Manuscript Wish List Part 5 – Junior Fiction and Picture Books

Part 5 of the MSWL Blog series. Last blog post in this series. 

At this stage, Grace Bell Publishing is likely to publish only one picture book per year, with the possibility of this changing in the future. Because of this, I will not be open to general unsolicited picture book submissions at this time. Picture book manuscripts will only be considered through manuscript assessment opportunities at conferences or via direct invitation.

GBP is also currently closed to junior fiction and early reader chapter books. Same as above.

For both picture books and any future junior fiction, I am drawn to stories that are wholesome, fun, and hope-filled.

I have a strong preference for stories that include a clear moral / positive values. This does not need to be heavy-handed, but I do want stories where children can naturally discover a value or lesson through the narrative.

For picture books, I generally prefer manuscripts under 1,000 words, although I am always open to considering longer manuscripts if the story truly shines. 

MSWL Blog Series Links:

Back to blog