fit for books that are didactic or lesson based.
Emelie spent fourteen years of working as an independent bookseller before joining Susan Schulman Literary Agency in 2021. She considers herself a literary omnivore, representing books for all ages and across many different genres.
For picture books she wants:
Clever, witty, laugh-out-loud stories that meet kids where they’re at.
Want help querying?
Join our Profitable Picture Books program for a step-by-step guide to researching and querying agents, as well as a supportive community of fellow authors to cheer you on!
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