225 agents · 129 currently open to submissions
Picture book publishing remains intensely competitive, with 70+ agents representing everything from board books for toddlers to sophisticated illustrated narratives that appeal to both children and adults. The category spans traditional 32-page picture books, concept books teaching colours or numbers, biographical picture books like those in the Little People, Big Dreams series, and graphic novel hybrids that blur lines with early readers. Many agents specialise within narrower niches: some focus on diverse contemporary stories, others seek STEM-focused non-fiction, and several actively pursue picture book biographies or social-emotional learning themes. Author-illustrators often have different submission requirements than text-only writers, with many agents requesting finished art samples or detailed illustration notes rather than complete manuscripts. Before submitting, research whether agents prefer rhyming or prose texts, contemporary or classic storytelling approaches, and their recent deals to understand their position on trending topics like environmental themes or cultural authenticity.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, children's nonfiction
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Laurel represents picture books, middle grade and young adult novels, graphic novels, and select nonfiction.
Laurel Symonds is closed to queries according to KT Literary's official agents page.
Speculative fiction, psychological horror, mystery, romance fantasy, literary fiction, picture books, middle grade fiction
Wants: Query letter
Bonnie seeks underrepresented authors across all age groups. She wants speculative psychological horror mysteries, normalized queerness where it isn't the focus of the plot, romance fantasy with HEA required, and issue-driven stories addressing timeless social issues. For picture books, stories must be child-centered giving kids agency. For middle grade, she seeks stories based on kid-focused issues with magic elements.
Send queries only through QueryManager. Anything sent to email or social media will be deleted immediately.
Stonesong
Children's fiction, adult fiction, picture books, graphic novels, pop culture non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, first chapter, first 10 pages
She values diversity and inclusion, in fiction she enjoys ensemble casts with distinct voices, stories about poor characters and communities, and formats that are specific to a story and give it its own context. She is particularly interested in art/art history/art conservation, archaeology, mythology, language/translation, and criminal justice reform.
Submit query addressed to Alyssa Jennette at submissions@stonesong.com. Include the word "query" in the subject line. For fiction, include the first chapter or first 10 pages pasted into the body of the email. For nonfiction, include bio, credentials, social media analytics, and previous publications. Do not send attachments.
Board books, picture books, early readers, middle grade fiction, middle grade nonfiction, graphic novels
Strong and diverse voices that tell stories for all children, graphic novels (middle grade and younger), illustrators with polished distinctive portfolios, engaging and idiosyncratic nonfiction, books about the power of the natural world, slices of life with well-drawn characters, magic embedded in the real world
QueryManager form only
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, children's books, illustrators, commercial fiction, literary fiction, diverse voices
Marietta B. Zacker is Co-owner and Literary Agent at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. She is always looking for visual and narrative stories that reflect the world as it is rather than narrow bubbles, loves books that make readers feel, and avoids projects that set out mainly to teach a lesson. Across young adult, middle grade, and picture books, she looks for stories where young readers can identify with the actions and reactions of the characters, not the perspective of the author or illustrator, and where diversity is inherent and authentic. She is excited by soulful, insightful, well-crafted literary or commercial projects for any age group from young adult to the youngest readers.
Marietta B. Zacker is currently closed to queries according to the official Gallt and Zacker submissions page. When GZLA agents are open, the agency asks writers to choose one person to query, query only one GZLA agent at a time, and use the agent link on the submissions page.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, horror, science fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, historical fiction, picture books, middle grade, young adult, romance, mystery
Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages
Laura would love to find fantasy, spec fiction, alternate history, and horror with fresh, original, unexpected reimaginings. She seeks retellings that reinvent underlying traditions, gothic suspense or thrillers, romantasy that is more romantic fantasy than fantasy romance, high concept rom-coms, and sexy historical romance. She also wants thrillers and mysteries with dynamic, unexpected characters and rich psychological insights.
Click on the QueryManager link in the agent's bio, follow the prompts, and complete all required fields including a short query letter with a description of your work, previous publishing credentials, a short author bio, contact information, and for novels: first 10 pages of text.
Children's fiction, picture books, middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, middle grade non-fiction, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter, first 25 pages, writing sample
Offbeat projects that break the mold, with particular interest in queer and BIPOC literature and writers. He wants to read something that moves him and connects on an intellectual, emotional or spiritual level. He specifically wants to see more middle grade fiction and nonfiction, and graphic novels.
Submit only via Query Manager. Include query letter in body and first 25 pages of manuscript for fiction or proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction. For picture books, include full text and dummy or sample art if available. For graphic novels, include first 25 pages of script plus illustrated pages if author or illustrator.
Middle grade, young adult, picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, upmarket fiction
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Kari represents middle grade and YA at the heart of her list, plus picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and upmarket fiction.
Kari Sutherland is currently closed to queries according to KT Literary's official agents page.
Picture books, chapter books, middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, adult fiction, middle grade nonfiction, young adult nonfiction, adult nonfiction
Award-winning authors and illustrators of picture books and chapter books that present the world in unique and unusual ways, with characters that live vividly on and off the page. In nonfiction across middle grade, young adult, and adult categories, book ideas and platforms that tell untold stories by creators offering a distinctive perspective on current issues, hopes, and fears of both today and tomorrow.
Tricia accepts queries by request or referral, or from people who have attended conferences where she is faculty. Submit your query through the contact page on her website or through the agency's contact and submissions form.
Children's books, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, genre fiction, thrillers, historical fiction, romance, mysteries, science fiction
Wants: Query letter, full manuscript, illustration samples for children's books
Clever voices and unreliable narrators, stories told from diverse perspectives, rich world building, strong character dynamics, and firsts—first love, first heartbreak, first loss, first divorce, etc. Novels featuring smart, strong, funny, and fierce women
Email queries with specified subject headers to designated addresses
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, children's literature, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages
Kelly champions writers and artists in nearly every category, format, and age group within children's literature. She works with debut authors and illustrators as well as bestsellers and award-winning creators.
Click on the QueryManager link in the agent's bio, follow the prompts, and complete all required fields including a short query letter with description of your work, previous publishing credentials, short author bio, contact information, and sample work as specified for your format.
Picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, contemporary, fantasy, romance, suspense, non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages
She loves both contemporary and fantasy as well as the spooky and unexpected. She loves multi-generational stories, matrilineal magic, and is always happy to see high-concept contemporary romance. She also enjoys darker suspenseful reads and loves atmospheric settings that feel like a character. For picture books, she works on both fiction and nonfiction with interest in environmental and STEM themes, animals, emotional intelligence, and books for youngest readers including vehicle books.
Submit through QueryManager with query letter, author bio, publishing credentials, contact information, and sample pages. For novels: first 10 pages. For picture books text only: full manuscript. Response even if passing.
Science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels, picture books
Wants: Query letter
Kurestin wants to work with creators who are creatively ambitious, who have a wide range of ideas and are always pushing themselves to write what's most interesting and challenging to them. She's particularly drawn to illustrators with a strong sense of dynamic use of panels and movement on the page, and always loves a creature.
Submissions should be sent via Query Manager. Submit to one agent at a time at Root Literary.
Adult fiction, horror, science fiction, speculative fiction, romance, young adult, picture books, graphic novels, lgbtq and voices, underrepresented voices
Sera Rivers is a literary agent at Speilburg Literary Agency. In adult fiction she is interested in subversive horror, grounded science fiction, speculative fiction, and underrepresented voices in the vein of Emily Henry. In kidlit she is interested in young adult LGBTQIA+, horror, non-Western folklore, culture and heritage, thriller, grounded science fiction, and speculative; picture books by author-illustrators only, especially horror and work by underrepresented authors and illustrators; and graphic novels by author-illustrators only.
Sera Rivers is currently closed to queries according to the live official linked QueryTracker form. Her official Speilburg profile says she opens to adult fiction during the first 7 days of each month and is closed to unsolicited children's-book submissions except through conferences, requests, and referrals.
Children's books, young adult, middle grade, picture books, illustrated books
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, portfolio
Victoria owns Storm Literary Agency and represents authors and illustrators, with a list focused on children's literature across age categories and genres except erotica romance.
Victoria Selvaggio is currently closed to submissions according to Storm Literary Agency's official about or submission guidance.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, adult nonfiction, stem, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal, portfolio
Heather considers picture books, middle grade, YA, and adult fiction and nonfiction. Her interests include books that explore currently untapped spaces, STEM picture books, layered MG/YA nonfiction, and stories that inspire readers to seize opportunities in their own lives.
Heather Cashman is currently closed to submissions according to Storm Literary Agency's official about or submission guidance.
Poetry, picture books, graphic novels, contemporary fiction, fantasy, science fiction, romance, young adult
Wants: Query letter
Tasneem is looking across categories for work from marginalized authors, especially under the BIPOC umbrella. Interests include genre-inflected poetry, picture books, graphic novels, contemporary MG/YA/adult, fantasy, YA/adult science fiction, and YA/adult romance.
Tasneem is currently closed to queries. The official Belcastro page links her QueryManager route, the linked form says she is closed until further notice, with a separate BIPOC-exclusive form noted there.
HG Literary
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, upmarket fiction, political journalism, graphic books, memoirs
Wants: Query letter, first five pages, full manuscript for picture books
She typically looks for picture books that straddle piercing humor and heart, lyrical middle grade, and daring, sharp Young Adult. She loves graphic novels and memoirs that share lesser-known pieces of history and those quieter slices of life. She especially adores stories of all genres if they are from around the world and speak to multigenerational diaspora experiences.
Send a query letter and the first five pages of your manuscript within the email. If it is a picture book, include the entire manuscript. Only submit to one agent at a time.
Middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, picture books, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages
Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction from perspectives that may often feel left out of publishing, including stories from LGBTQIA and BIPOC creators. Kids/teen Graphic Novel and Picture Book illustrators and author-illustrators whose art has wit, heart, style and flair. She prefers upbeat stories and seeks queer, weird, funny, heartfelt, beautiful, nerdy projects.
Submit through QueryManager with a short query letter, author bio, contact information, and sample pages (first 10 pages for novels, full text for picture books, 10-20 sample spreads for graphic novels).
Children's books, preschool, picture books, novelty, middle grade, young adult, thriller, science fiction, speculative fiction
Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages
Jamie looks for an intense emotional experience in all categories. She seeks manuscripts that stay with her, whether the sweet pang of an 'Jamie Weiss Chilton love you' picture book or the shock of recognition of an honest window to the tween or teen psyche. For younger age groups, she looks for the hook that will make a book a must-have parenting or educational resource.
Visit agent's bio page, click on QueryManager link, and complete all required fields including a short query letter with work description, previous publishing credentials, short author bio, contact information, and appropriate sample materials based on format.
Picture books, middle grade, non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, author bio
Caryn looks for authentic, kid-appealing stories and art that disrupt the prevailing narrative in some way. She seeks characters that stick with her long after she has closed the book and loves stories that bring a good, cathartic cry, a huge belly laugh, some outrage, some new knowledge, and above all, hope. Social justice has been at the heart of her list since she started agenting.
Select one agent to query via QueryManager link on agent bio page. Submit query letter with work description, publishing credentials, author bio, contact information, and required sample materials based on format.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, adult nonfiction, christian market, secular market, trade nonfiction, topical nonfiction, professional nonfiction, inspirational nonfiction
Stephanie Cardel is founder of Lighthouse Literary. Lighthouse Literary represents children's picture books, middle grade, and young adult fiction and nonfiction, as well as adult fiction and adult trade nonfiction for both the Christian and secular markets. Its adult nonfiction areas include topical, professional, and inspirational work.
Stephanie Cardel is closed to unsolicited queries according to the official Lighthouse Literary submissions page. She may occasionally take pitches at conferences and open to conference attendees.
Graphic novels, children's fiction, picture books, middle grade, young adult, horror
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, portfolio
Jas represents authors and illustrators of graphic novels across all ages, plus select children's prose fiction, and is genre agnostic with a special fondness for unsettling, horrifying, and absurd stories.
Jas Perry is currently closed to queries according to the Looking Glass profile.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, children's authors, children's artists
Tracey Adams co-founded Adams Literary, a boutique agency dedicated to children's book authors and artists. The official submissions page describes the agency's interests as children's work across every age and genre, from picture books to middle grade and young adult fiction, historical novels, fantasy, books tackling contemporary issues, literary stories, high-concept speculative fiction, unique fantasy adventure, humor, and character-driven picture books. Picture book submissions are considered only from author-artists.
Adams Literary is currently closed to submissions and is only accepting new clients by referral from trusted sources according to its official announcement. Do not submit unsolicited material while closed.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, contemporary middle grade, historical middle grade, literary middle grade, mystery middle grade, contemporary young adult, historical young adult, literary young adult, young adult mystery, juvenile nonfiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, popular science
Shari Maurer is an agent at The Stringer Literary Agency. The official Stringer site lists her fiction interests as picture books; middle grade contemporary, historical, literary, and mystery; and young adult contemporary, historical, literary, and mystery. In nonfiction, it lists juvenile YA and middle grade nonfiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, and popular science.
Shari Maurer is currently closed to queries according to the QueryManager or QueryTracker form associated with Stringer Literary. The official Stringer site says the agency works with Query Manager only, deletes queries sent otherwise unread, and closes submissions from time to time to catch up.
Children's books, young adult, picture books, middle grade, illustrated books
Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries
Rosemary is founder and CEO of Stimola Literary Studio. Her career is centered on books for children and young adults, and her current client list includes major children's and YA authors and illustrators.
Stimola Literary Studio's submissions page says Rosemary Stimola is not currently accepting new submissions.
Board books, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, contemporary, narrative non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
She loves highly commercial Board Books, quirky and clever picture books, rich narrative nonfiction, commercial chapter books, and contemporary or genre-bent Young Adult. She's always seeking stories that center neurodiverse, disabled, and LGBTQ+ characters.
All submissions should be sent through Query Tracker. Query should include agent personalization, metadata with title or word count or age range or genre or comp titles, pitch, and author bio. Include synopsis and first ten pages.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, children's fiction, graphic novels, illustrators, adult genre fiction, pop culture, contemporary fiction, fantasy, horror, novels in verse, middle grade nonfiction, young adult nonfiction
Jordan Hamessley represents diverse children's fiction from picture books through young adult, select adult genre and pop culture writers, graphic novelists, and illustrators. She is looking for stories that bring queer experience to the children's space across all age ranges. For picture books she is only looking for author-illustrators. In middle grade and young adult, she likes contemporary stories with heart and humor, queer joy, cozy or romantic fantasy, horror with ghosts, creepy forests, haunted houses, and murder, children's projects about space exploration, novels in verse, and graphic novel illustrators. In nonfiction, she is primarily looking for middle grade and YA STEM, space, math and science made fun, and underrepresented history including queer history.
Jordan Hamessley is currently closed to queries according to her official linked QueryManager page, even though the JABberwocky agents page still labels her open. When open, submit through her QueryManager page and query only one JABberwocky agent at a time.
Adult nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, architecture, history, politics, natural history, true crime, science, environment, women's issues, parenting, cooking, psychology, health, wellness, diet, business, spirituality, picture books, lifestyle, sustainability, reference, sports, travel, gardening
Regina Ryan Books is a Manhattan-based boutique literary agency primarily representing adult nonfiction. Its areas of interest include well-written narrative nonfiction, architecture, history, politics, natural history especially birds, true crime, science especially the brain, the environment, women's issues, parenting, cooking, psychology, health, wellness, diet, business, non-religious contemporary spirituality, children's picture books, lifestyle, sustainability, popular reference, sports, narrative travel, and gardening.
Regina Ryan Books is currently closed to submissions according to the official submissions page.
Children's books, picture books, middle grade, young adult, illustrators, humor, inclusive stories, animals
Nancy Gallt is Co-owner and Literary Agent at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. She seeks stories that make people laugh and think, that reflect inclusiveness and support the well-being of young people, and that bring something special to a child's reading experience. She has a particular soft spot for books featuring animals.
Nancy Gallt is currently closed to queries according to the official Gallt and Zacker submissions page. When GZLA agents are open, the agency asks writers to choose one person to query, query only one GZLA agent at a time, and use the agent link on the submissions page.
Fuse Literary
Picture books, graphic novels, middle grade, young adult, illustrators, children's fiction
Karly Dizon is an agent at Fuse Literary building KidLit universes with stories that matter. She is aggressively building her client list to boost marginalized voices, experiences, history, culture, folklore, and mythology. She loves children's fiction from contemporary to fantastical adventures, grand adventures, imperfect characters, and especially a strong voice that hooks the reader within the first page.
Karly Dizon is currently closed to queries according to her official linked QueryManager page. When open, submissions go through her QueryManager link on the official Fuse profile. Unsolicited submissions sent to her conference, press, or rights email or through social media will be deleted unread.
Adams Literary
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, children's books, children's illustration
Josh Adams runs Adams Literary with Tracey Adams and is a literary agent with editorial and business backgrounds. Adams Literary is exclusively dedicated to children's book authors and artists, with client work spanning picture books, middle grade, and young adult, including historical novels, fantasy, contemporary issue books, literary stories, high-concept speculative fiction, unique fantasy adventure, humor, and character-driven picture books.
Adams Literary is currently closed to submissions and is only accepting new clients by referral from trusted sources according to the official announcement page.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, children's books, authors, author-illustrators
Eden Street represents more than 40 authors and author-illustrators of books for young readers from preschool through young adult. The official site does not expose a separate Liza Pulitzer Voges profile page, but the agency page confirms Eden Street's focus and client list.
Eden Street is not currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts according to the official submissions-guidelines page. The home page says the agency is full and unable to take on additional clients, except that it may be open to submissions at conferences.
Nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, big idea books, literary fiction, commercial fiction, children's books, illustrated books
Gillian MacKenzie represents journalists, experts, academics, literary writers, nonfiction, select fiction, children's titles, and illustrated books. She is particularly drawn to cross-disciplinary explorations, narrative nonfiction, and big-idea books that offer a new lens onto the world.
Gillian MacKenzie is not accepting unsolicited submissions. The Gillian MacKenzie Agency submissions page says the agency is currently closed to unsolicited queries.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, adult nonfiction, christian fiction, new adult, women's fiction, book club fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, sweet romance, historical nonfiction, memoir
Mara Cobb is an agent at Lighthouse Literary. She is drawn to strong and feisty protagonists, antagonists with redemptive arcs, curveball plots, surprising twists, and books that are impossible to put down. Her wishlist includes MG with spunky characters navigating life changes with joy and humor; YA with believable, authentic characters, including dystopian, contemporary, and romance; adult Christian fiction, new adult, women's fiction, book club fiction, contemporary, historical, and sweet romance; and adult nonfiction including historical nonfiction, relevant topics for today's readers, and occasional memoir with a strong author platform.
Mara Cobb uses QueryTracker or QueryManager, but the official linked form currently says she is not accepting queries and expects to open again in spring 2026.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, gaming
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages, portfolio link
She seeks character-driven stories that explore what it means to be human while leaving room for hope, with diverse characters and high-stakes, fast-paced plots. She particularly wants author-illustrators for picture books, graphic novels, and non-fiction, cozy mysteries with fantasy and romance elements, and gaming-related books.
Submit queries via QueryManager only. For picture books, send query with full text and portfolio link for author-illustrators. For middle grade and Young Adult or adult fiction, send query, synopsis, and first 10 pages. For non-fiction, send query, table of contents, and sample chapter. For graphic novels, send query only with materials available upon request.
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