20 Legitimate Children's Book Publishers That Accept Unagented Submissions
- Vicky Weber
- Jan 8, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: May 6
If you dream of landing a traditional publishing deal, but don’t want to go through the grueling process of querying literary agents, you’re in luck! There are many totally legitimate publishers out there who want to read (and hopefully publish) your story.
But how do you know which ones you can trust and which ones are vanity presses in disguise?
We’ve got you covered! Below, we’ve updated our list of legitimate traditional publishers who are open to unagented submissions, giving you 20 great options to choose from!
⚡Don't forget, if you want someone to guide and support you on your publishing journey, join our Profitable Picture Books Program! For less than the cost of a meal out each month, you'll get detailed instructions on submitting to publishers, monthly Q & A opportunities, and a supportive group of writer friends to cheer you on!
Before you submit to book publishers...
When it comes to submitting to traditional publishers, your first shot is your best shot. And many of them get hundreds of submissions each week! So, before we share our list of publishers below, here are some tips to make sure your manuscript will stand out from the crowd.
1. Have your story thoroughly polished
Lots of new authors think this just means cleaning up the grammar and punctuation when in reality, the developmental concerns are usually what gets a book rejected. Publishers want books that are 99.9% publication ready so your book should have gone through beta readers or critique groups multiple times and if possible, hire a freelance editor for a few rounds of edits.
2. Prepare a solid pitch
Your story could be incredible but if you can't sell it, it's never going to make it onto a bookshelf. Practice, practice, practice and don't be afraid to run your pitch through your critique group too!
3. Write your query
A query is a lot like a job application. Your query letter is the equivalent of a cover letter where you inform the publisher (or agent) about yourself, your book, and why you're the best person to tell that story. The rest of your query will consist of comparable book titles, market research on your target audience, an elevator pitch, and more. You'll want to prepare all of this in advance as you get ready to submit to children's book publishers.
4. Read the catalog
Before you send over your query, you want to make sure that your book is a good fit compared to books they've already published. If your book doesn't feel like it would belong, you're setting yourself up for an instant rejection by that publisher. But besides that, you want your publisher to be excited about what you have to offer and that starts with sending them stories that fit their existing catalog.
5. Check the submission guidelines carefully
Every publisher's submission guidelines will be slightly different so to give yourself the strongest chance, make sure you review these before you hit "submit." You don't want to receive a rejection simply because you forgot something they requested.
Phew! I think you're ready.
So without further ado, here's a list of vetted children's book publishers you can send your picture book without an agent:
Andrews McNeel is a larger, midwest-based publisher of poetry, humor, inspiration, children’s books and calendars. According to their website they publish between 150-200 books/products each year. They accept submissions via a form on their website.
Annick Press is an independent Canadian publisher that publishes picture books, early reader chapter books, middle grade, young adult, and comics. They are also open to submissions from illustrators. If you’re Canadian, you’ve got a leg up here, though they are open to submissions from anywhere in the world, and are committed to elevating voices that have previously been underrepresented in the publishing world.
Arbordale focuses on fun picture books that get kids excited about math and science. Only open to US authors, and does NOT accept rhyme. They give lots of details about what they are, and aren’t looking for on their website.
Small press publishing around 10 titles per year. Open to board books through middle grade, with a focus on “...appreciation of nature, conservation, environmental stewardship, science, social/emotional learning.”
Will open to new submissions in October 2025. Bushel and Peck is a small, family-owned publisher of board books through middle grade, “that foster a love of learning, promote empathy, and inspire kids to be their best selves.”
Cardinal Rule Press is a children's book publisher that exclusively publishes realistic fiction for ages 4-11. That means that your characters should be children and the events that occur should be possible to occur in real life. They only publish 3-5 titles per year so they are highly selective and only open to submissions once per year.
They publish both fiction and nonfiction board books, picture books, early readers, middle-grade, and young adult novels. They are not seeking alphabet books or coloring/activity books at this time but are always looking for marginalized voices and fresh perspectives.
Chronicle has a wide interest in different children's book subjects and formats. They even accept activity kits and other innovative formats!
Cicada Books specializes in “beautiful, high end books for kids ages 4-11.” They don’t give a lot of info about the submission process, just an email to send your work to. But they do say they try to respond to each individual submission.
Eerddmans publishes 18-20 books each year ranging from board books up to young adult. They say, “We seek high-quality manuscripts that are honest, wise, and hopeful, and we publish stories that simply delight us with their storylines, characters, or good humor. Books that celebrate diversity, explore the natural world, share stories of historical or cultural significance, and relate to contemporary social issues are of special interest to us.”
A small but reputable publishing company with a strong focus on children's books for families.
A publisher that focuses on picture books for 4-8 year olds with topics about family and social emotional themes.
Holiday House exclusively publishes children's books and is distributed by Penguin Random House. They do not acquire or publish pop-up books, sticker books, or coloring/activity books.
Open to picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and graphic novels. Especially interested in books that blend fiction and non-fiction elements, humor, and Own Voices submissions.
A Canadian publisher committed to amplifying underrepresented voices and mental health subjects in children's literature. You do not need to be Canadian - they publish fiction and non-fiction from writers from around the world. For picture books specifically, they do not accept rhyming manuscripts.
This children's book publisher enjoys working with debut authors and actively seek diverse authors and perspectives.
Page Street publishes “picture books in all genres for ages 4-8 with particular focus on new talent, artist-led narratives, engaging story arcs, and visually driven concepts.” They do NOT accept board books.
Paw Prints publishes picture books and early readers with a focus on “focus on diverse voices, inclusivity, and social-emotional engagement.”
A well known publisher of high quality children's fiction and non-fiction. They accept board books, picture books, beginning readers, and some middle grade.
Quarto is a large publisher with many imprints. Submit to a single email and they’ll forward it to the appropriate imprints.
What to do after submitting to a publisher
Once you've sent off your query and your book, it can take months or longer before hearing back from a publisher. You'll notice that many of their submission guidelines contain a disclaimer stating they may only respond to books they intend to publish due to the high volume of submissions. So be prepared for the possibility that you may never hear back from some of them.
In the meantime, you can query agents if you're interested in that route or you can continue writing new books and submit those to agents or publishers.
Keep in mind that getting your book published is a process so whatever you do, stay patient and remind yourself why you wanted to become an author in the first place. Leave us a comment below...why do you want to be an author?
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