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As an unpublished author, it’s difficult to find someone who will even read your manuscript.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
Allen and Unwin www.allenandunwin.com	X*	Not currently accepting picture book texts submissions >>	Sep ’17
Balboa Press (Hay House)	SP	Self publishing arm of Hay House	Sep ’17
Big Sky www.bigskypublishing.com.au	YES	submissions >>	Jan ’18
Black Dog Books (Walker Books)	=>	See: Walker Books	Sep ’17
Blake Publishing/Education	YES	Educational. Book proposal required. submissions >>	Sep ’17
Boolarong Press	??	Australiana, non fiction	Sep ’17
Brolly Books	XX		Sep ’17
Celapene Press	X*		Sep ’17
Christmas Press Picture Books	X*		Sep ’17
DoctorZed Publishing	??	Self publishing?	Sep ’17
East Street Publications	??	Can’t find. Does it still exist?	Sep ’17
EK Books	YES	submissions >>	Jan ’18
Era Publications	YES	Educational K-9, Literacy focus Book proposal required submissions >>	Sep ’17
Five Senses Education	??	No submission information	Sep ’17
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)	X*	Currently not accepting illustrated children’s books submissions >>	Sep ’17
Lothian (Hachette)	??	Not certain? Probably the same as Hachette	Sep ’17
Hardie Grant Egmont Little Hare Books	YES	submissions >>	Sep ’17
HarperCollins	X=>	No direct submissions. Manuscripts assessed via the CBCA Aspiring Writers Mentorship Program 31st July (closed for 2017).	Sep ’17
Hinkler	YES	activity books, products, etc. Book proposal query form submissions >>	Sep ’17
Hay House	XA	Agented submissions only	Sep ’17
IAD Press	??	?? problem with website Indigenous	Sep ’17
IP Kidz	YES	Query them. If your work is not ready, they may direct you to in-house editorial and assessment services. Submissions open from March – December to proposals from authors, illustrators, digital artists and animators submissions >>	Sep ’17
Jane Curry Publishing	X*		Sep ’17
Little Pink Dog Books	X*	Not open for submissions until 2018	Sep ’17
Little Steps Publishing	??	Partner publishing (author shares costs of books)	Sep ’17
Macmillan Educational	YES	Book proposal required submissions >>	Oct ’17
Magabala Books	??	Indigenous only	Sep ’17
Morris Publishing Australia	X*	Check back in late 2017	Oct ’17
New Frontier	YES	submissions >>	Sep ’17
New Holland Publishers	YES	primarily non fiction submissions >>	Sep ’17
Nosy Crow nosycrow.com	YES	UK based. submissions >>	Sep ’17
Omnibus (Scholastic)	=>	See: Scholastic	Sep ’17
One Day Hill	??	Australiana	Sep ’17
Oxford University Press	YES	Educational Book Proposal required submissions >>	Oct ’17
Pan Macmillan	X*	First monday of the month for Children’s and YA (not PBs). submissions >>	Sep ’17
Parragon Publishing	??	activity books, products, etc. submissions >>	Sep ’17
Parsons Publishing	??	Christian	Sep ’17
Pascal Press	YES	Educational submissions >>	Oct ’17
Pearson	XQ	Educational Does not accept unsolicited MS, but you can query them submissions >>	Oct ’17
Penguin Books Australia (includes Random House)	YES	submissions >>	Sep ’17
Peppinot Press	??	Not trading? Website being rebuilt.	Sep ’17
Random House (Penguin)	=>	See :Penguin Books	Sep ’17
Scholastic (includes Scholastic Press, Scholastic Australia, Omnibus Books and Koala Books)	X*	Submissions are open for Scholastic Asia.	Sep ’17
School Magazine	YES	Illustration portfolios should be submitted by the 31st July Writing submissions open year round submissions >>	Sep ’17
Scribble (Scribe)	YES	Only during June each year submissions >>	Oct ’17
Simon & Schuster Australia	XX		Sep ’17
St Paul’s Publications	??	Christian	Sep ’17
Starfish	YES	submissions >>	Sep ’17
Text Publishing	YES?	No PBs in their children’s catalogue. submissions >>	Sep ’17
The Five Mile Press	XI	Accepting illustrators only	Sep ’17
University of Queensland Press (UQP)	X*	Not accepting children’s manuscripts	Sep ’17
Walker Books	XA	not currently accepting picture book manuscripts from un-agented writers. First Wednesday of each month. submissions >>	Sep ’17
Wilkins Farago	X*		Sep ’17
Windy Hollow Books	??	No submission information	Oct ’17
Wombat Books	YES	20-28th February only. Wholesome, inclusive books with an underlying Christian tone. submissions >>	Jan ’18
Working Title Press (Harper Collins)	X*	Not accepting unsolicited fiction or picture book manuscripts and art portfolios until further notice submissions >>	Jan ’18
XOUM	X	No longer publish Children’s Picture Books. submissions >>	Feb ’18