< Frequently Asked Questions
Submission Guidelines
Thanks for thinking of blue manatee press as the publisher for your book.
We are not currently accepting unsolicited submissions
but invite you to peruse the following guidelines.
The children's book industry is continuously evolving, and we are always looking for creative, original ideas for children's books. Below are some general guidelines to consider before sending your proposal, designed to help your book be the best it can be.
Research, research, research! Writing children's books may seem like a piece of cake, but it's a deceptively complex process. Before sending a proposal, spend some time at your local bookstore or library reading books that are similar to yours, whether in format or content. Check out books that have won awards in recent years. Gain a sense of not only what's popular, but what might be missing from the industry that your book could add.
Familiarize yourself with our books. Browse the "Our Books" section of our website to view existing blue manatee press books. This is a great way to determine whether your proposed book would be a good fit for us (and vice versa).
Think about the purpose of your book, beyond its entertainment value. Does it convey evidence-based child health or parenting information? Could it be used in a classroom as part of STEM curriculum? Does it link with a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing child literacy and/or health? This kind of information is helpful for us to know.
Proofread... and then proofread again. Check your manuscript just one more time to make sure it is free of any spelling and grammatical errors.
Finally, please think thoughtfully about your character’s and supporting characters’ experiences and conflict(s) and the representation in your book. We as a publisher believe it is essential to offer a platform for people to share and tell their own stories. We strive to tell all stories with accuracy and sensitivity, and we love working with new voices. Ideally, when considering books that are about a specific lived experience, we look for authors that have a deep knowledge and/or personal understanding of this experience, and thus, are better able to create true, authentic, and meaningful stories that connect us all, especially as a means to address inequities.
AUTHOR SUBMISSIONS
We are not currently accepting unsolicited submissions but if you have been invited to submit a proposal, we request that it be sent as an email attachment including details of your invitation and how the work aligns with the mission of blue manatee press.
We are particularly interested in proposals for books in the following areas:
STEAM-related concepts and topics, especially related to child health and brain development.
Developmentally-rich/early concepts, especially related to literacy or numeracy: counting, ABC’s, colors, shapes, opposites, vocabulary, etc.
Social/Emotional Development: expressing feelings, sharing, new experiences, making friends, promoting diversity, etc.
ILLUSTRATOR SUBMISSIONS
blue manatee press is consistently looking for new, diverse illustrator “voices” for our limited yet mission-driven projects. If you are an artist who would like to be considered for these now or in the future, please send sample art or a link to your portfolio to press@bluemanateebooks.com. We are not accepting unsolicited manuscripts at this time. Click the link below to see open projects for which we are currently seeking artists.