As an unpublished author, it’s difficult to find someone who will even read your manuscript.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 | July ’20 |
Balboa Press (Hay House) | SP | Self publishing arm of Hay House | Sep ’17 |
Berbay Books | X* | Submissions open until 30th April 2020. | 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. | Jan ’20 |
Coroneos Publishing | ?? | Educational
No submission info |
Jan ’20 |
DoctorZed Publishing | YES | Publishes PBs with good, happy stories with positive lessons and inspiration. | July ’20 |
Eagle Books | X* | Not PB.
Not currently accepting submissions. |
Jan ’20 |
East Street Publications | ?? | Not trading. No website. | Jan ’20 |
EK Books | X* | Submissions Closed Until March 1, 2020 | Jan ’20 |
Era Publications | YES | Educational K-9, Literacy focus
No longer publish Trade picture books. |
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. | 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 |
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 |
Jan ’20 |
Jane Curry Publishing | X* | Sep ’17 | |
Lake Press
*NEW* |
XX | Not currently accepting submissions. | July ’20 |
Larrikin House
*NEW* Fun, quirky and original stories with a tinge of “cheeky”. |
YES | Illustrators reviewed via Instagram portfolio. | July ’20 |
Little Pink Dog Books | YES* | Open for submission only on specific days. Next: 14th February 2020. | 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 | July ’20 |
Morris Publishing Australia | XX | Submissions >> | July ’20 |
New Frontier | YES | submissions >> | Jan ’20 |
New Holland Publishers | YES | primarily non fiction | Jan ’20 |
Nosy Crow
nosycrow.com |
X* | Not accepting unsolicited MS at this time | Sep ’17 |
Omnibus (Scholastic) | => | See: Scholastic | Sep ’17 |
One Day Hill | ?? | Australiana | Sep ’17 |
Oxford University Press | YES | Educational
Book Proposal required |
Jan ’20 |
Pan Macmillan | X* | First monday of the month for Children’s and YA (it’s not clear that they accept PB submissions). | Jan ’20 |
Parragon Publishing
Now Cottage Door Press |
?? | Illustrators only | Jan ’20 |
Pantera Press | XX | Not taking PB submissions at this time | July ’20 |
Parsons Publishing | ?? | Christian | Sep ’17 |
Pascal Press | XQ | Educational | 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 |
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. | July ’20 |
Red Paper Kite
*NEW*
|
YES | Illustrators Competition July – Dec ’20 | 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 |
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. | 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.
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. |
July ’20 |
Walker Books | X* | Walker Wednesday only on:
29th July, 2020 |
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. | Jan ’20 |
Working Title Press (Harper Collins) | X* | Not accepting unsolicited fiction or picture book manuscripts and art portfolios until further notice | Jan ’20 |
Yellow Brick Books
*NEW* |
YES | Authors & Illustrators | Jan ’20 |
XOUM
Now Brio Books |
XX | No open calls for submissions | Jan ’20 |