The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books, 3rd Edition
From Booklist
As this revised edition states, “Children’s publishing is a big business, with many kinds of publishers, many kinds of books, and right ways and wrong ways to do even such a simple thing as write a cover letter.” Chil…
Buy The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books, 3rd Edition at Amazon
Like all Idiot’s Guides, this book is designed for beginners in the field. However, after hearing the author speak at a conference, I decided that I might have things to learn from the book. I was right. Even though I’ve been writing for a while and have a contract for my first book, I found that several sections clarified some industry basics for me. It helped me sort out the relationship between companies, divisions, and imprints and was good for making sense of my contract. I also appreciated the section on working with my editor. This is an excellent primer for anyone getting started in children’s writing, and has useful information for those who have gotten a little into the field as well.
Virtually Maria (Virtual Trilogy)
Written in the form of short notes, this book contains all the information, wisdom, reading lists and even contacts that you might expect to harvest at a three-day seminar on publishing children’s books, as a mere fraction of the price.
It starts with the basic truth that children’s books MUST appeal to adults (since adults buy them – not children) and then takes the reader through the ‘world’ of children’s books and how to write, illustrate and publish them. I use the word ‘world’ because this book goes beyond the simple ‘how to’ manual in that it takes the reader inside the childrens’ book industry and deals with agents, publishers and how to build a career as a successful childrens’ book writer.
There are other books that deal with the writing, layout and illustration of childrens’ books in far more detail, but this is the first book that I’ve encountered in my thirty-plus years of writing that gives me a feel for the greater universe of book production that I need to navigate in order to achieve success.
A highly recommended first manual for every children’s book author.
Our SCBWI library has all three editions of this book and I always recommend it to anyone who contacts me for information about writing and publishing for children, at no matter what stage of the game they reside. I know of no other thorough, up-to-date publication on the children’s book business. We always sell out of them at our conferences.
The author relied not only on his own knowledge, research and experience, he contacted writers in all phases of the business and got their input as well. Either the answers are there for both aspiring and experienced writers, or the resources for further research are revealed. He continues to update information via his website and welcomes suggestions and input. What more can you ask from one book? I highly recommend it.