The Big List of Australian Picture Book Publishers

As an unpublished author, it’s difficult to find someone who will even read your manuscript. The picture book publishing industry is tight, with too many authors and few publishers willing to risk an unknown writer.

So I have compiled a reasonably extensive list of Australian publishers and their status with respect to accepting  unsolicited children’s picture book manuscripts.

Because I’m mostly interested in fiction and educational publishers, I did not fully research some of the publishers who did not meet my specifications. Additionally, quite a few of the publishers on this list are open to children’s books, but not picture book submissions, so I may not always have closely read the fine print on submission pages for publishers who I was not a good fit for, so as always, do your research. I’ve also included the date I last viewed their websites so you can assess how current this information may be.

Legend:

XX = not accepting unsolicited manuscripts

X* = not accepting at this time

XA = accepting only agented manuscripts

X=> = not accepting, but there are other options

XI = only accepting illustrator portfolios.

?? = more research needed

=> = refer to parent publisher’s submission information

SP = Self Publishing

Publisher	Unsolicited submissions	Notes and Submission guidelines	Last accessed
ABC books (Harper Collins)	=>	See: Harper Collins	Oct ’17
About Kids Books	??	Based in Unanderra. Website doesn’t work	July ’20
Affirm Press *NEW*	YES	Submissions >>	July ’20
Allen and Unwin www.allenandunwin.com	X*	Not currently accepting picture book texts submissions >>	July ’20
Balboa Press (Hay House)	SP	Self publishing arm of Hay House	Sep ’17
Berbay Books	X*	Submissions open until 30th April 2020. submissions@berbaybooks.com	Jan ’20
Big Sky www.bigskypublishing.com.au	YES	submissions >>	Jan ’20
Black Dog Books (Walker Books)	=>	See: Walker Books	Sep ’17
Blake Publishing/Education	X*	Not currently accepting any submissions at this time. submissions >>	Jan ’20
Boolarong Press	??	Australiana, non fiction	Sep ’17
Brolly Books	XX	No submission information http://www.brollybooks.com/	Sep ’17
Celapene Press	X*		Sep ’17
Christmas Press Picture Books	X*	CLOSED for submissions for the foreseeable future. submissions >>	Jan ’20
Coroneos Publishing	??	Educational No submission info	Jan ’20
DoctorZed Publishing	YES	Publishes PBs with good, happy stories with positive lessons and inspiration. Submissions >>	July ’20
Eagle Books	X*	Not PB. Not currently accepting submissions. submissions >>	Jan ’20
East Street Publications	??	Not trading. No website.	Jan ’20
EK Books	X*	Submissions Closed Until March 1, 2020 submissions >>	Jan ’20
Era Publications	YES	Educational K-9, Literacy focus No longer publish Trade picture books. submissions >>	Sep ’17
Five Senses Education	=>	See: Coroneos	Jan ’20
Ford Street Publishing	X*	submissions >> only accepting to 50,000+ YA novels, and Graphic Novels	Jan ’18
Freemantle Press	??	WA Authors only	Sep ’17
Gecko Press	XA	previously published, agented, or demonstrably experienced authors only. submissions >>	Sep ’17
Hachette Children’s (includes Lothian Children’s Books, Hodder Children’s Books, Orchard Books, Orion Children’s Books, Little, Brown Children’s Books, Franklin Watts and Wayland)	YES	submissions >>	Jan ’20
Hardie Grant Egmont Little Hare Books	YES	submissions >>	Jan ’20
HarperCollins	X=>	No direct submissions. Manuscripts assessed via the CBCA Aspiring Writers Mentorship Program	Sep ’17
Hinkler	YES	activity books, products, etc. Book proposal query form submissions >>	Jan ’20
Hay House	XA	Agented submissions only	Sep ’17
IAD Press	??	?? problem with website Indigenous	Sep ’17
IP Kidz	YES	All submission subject to initial reading fee of AU$90 / US$65!!! Submissions open from March – December to proposals from authors, illustrators, digital artists and animators submissions >>	Jan ’20
Jane Curry Publishing	X*		Sep ’17
Lake Press *NEW*	XX	Not currently accepting submissions. Submissions >>	July ’20
Larrikin House *NEW* Fun, quirky and original stories with a tinge of “cheeky”.	YES	Illustrators reviewed via Instagram portfolio. Submissions >>	July ’20
Little Pink Dog Books	YES*	Open for submission only on specific days. Next: 14th February 2020. submissions >>	Jan ’20
Little Steps Publishing	??	Partner publishing (author shares costs of books)	Sep ’17
Lothian (Hachette)	??	Not certain? Probably the same as Hachette	Sep ’17
Macmillan Educational	=>	See: Pan Macmillan	Jan ’20
Magabala Books	??	Indigenous only	Sep ’17
Midnight Sun *NEW*	X*	Open for submissions again in August 2020 Submissions >>	July ’20
Morris Publishing Australia	XX	Submissions >>	July ’20
New Frontier	YES	submissions >>	Jan ’20
New Holland Publishers	YES	primarily non fiction submissions >>	Jan ’20
Nosy Crow nosycrow.com	X*	Not accepting unsolicited MS at this time submissions >>	Sep ’17
Omnibus (Scholastic)	=>	See: Scholastic	Sep ’17
One Day Hill	??	Australiana	Sep ’17
Oxford University Press	YES	Educational Book Proposal required submissions >>	Jan ’20
Pan Macmillan	X*	First monday of the month for Children’s and YA (it’s not clear that they accept PB submissions). submissions >>	Jan ’20
Parragon Publishing Now Cottage Door Press	??	Illustrators only submissions >>	Jan ’20
Pantera Press	XX	Not taking PB submissions at this time Submissions >>	July ’20
Parsons Publishing	??	Christian	Sep ’17
Pascal Press	XQ	Educational submissions >>	Jan ’20
Pearson	XX	No longer accepts unsolicited MSsubmissions >>	Jan ’20
Penguin Books Australia (includes Random House)	YES	submissions >>	Jan ’20
Pademelon Press *NEW*	XQ	Educational Query proposal submissions >>	Jan ’20
Random House (Penguin)	=>	See :Penguin Books	Sep ’17
Redback *NEW*	YES*	Currently only considering picture book manuscripts that are submitted with accompanying illustrations. submissions >>	July ’20
Red Paper Kite *NEW*	YES	Illustrators Competition July – Dec ’20 submissions >>	July ’20
Scholastic (includes Scholastic Press, Scholastic Australia, Omnibus Books and Koala Books)	X*	Submissions are open for Scholastic Asia.	Sep ’17
School Magazine	YES	Closed for artists’ submissions until further notice. Writing submissions open year round submissions >>	Jan ’20
Scribble (Scribe). Vibrant, eclectic, and thought-provoking list of picture books, which celebrate the universe of childhood.	YES	Only accepting non-fiction picture book submissions in 2020. Accepting artwork samples from illustrators year-round. submissions >>	July ’20
Simon & Schuster Australia	XX		Sep ’17
St Paul’s Publications	??	Christian	Sep ’17
Starfish	YES	submissions >>	Jan ’20
Text Publishing	YES?	Children’s & YA. Not accepting PB. submissions >> Prize for YA and children’s writing Closes: 8th Feb 2020.	July ’20
The Five Mile Press	XI	Accepting illustrators only	Sep ’17
University of Queensland Press (UQP)	X*	Not accepting children’s manuscripts	Sep ’17
Wakefield Press	X*	Only one PB in their catalogue. Submissions closed until further notice. submissions >>	July ’20
Walker Books	X*	Walker Wednesday only on: 29th July, 2020 25th November, 2020 submissions >>	Jan ’20
Wide Eyed Press	??	No submission information http://www.wildeyedpress.com.au/home.htm	July ’20
Wilkins Farago	X*		Sep ’17
Windy Hollow Books	??	No submission information https://www.windyhollowbooks.com.au/	July ’20
Wombat Books Wholesome, inclusive books with an underlying Christian tone.	YES	20-28th February only. submissions >>	Jan ’20
Working Title Press (Harper Collins)	X*	Not accepting unsolicited fiction or picture book manuscripts and art portfolios until further notice submissions >>	Jan ’20
Yellow Brick Books *NEW*	YES	Authors & Illustrators submissions >>	Jan ’20
XOUM Now Brio Books	XX	No open calls for submissions submissions >>	Jan ’20