The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, 3rd Edition [Paperback]

Harold D. Underdown (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide

“Honest and precise… everything about writing for children there is to know.”
—Jane Yolen, author

Here is the comprehensive guide to writing, publishing, and selling for the ever-expanding and always exciting children’s market—now in a new and updated third edition.

• Includes new chapters on self-publishing and on "how to choose a how-to", plus revision and updates throughout
• Offers practical advice on getting started--and on dealing with out-of-print books
• Covers picture books, chapter books, nonfiction, middle-grade and young novels, and common formats and genres
• Reveals what happens inside a children's publishing company, and provides guidance in working with an editor
• Sample cover and query letters, manuscript format, glossary, and recommended resources in an extensive appendix
• Plus information on agents, contracts, copyright, marketing, and more

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

As this revised edition states, “Children’s publishing is a big business, with many kinds of publishers, many kinds of books, and right ways and wrong ways to do even such a simple thing as write a cover letter.” Children’s book editor Underdown covers all the bases of breaking into the industry, from tips on maximizing the creative process to manuscript-submission pointers to ideas for promoting a published book. Background on the history and current state of children’s publishing includes information on new trends and new imprints launched up to 2007. Featured throughout are real-life anecdotes from published authors and illustrators and recommended Web resources. Back matter includes a glossary, bibliography, sample cover letters, and an index. Whether a “complete idiot” or an experienced writer or illustrator, children’s-publishing hopefuls will find this a comprehensive, balanced resource. --Laura Tillotson

Review

“If you want to see your work published, this is the one book you absolutely must have. Why? Because Harold tells the truth about publishing for kids and teens; the good news, the hard news, and the information that will give your story a fighting chance. This book unveils all the secrets. I personally recommend it to hundreds of writers every year.”
--Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak, Fever 1793, and Twisted

“Having worked as both editor and author, Harold Underdown is a knowledgeable and sympathetic guide to the often bewildering world of writing and publishing books for young people. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books is encouraging without pandering, realistic but not pessimistic, thorough and generous. I wish this book had been around when I first started out!”
--Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist

“What a thorough and useful book! A guided tour of children’s book and magazine publishing that never skips a step. For seasoned writers and illustrators it is valuable. For beginners, it is essential. I learned plenty!”
--Gail Carson Levine, Newbery Honor winner

“My life would have been much easier if The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books had been available when I was getting started! It covers the whole territory--though I particularly like the sections on revision and ‘the publishing maze.’ Consider it your cheat-sheet to the world of children’s publishing.”
--Cynthia Leitich Smith, fiction author and owner of Cynsations

“With each new edition, this amazing resource gets better and better. Just when you think Harold has said all that can be said to help writers understand the complex world of children’s publishing, he offers something new. An eye-opening tool for new writers, and a vital support to any writing career, this book always perches near the top of my reference pile so I can snatch it quickly to find the answers I need. If you truly want to understand this business, this book’s for you.”
--Jan Fields, author and owner of Kid Magazine Writers

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 3 edition (May 6, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592577504
• ISBN-13: 978-1592577507
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Harold Underdown is a freelance editorial consultant. He has worked at Macmillan, Orchard, and Charlesbridge, and has experience in trade and educational publishing. Among the books he has edited are Yumi Heo's One Afternoon, Larry Pringle's and Bob Marstall's An Extraordinary Life, Lisa Rowe Fraustino's Ash, Grace Lin's The Ugly Vegetables, and Sneed Collard's and Michael Rothman's The Forest in the Clouds. He is also the editor for the Young Patriots Series, published by Patria Press.

Harold enjoys teaching, and in that role wrote The Complete Idiot's Guide to Children's Book Publishing, now in its third edition. He founded and runs "The Purple Crayon," a respected web site with information about the children's publishing world at www.underdown.org. He speaks and gives workshops at conferences, including the Highlights Foundation's Chautauqua Retreat, SCBWI's national conferences, and smaller conferences all over the country.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent overview of the industry, January 7, 2009

By 

Reader (Decatur, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, 3rd Edition (Paperback)

Like all Idiot's Guides, this book is designed for beginners in the field. However, after hearing the author speak at a conference, I decided that I might have things to learn from the book. I was right. Even though I've been writing for a while and have a contract for my first book, I found that several sections clarified some industry basics for me. It helped me sort out the relationship between companies, divisions, and imprints and was good for making sense of my contract. I also appreciated the section on working with my editor. This is an excellent primer for anyone getting started in children's writing, and has useful information for those who have gotten a little into the field as well.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good resource, January 15, 2009

By 

A Bookfair Mom - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, 3rd Edition (Paperback)

I've used this book and recommended this book to people interested in the children's publishing industry since it first came out. Its an excellent overview. I think the two star reviewer who said that the book was for "complete idiots," was being a little harsh. I've been working on writing and selling my own books for close to eleven years now and I still run into people who don't know the difference between the genres. Even as someone that might be called an "intermediate/advanced" writer, I still use it as a reference.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our Most Popular Resource Book for Children's Book Writers!, January 15, 2009

By 

Robin Koontz - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, 3rd Edition (Paperback)

Our SCBWI library has all three editions of this book and I always recommend it to anyone who contacts me for information about writing and publishing for children, at no matter what stage of the game they reside. I know of no other thorough, up-to-date publication on the children's book business. We always sell out of them at our conferences.

The author relied not only on his own knowledge, research and experience, he contacted writers in all phases of the business and got their input as well. Either the answers are there for both aspiring and experienced writers, or the resources for further research are revealed. He continues to update information via his website and welcomes suggestions and input. What more can you ask from one book? I highly recommend it.