Ok, here's a random one requiring forum advice.

[Colinjb]

Throwing this out there as i'm sure someone may have a clue about these things.

 

I've had an idea for a childrens book series (Estimated age range 2-4), i've come up with a kind of 'Idea bible' type summary for it and have drafts of a few stories that could be part of it.

 

How would you pitch these ideas to publishers? Where would you start?

[Turkish]

Don't wear a shell suit, smoke a cigar and say 'now then now then now then'

[View From The Top]

My sister publishes kids books. True story.

[Colinjb]

My sister publishes kids books. True story.

 

Come on, you can't just leave it at that.

[Colinjb]

Don't wear a shell suit, smoke a cigar and say 'now then now then now then'

 

Surely this would be a little extreme, even for his tastes!

[Saint_clark]

Not really got any idea, but here's a list of UK childrens book publishers in the UK.

http://www.ukchildrensbooks.co.uk/pubs.html

 

I'd imagine you could ring up and just ask for a meeting to pitch your idea. Might help if you publish one or more of your stories online somewhere to get some feedback and use that when you pitch.

[Bearsy]

yeah homes stick em up here so we can all lol!

 

Here's one of mine i just wrote:

 

I need a poo, said baby bear.

 

You can't poo here, said mummy bear, this is a shop. You'll have to hold it in.

 

I need a poo, said baby bear.

 

You can't poo here, said daddy bear, this is my car. You'll have to hold it in.

 

I need a poo, said baby bear.

 

You can't poo here, said sister bear. Not on my face. You'll have to hold it in.

 

Baby bear held it in and held it in. BUUUUURP! said baby bear. The poo come out his mouth.

[Turkish]

Not really got any idea, but here's a list of UK childrens book publishers in the UK.

http://www.ukchildrensbooks.co.uk/pubs.html

 

I'd imagine you could ring up and just ask for a meeting to pitch your idea. Might help if you publish one or more of your stories online somewhere to get some feedback and use that when you pitch.

 

He could post them on here. I'm sure he'd get superb feedback.

[hypochondriac]

Happy to test any book out on the nursery children

[Saint_clark]

He could post them on here. I'm sure he'd get superb feedback.

 

I was thinking more somewhere like here; http://www.writing.com/

Or here; http://www.fictionpress.com/

Or here; http://www.amateur-writing.com/

[Thedelldays]

yeah homes stick em up here so we can all lol!

 

Here's one of mine i just wrote:

 

I need a poo, said baby bear.

 

You can't poo here, said mummy bear, this is a shop. You'll have to hold it in.

 

I need a poo, said baby bear.

 

You can't poo here, said daddy bear, this is my car. You'll have to hold it in.

 

I need a poo, said baby bear.

 

You can't poo here, said sister bear. Not on my face. You'll have to hold it in.

 

Baby bear held it in and held it in. BUUUUURP! said baby bear. The poo come out his mouth.

 

Decent story

[Colinjb]

He could post them on here. I'm sure he'd get superb feedback.

 

While I know they may apeal to the mental age of some on here, i'll pass, thankyou. Many thanks for the suggestions so far guys and bearsy, consider the idea stolen.

[lettuce]

yeah homes stick em up here so we can all lol!

 

Here's one of mine i just wrote:

 

I need a poo, said baby bear.

 

You can't poo here, said mummy bear, this is a shop. You'll have to hold it in.

 

I need a poo, said baby bear.

 

You can't poo here, said daddy bear, this is my car. You'll have to hold it in.

 

I need a poo, said baby bear.

 

You can't poo here, said sister bear. Not on my face. You'll have to hold it in.

 

Baby bear held it in and held it in. BUUUUURP! said baby bear. The poo come out his mouth.

 

Leaves the door open for a sequel.

[Jonnyboy]

yeah homes stick em up here so we can all lol!

 

Here's one of mine i just wrote:

 

I need a poo, said baby bear.

 

You can't poo here, said mummy bear, this is a shop. You'll have to hold it in.

 

I need a poo, said baby bear.

 

You can't poo here, said daddy bear, this is my car. You'll have to hold it in.

 

I need a poo, said baby bear.

 

You can't poo here, said sister bear. Not on my face. You'll have to hold it in.

 

Baby bear held it in and held it in. BUUUUURP! said baby bear. The poo come out his mouth.

 

[St_Tel49]

He could post them on here. I'm sure he'd get superb feedback.

And the age range would be right

[Ken Tone]

Throwing this out there as i'm sure someone may have a clue about these things.

 

I've had an idea for a childrens book series (Estimated age range 2-4), i've come up with a kind of 'Idea bible' type summary for it and have drafts of a few stories that could be part of it.

 

How would you pitch these ideas to publishers? Where would you start?

 

Not an expert but my father had a few books published, including a short story in achildren's anthology, and a I know a few part-time semi-hobby/semi-serious, authors, none of whom has ever earnt much from their writing by the way.

 

It is incredibly difficult to get any book published, unless you go for 'vanity publishing' where you pay for it yourself, or nowadays put in in e-book form only. It is extremely unlikely that any publisher will agree to meet someone pitching a book idea unless they already know/publish them , or they are a celebrity.

 

So apart from the 'vanity' route, you have to produce a synopsis of your idea, and a sample chapter or section, and send that to anyone you can think of, including literary agents as well as poubluishers, because one of them might pick up on you and sell it for you, using their much better contacts. There is of course also a danger in doing this, because it is not unknown for ideas to be nicked, so you might want to keep a very clear record of what you have sent to whom, when.

 

And also, most books aimed at that age range are of course largely picture-based. Have you thought about the ilustrations? Doing them yourself, or what? They will be at least as important as the story.

 

if you want any inspiration about how to aim books to different age ranges, look at the wide range of books by Alan and Janet Ahlberg.

Edited 16 October, 2012 by Ken Tone

[Bearsy]

And also, most books aimed at that age range are of course largely picture-based. Have you thought about the ilustrations? Doing them yourself, or what? They will be at least as important as the story.

 

Good idea bro! I've already began illustrating my story! Can you forward this to your dad please!

 

[buctootim]

Has part of the Bearsy scriptwriting team left? the witty part.

Edited 16 October, 2012 by buctootim

[Bearsy]

Dude I'm dumbing it down for the 2-4 year olds! They ain't gonna understand my sophisticated wordplays!

[tpbury]

Young kiddies books are one are where electronica can't hold sway (yet). For very young ones, the texture based (scratch and smell ones as well) books are great. For 2-4 age range, flap is where is it at as far as I'm concerned. There's a story, driven by the littlun lifting the flap - they love it! The more complex flappetry (underlying, overlying, pull the tab stuff) should be left until they can demonstrate that their not going to wreck the book. But innovation in this area will get you sales, because I know all my young kids (3,10,13) love(d) a good flap book. And it's also more interesting for the adult reading it. Flap.

[suewhistle]

For very young ones, the texture based (scratch and smell ones as well)... .

 

Don't give Bearsy ideas, FFS!

[Bearsy]

Lols!