You don’t need an agent to write for the children’s book industry. There are numerous magazine and book publishers who work with unagented children’s authors. CLICK HERE to see a list of publishers who accept unsolicited children’s manuscripts.
However, if you feel your writing holds merit and you want to be published with the some of the big houses, then an agent is required.
It seems there are fewer and fewer agents who represent children’s books, especially picture books. So I’m compiling a list of agents you can contact during times they’re open to acquiring new clients. I’m hoping this will make your search for an agent a little bit easier. (If you know of any I’m missing, please e-mail me at jeffandnancys@gmail.com with their info and I’ll add it to the list.)
At the time of this posting, the following agents represent children’s authors and picture books. Note that some agents, even though they do not expressly state they are looking for picture books, represent picture book authors, so they are included on this list. However, most on this list do state clearly that they are actively seeking children’s authors, including picture book submissions. (Please explore these sites at your own discretion. Posting them here does not mean I endorse an agent or have even explored their sites.)
CLICK HERE to explore a list of the top 20 children’s agents with the best sales records for 2015.
CLICK HERE to see a list of children’s agents who represent author/illustrators.
Adams Literary
Website: http://www.adamsliterary.com
Agents interested in picture books:
Tracey Adams
Josh Adams
Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises
Agent interested in picture books:
Mary Cummings
The Bent Agency
Gemma Cooper
Susan Hawk
Brooks Sherman
BookStop Literary Agency
Agent interested in picture books:
Kendra Marcus
Bradford Literary Agency
Agent interested in picture books:
Natalie Lakosil
Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Website: http://www.andreabrownlit.com
Agents interested in picture books:
Jennifer Mattson
Jennifer Rofe
Kathleen Rushall
Caryn Wiseman
Curtis Brown LLT
Website: http://www.curtisbrown.com/
Agents interested in children’s books:
Elizabeth Harding
Ginger Knowlton
Laura Blake Peterson
The Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency
Website: http://www.ethanellenberg.com
Full Circle Literary
Website: http://www.fullcircleliterary.com
All agents interested in select picture books:
Adriana Dominguez
Lily Ghahremani
Stefanie Bon Borstel
Greenburger Associates
Agents interested in picture books:
Bethany Buck
Herman Agency
Agent interested in authors who illustrate their own picture books:
Ronnie Ann Herman
Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency
Website: http://www.jdlit.com
Agents interested in picture books:
Jennifer DeChiara
Linda Epstein
Stephen Fraser
Vicki Selvaggio
Levine Greenburg
Website: http://www.levinegreenberg.com/
Agent interested in picture books:
Kerry Evans
Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency (JVNLA)
Agents open to submissions:
Laura Biagi
Jennifer Weltz
McIntosh and Otis
Website: http://mcintoshandotis.com
Agent interested in picture books:
Christa Heschke
Nancy Gallt Agency
Website: http://nancygallt.com/index.html
Agents interested in picture books:
Marietta Zacker
Pippin Properties
Focuses on all things in the children’s publishing industry from picture books on up.
Prospect Agency
Agents who work with picture books:
Teresa Kietlinski
Rachel Orr (illustrators preferred)
Rodeen Literary Management
Paul Rodeen
Sadler Children’s Literary
(Will reopen submissions August 1)
Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc.
Agents interested in picture books:
Douglas Stewart
Erica Rand Silverman
Stimola Literary Studio LLC
Rosemary Stimola
Upstart Crow Literary
Website: http://www.upstartcrowliterary.com
Writers House: A Literary Agency
Website: http://www.writershouse.com
Agents interested in picture books:
Brianne Johnson
Jodi Reamer
Rebecca Sherman
Stephen Barr
And finally, if you want to explore other agents who might have someone who acquires picture books, here is a “growing” list:
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