As a senior acquisitions editor for Beaming Books, I’m constantly on the lookout for new children’s books to acquire. I specialize in picture books for children ages 4-8.
Broadly speaking, I am most interested in stories with multiple layers related to a child’s holistic thriving, with strong social-emotional learning themes or stories that help facilitate a conversation on an important topic. Books that help kids grow into their best selves, feel connected to other people, and to be good stewards of the earth and our shared humanity are always of interest. I’m especially drawn to books that tackle a specific idea in a manner that is accessible to a broad audience. When considering a submission, I often ask myself, “Why does this story need to be published? What does it uniquely offer readers? What gap is it filling?”
Here are some topics/themes/ideas I’m currently* interested in:
- Humor with heart (stories that make kids laugh, but also help build character or connects to SEL)
- Stories cultivating awe and wonder
- Human connectedness across groups/contexts/places/identities, etc.
- Stories about the lived experience of a child: friendship, fears, growing up, family relationships, difficult times, mental health, school, etc.
- Emotional intelligence and social-emotional learning themes. For instance:
- Apologies
- Telling the truth
- Dealing with Embarrassment
- Coping with losing (games, sports, etc.)
- Standing up for yourself
- Anti-toxic masculinity messages
- Character building/instilling good values in kids (e.g. patience, perseverance, confidence, kindness, etc.)
- Self-esteem and accepting your own (and others’) uniqueness
- Holiday tradition stories (Christian or other religions), with special interest in Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving
- Activism and making a difference in the world
- Interfaith interactions/community building
- Diverse characters and topics relevant to or about people of color and minority groups, by diverse authors
- Stories about and by immigrants and displaced people
- Fresh, unexpected takes on faith concepts from a progressive Christian perspective, such as:
- Biblical concept of Jubilee and what if we practiced this
- Jesus as a social change-maker
- Communion and breaking bread together/generosity/having enough for all
- Baptism as initiation into a movement of love and justice
- what it looks like to be a welcoming, inclusive Christian
Topics or themes I’m specifically not interested in right now:
- Grief
- Princesses, medieval settings, etc.
- Re-tellings of Bible stories (unless it’s a really, really fresh take)
- American patriotic themes
- Holiday character stories (e.g. Santa, the Easter Bunny, etc.)
- American politics, military stories, or stories about war history
- Poetry Anthologies
- Biography collections (even in picture book format)
- Soothing bedtime/lullaby-type books
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More about Beaming Books:
Beaming Books publishes high-quality children’s books that help kids thrive in every part of who they are—emotionally, socially, and spiritually. With topics ranging from self-esteem to kindness, ethics, and faith, our books are designed to spark the imagination and equip kids and families to live full and flourishing lives, together.
If you are a literary agent, contact me through this contact form to introduce yourself so we can connect directly.
If you are an author, please only submit to me if I’ve personally requested submissions from you. We are currently closed to unsolicited submissions.
*MSWL last updated April 2024