One of the widest chances of getting published in today’s market is through children’s books and magazines. The many genres allow authors a large menu from which to choose. Children’s genres include: Picture Books (includes Baby Books, Toddler Books, Picture Books, Early Picture Books), Easy Readers (usually considered for ages 6 – 8), Early Chapter Books, Chapter Books, Middle Grade and YA (young adult). Magazines include toddler through teen.

In order to know what publishers are looking for, it is important to know what is already out there. So read, read, read. Go to the bookstore and look around. What catches your eye? Better yet, go to the bookstore with a child and see what catches their interest. If you don’t know what age you want to write towards, think about the age you remember best and head toward those books and magazines in the store. If you notice you are drawn towards a particular publishing house in your wanderings, write them a letter and request their catalog. This will give you an in-depth look of their works.

Writing for children in the 21^st century is wide open. The writer is not limited to talking ducks or Jane and Dick watching Spot run. In fact, using those formats are probably ways to assure that you will not get published. This generation is exposed to much more than we were. While we may have been reading The Diary of Anne Frank in tenth grade, they are now reading it in seventh! Classics, such as Little Women, intrigue the third grader instead of a sixth grader. Times, they are a-changin’. And publishing houses want to be ahead of the times.

The books of our youth generally consisted of a moral or learning a value at the end of the story. Now, it is more crucial that your characters are believable and the story from the child’s viewpoint. Remember, you, as the author, and the publishing house are competing with video games, television shows, computers and movies. Books and articles today must entertain the reader. Lessons are acceptable if they are indirect instead of moralizing. Classics are not classics because of their moral; they are classics because of their characters and theme.

Favoring realism instead of "happily ever after," books and articles allow children an opportunity to understand and cope with what they are being exposed to in their own lives and through the entertainment industry. No more suburban two-parent families in white picket fenced houses. Topics such as death, illness, divorce, rape, moving, incest, step-families and substance abuse are just a few of the topics to which today’s children are exposed. There seems to be no "taboo" topic anymore. Publishing houses need hopeful and truthful ways children can deal with these issues. Besides realistic topics, publishers also seek simple, "how-to" books for children age eight through mid-teens. Cooking, crafting and decorating as well as hobbies are being considered.

Currently, Middle Grade and YA (young adult) books are the most in demand by publishers. These age groups are most susceptible to television, movies, computers, etc. Middle grade is still drawn to historical fiction as well as biographies, humor, contemporary stories, adventure mysteries and fantasy (think Harry Potter!). YA needs include true-life fiction (peer pressure, family issues, eating disorders, substance abuse, and sexual issues), fantasy, time-travel and adventure.

For all ages, multicultural literature is also in great demand. Houses are looking for ethnic characters and stories from other cultures. Additionally, non-fiction presented in a new, creative way is one of the hottest. (Stay away from the tried and true bugs, dogs, and dinosaurs.) Look at your subject from a different aspect or from an unexplored way. For example, ants. Instead of writing about ants, write it from the ant’s viewpoint, literally! Books that contain fiction and non-fiction to teach subjects are also new direction books are headed.

For ages 8 and up, horror stories are being considered. Chapter books for children 7 to 10 are always in demand. Easy Readers for ages 6 to 8 are also needed. Keep in mind, publishers tend to like to make these soft covers and in the $5 range. Remember – keep it from the child’s point of view! Comical is good for both age groups. (Have you read Captain Underpants?)

Poetry is on a rebound. While Shel Silverstein is an enduring classic, Love That Dog by Sharon Creech and The Paper Doorway: Funny Verse and Nothing Worse by Dean Koontz have recently hit the shelves. Granted, they are renowned authors, but they have sparked a new interest in poetry for children.

While publishers are requesting board books and picture books with short texts, they are the hardest books to do correctly.  We will talk about formatting and what’s "in" and what’s "out" in the next article.

Currently, magazine editors are looking for more articles than stories – non-fiction vs. fiction. Check out the latest magazines and don’t forget to look at back issues at the library. The good news is that many of today’s magazines have web sites where you are able to see back issues to get a feel for the editor’s and magazine's desires.

At this time, most publishing houses are not looking for books from the parent’s view, or books looking through rose colored glasses. Rumors have it that rhyming books are out, but in fact, that is not true. The problem is that rhyming books are very difficult and publishers tend to steer away from them unless they come from well-known authors. Cute, talking animals are out and so are long (more than four books) series.

Between 4,000 and 5,000 children’s books are published each year. Unfortunately, the chance of getting through to an editor on your own nowadays is next to impossible. Utilizing an agent can increase your odds of getting published. If you are determined to do it on your own, self-publishing is one option. Another is to approach some of the newer publishers and imprints.

What is popular today may not be popular next week. But what we need to remember is that good writing, good character development, good beginnings, middles and ends will always be popular. Good storytelling will find its way to the editor.

Marie Garcarz is a graduate of Columbia College with a degree in Literature. With over 15 years in the marketing industry, in the last year she has put her love of books and gift of marketing together in the field of literary publicity.  She can be reached at mgarcarz@earthlink.net. 

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