Publishing Companies for Children
Book publishing is a highly competitive business and fewer and fewer publishing houses are accepting unsolicited manuscripts (manuscripts not requested at conferences or submitted by an agent). The good news is that many children's publishers, including some of the biggest houses in the business, continue to accept unsolicited manuscripts. A publisher almost always keeps its needs and catalogs of previous and upcoming books on the company's website for a quick review.
Big Publisher
Albert Whitman & Company is among the most respected publishers since it first opened its doors in 1919. It accepts a variety of picture books, many dealing with serious issues facing children. Another big publisher working with new writers is Chronicle Books, which targets everyone from preschoolers to young adults under a variety of formats. Not all divisions at Penguin Books accept unsolicited work, but Dial and G.P. Putnam do. Just be warned--neither responds unless interested in publishing the story.
Sterling Publishing has surged to the forefront in children's books. Owned by Barnes & Noble, it encourages a wide selection of submissions. If you're specifically looking to target preschoolers, try Blue Apple Books, which reaches pre-kindergartners through fun, yet educational, books.
Regional Publishers
Regional publishers usually prefer books related to their locale or a specific topic. Few of them accept unsolicited manuscripts, or do so seasonally, due to the overwhelming number of submissions received. However, regional publishers often attend conferences and book fairs and are easy to approach. If an author from one of these houses is doing a book signing, talk to her about how she got published. Kids Can Press accepts unsolicited manuscripts, but only from Canadian writers. Tuttle Books focuses exclusively on stories about Japan.
Multicultural Books
Atlanta's August House publishes myths and folktales from around the world. Kane/Miller Book Publishers also produces stories from different cultures, but has a strong interest in books capturing American subcultures.
Nonfiction
Many children's publishers focus exclusively on educational materials or books that have strong social themes. Walker Books for Young Readers wants educational manuscripts or life lessons taught through fiction. Boyds Mills Press, best known as the company behind "Highlights for Children," has several imprints publishing all sorts of nonfiction. Charlesbridge, a prestigious Boston-area publisher, focuses its educational line on contemporary issues. Prometheus Books works exclusively with nonfiction, and while it doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts, it does accept book proposals through regular mail.
Stories by Children
Children who write stories have several options, most of them online. KidPub.com puts the work of young authors on its website, as does KidsCom.com, although KidsCom provides a weekly story prompt and then publishes the top five vote getters the following week. Ravenstone Press publishes stories exclusively about the Great Plains, while Stone Soup, a marquee name in stories by children, takes a far broader approach. It publishes stories, reviews, and artwork by children ages 8 to 13, in print and online.
Mainstream publishers are less concerned about age than quality of writing. If a story meets a publisher's demands, it will receive serious consideration.
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