“Honest and precise… everything about writing for children there is to know.”
—Jane Yolen, author
Here is the comprehensive guide to writing, publishing, and selling for the ever-expanding and always exciting children’s market—now in a new and updated third edition.
• Includes new chapters on self-publishing and on "how to choose a how-to", plus revision and updates throughout
• Offers practical advice on getting started--and on dealing with out-of-print books
• Covers picture books, chapter books, nonfiction, middle-grade and young novels, and common formats and genres
• Reveals what happens inside a children's publishing company, and provides guidance in working with an editor
• Sample cover and query letters, manuscript format, glossary, and recommended resources in an extensive appendix
• Plus information on agents, contracts, copyright, marketing, and more |
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 An excellent overview of the industry |
| Review Date: January 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Reader, Decatur, GA United States |
| 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. |
Our Most Popular Resource Book for Children's Book Writers!
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| Review Date: January 15, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Robin Koontz, |
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. |
Good resource
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| Review Date: January 15, 2009 |
| Reviewer: A Bookfair Mom, |
| I've used this book and recommended this book to people interested in the children's publishing industry since it first came out. Its an excellent overview. I think the two star reviewer who said that the book was for "complete idiots," was being a little harsh. I've been working on writing and selling my own books for close to eleven years now and I still run into people who don't know the difference between the genres. Even as someone that might be called an "intermediate/advanced" writer, I still use it as a reference. |
Packed full of useful ideas
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| Review Date: March 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: John Joyce, Dublin, Ireland |
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. |
Great resource
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| Review Date: December 16, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Sudakshina Piercy, Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, 3rd Edition (Complete Idiot's Guide to) is a great resource for beginning children's book authors. I found information verifiable from my own Internet searches from the very first chapter. The book is readable, concise, and informative without being condescending. A thumbs-up for this book! |
required reading in my UCLA Extension classes
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| Review Date: October 2, 2008 |
| Reviewer: April Wayland, Southern California |
I have taught a class called Writing Picture Books for Children at UCLA Extension for over a decade, and I require every one of my students to read this book for my class.
It not only presents a broad overview of the field, but also gives specific examples. The book is packed with terrific boxed extras like "Vocabulary Lists", which explain terms from the children's publishing industry; "Class Rules", which detail warnings and cautions; "Can You Keep a Secret?", which include tips and resources to help a children's writer or illustrator present him or herself as a pro; and my favorite, "Playground Stories", which are anecdotes from and profiles of children's authors and publishers which give an eye-opening inside view of the children's publishing world.
This book should be on the shelf of everyone in the field of children's publishing. No, not on the shelf--on the desk, and open. |
Excellent resource
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| Review Date: January 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Florrie Kichler, Indianapolis, IN USA |
| A great overview of all you need to know about publishing a children's book. Harold Underdown has done an excellent job in covering this segment of the publishing industry. I recommend it as a must-have resource for anyone who is considering publishing their own children's book or simply needs to know more about creating children's books for sale. |
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