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April 22, 2026: After years of not having time to work on my Award-Winning Children's Books section, I've updated the Newbery and Caldecott pages up through this year's awards. I've also cleaned up the resource links at the bottom of both pages.
Before I go and update the other pages, please let me know if this is a resource you use, or if there are other pages on my site that you would like to see updated first. Since the beginning of 2025, I've done the following:
- Updated the Who's Moving Where page regularly
- Added two reviews to the Book Review section
- Updated the pages with basic information about agents (what they do, how to find them, resources)
- Updated "Getting Out of the Slush Pile"
- And updated my Conferences and Workshops page and Editorial Services section.
March 31, 2026: I've updated the Who's Moving Where page after the news of two well-known imprints closing, noting that and also news of some new imprints being launched.
February 23, 2026: It's been a while since I last did a book review! I've got an entirely new one, of Martin Salisbury's and Morag Styles's Children's Picturebooks, a great resource for anyone interested in picture books, with some additional recommended books listed. And there's a new edition of the Chicago Manual of Style, the 18th, so I updated my review of that.
Of course, there are also updates on the Who's Moving Where page, and I've posted a link on my Conferences and Workshops page to the "The Crash Course in Children's Book Publishing," which begins June 3 and is now open for registration.
Last but not least, a reminder that I am available for editorial work (in children's and YA) and publishing-related consulting, which can be in such areas as submissions, craft coaching, or insight into the children's publishing world. You'll find details of my services and rates in the PC Editorial Services pages.
January 20, 2026: Coming up next week is my Successful Strategies for Submitting Your Manuscript to Agents and Editors online workshop, revised and updated for 2026. An overview to help you get out on submission or adjust your approach. Two sessions cover everything from the basics of the submissions process to what works and what doesn't, including preparation, basic strategies, resources I recommend, case studies, and query letters. Expect some surprises, some myth-busting, and perhaps some reminders of things you knew but had forgotten. Online via Boyds Mills (formerly the Highlights Foundation). Recordings will be available if you can't attend live, or want to watch again. $59, webinar format, with handouts and time for questions.
Also, though there's not much news at this time of year, I have a few items on the Who's Moving Where page.
December 5, 2025: As we head towards the end of the year, I have two quick updates: There is news on the Who's Moving Where page, and I've put up information on my Conferences and Workshops page about two scheduled online workshops: "Successful Strategies for Submitting Manuscripts to Agents and Editors" and "The Crash Course in Children's Book Publishing."
November 3, 2025: I have updated my interlinked pages about agents, covering what agents do, how to find one, what resources to use, and how to analyze their websites. I do this at least once a year--I did this particular update to make sure that everything was current before next week's Kidlit Agent Panel, which I'm moderating for the Metro New York SCBWI.
While I was at it, I also updated the Who's Moving Where page.
October 8, 2025: It's unusual for me to have updated less than a month after the previous update, but I'm doing it for a few reasons:
--> I want to remind you about Publishing Trends, Market Shifts, and Opportunities, which is next week.
--> I also want to tell you that this year's "Kidlit Agent Panel"--me moderating a discussion with three active children's book agents--is open for registration.
--> AND there are some new updates on the Who's Moving Where page. No layoffs this time, but news of hiring at an administrative level, further evidence that companies are trying to shift their approach in the face of a difficult market.
September 14, 2025: I'll start with what I think is my most exciting news--I'm doing an online workshop in October called "Publishing Trends, Market Shifts, and Opportunities," addressing change of different kinds (in terms of scale and time frame) in children's publishing, and how to deal with it. Registration is now open, and you will also find more information about the workshop via that link. I encourage you to sign up now, as this workshop is likely to fill up. It will be recorded, but you must sign up in advance to get access to the recording. It's $59. I'm still researching and happy to hear your questions or comments about what I'll be covering.
In less happy news, I have an update to the Who's Moving Where page, mostly about new layoffs, as book banning and tariffs combine to squeeze our business. Small to mid-sized publishers have been the most affected so far, but that will change if things get worse.
You may know my evergreen article, "Getting Out of the Slush Pile," which has been online for close to 30 years now, and in fact goes back to the very first presentation I made at an SCBWI conference, in Scranton PA! Well, I've gone through and made changes to bring it into the current era of submissions to agents done electronically. (I'd made some updates to it over the years, but in assuming by-mail submissions to editors it had become out of date, even though the basic advice about what to do and NOT to do in submissions had stayed evergreen.) So I want to drag it into the present. There's probably more to do, so if you have suggestions I'd be happy to hear them!
Finally, two more practical notes: I'm open for editorial work and consulting, and I have an email newsletter that you can get so you won't miss updates (the link takes you to a signup form which I recently learned had stopped working. I have now fixed it.)
July 11, 2025: News of changes in children's publishing is picking up, and it's not all good news, as you can see on the Who's Moving Where page. My long-time friend Eileen Robinson has been downsized at Charlesbridge, editorial director Rebecca Davis has been laid off at Astra Young Readers, and Quirk Press has been almost entirely shut down.
Books aren't going away, though, and writers need help in getting them ready for submission. So I'm pleased to say I'm giving a 2-session online mini workshop on Big Picture Revision (link for more information or to register) via the Highlights Foundation in August. This is a topic I've spoken about before, but I've got some new tools to share, and plan to give a comprehensive overview of the different kinds of revision tools you can use to help you figure out what you need to work on in a manuscript. You'll also find this listed on my Conferences and Workshops page, along with some tentative future events.
May 20, 2025: A variety of news on the Who's Moving Where page, including a notable retirement, a surge of hiring at one imprint, and three new imprints.
There are also some updates on my Conferences and Workshops page. First, a reminder that The Crash Course in Children's Book Publishing, online via the Highlights Foundation is starting next week! (May 28) I've also got dates for upcoming mini workshops on revision and on trends (this one is entirely new), coming up in August and October. Save the dates, and I hope to have registration information and links soon.
Last but not least, I'm opening up to doing more consulting and editorial work, so I've updated several pages in the PC Editorial Services part of the site. If you or someone you know needs my help, I'd be happy to hear from you.
February 13, 2025: In my first 2025 update to the Who's Moving Where page, I've gathered news of some retirements (with the editors staying involved in a reduced role), layoffs, and new imprints.
I've also updated my Conferences and Workshops page with events for the first half of the year. The first of these, Practical Matters in Children's Book Publishing, will be an online "mini-workshop" via Highlights. This will give you a broad introduction to the practical things one needs to know and do when getting started, along with what to expect from submissions, acquisitions, and the publishing process.
November 12, 2024: The industry has been quiet in the run-up to the election, but I do have a few updates to the Who's Moving Where page.
Also, I have news on my Conferences and Workshops page of a late-breaking addition to my schedule--an updated presentation of Successful Strategies for Submitting..., which I will be offering December 16 and 18 online. This is for anyone planning to send manuscripts out in 2025.
And I've updated the page where I list books I've edited to include recent and forthcoming books I edited at Kane Press.
September 24, 2024: Another sad update to the Who's Moving Where page, this time involving me and the Kane Press imprint.
On my Conferences and Workshops page, you can now find a link to sign up to watch the Kidlit Agents Panel, coming up October 7. Registration remains open for the Crash Course in Children's Book Publishing, which starts tonight, and the upcoming in-person Revision Retreat at the Highlights Foundation in November.
September 2, 2024: As we buckle down at work again after the summer, I have updated the Who's Moving Where page, with sad news of the closure of Algonquin Young Readers and the retirement of Paula Wiseman, but also happier news of a new imprint and editors moving into new jobs.
I've also updated my Conferences and Workshops page. The Revision Retreat at the Highlights Foundation in November is full, but coming up very soon I've got two workshops on the practical and business side of children's book publishing. There's a two-night mini-workshop on September 16 and 18, Practical Matters in Children's Book Publishing. Then starting on the 24th, The Crash Course in Children's Book Publishing, a more in-depth 10-week class. Both are offered online via the Highlights Foundation.
June 27, 2024: I have another dozen new items on the Who's Moving Where page, with several notable retirements among them.
I've also updated my Conferences and Classes page. Note that The Illustrator's Edition of The Crash Course in Children's Book Publishing has started, but you can join the class through July 2nd. And coming up in mid-July is my Successful Strategies for Submitting Your Manuscript to Agents and Editors mini-workshop, an updated re-run of the very popular workshop I gave in January. This will be the last time I offer it this year.
April 3, 2024: Two big updates today:
I've laid out my schedule of workshops at the Highlights Foundations this year on my Conferences and Classes page. There are some still to come, but you'll find dates and registration links for three different "Crash Courses," one of which is for illustrators, and a Working Revision Retreat on campus in November! Mini workshops still to come, though I was able to give the dates for a 2nd offering of my "Successful Strategies for Submitting Your Manuscript to Agents and Editors," which was extremely popular when I first offered it in January.
You'll also find more than a dozen new items on the Who's Moving Where page, including editors moving and imprints starting up.
January 8, 2024: I've updated the Glossary of publishing terms I originally created for my Complete Idiot's Guide, and now maintain as its own resource.
November 26, 2023: I've been updating some pages that offer information and resources about agents and how to find them. These include Children's Book Agents and Artist's Representatives: A Guide (a starting point and FAQ), Resources Listing Literary Agents and Artist's Representatives, Finding and Choosing Literary Agents, and Five Reasons Why You Don't Need an Agent.
As 2023 draws to a close, I've posted the first workshops and other events I know I'll be doing in 2024 on my Conferences and Classes page. This includes "Successful Strategies for Submitting Your Manuscript to Agents and Editors," a new workshop I'm offering via the Highlights Foundation. I'm excited to be offering this. It will be my best take on what works now, and what doesn't, in the always challenging submissions process.
I've also updated the Who's Moving Where page, with some particularly sad news among the usual mix of moves and announcements.
September 12, 2023: There are new updates on my Who's Moving Where page, most of them to do with the layoffs some publishers have made in response to slower sales this year. As you'll see, I often don't know who has been laid off, but I do know of places where it's been happening.
The big update on the site, though, is that at last I have reviewed the latest edition of Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market. There was a two-year gap in the program until the new edition came out in early 2022, and I thought I'd wait for the next one. But there's been no sign of it. So if you want to know how CWIM is fairing under new ownership, check out the review.
As the end of the year approaches, I've still got one big workshop coming up, The Crash Course in Children's Book Publishing. This begins October 4, online via the Highlights Foundation, and will be the second and final time I'm offering the course this year. It attempts to cover the practical and business information that children's book creators need to know, and I'm excited, as always, to begin it again.
June 16, 2023: I see I didn't update this page when I made some April updates on my Who's Moving Where page, so be sure to check that out, since I've added more updates for June.
Possibly my biggest news, though, is that I'm going to be offering an online workshop with the Highlights Foundation on July 11 and 13 called "Beyond the Craft: Practical Matters in Children's Book Publishing"--this is a carefully condensed version of the Crash Course in Children's Book Publishing that I've been offering at Highlights for years, but much less expensive and much less of a time commitment. Please tell your friends, especially those getting started in our business. I've also updated my conferences page with that and with other information, including dates for this year's Revision Retreat (registration will open soon).
Finally, I did some work on the Award-Winning Children's Books section of the site, adding the 2023 Newbery Medalist and updating some book lists.
December 26, 2022: As the end of the year approaches, I've added two final bits of news on the Who's Moving Where page, along with some updates to my conferences page. Notably, the Crash Course in Children's Book Publishing has opened for registration, and I've got some dates for other courses later in the year. Happy New Year!
November 21, 2022: It's been months since my last update, so once again there are a number of bits of news on the Who's Moving Where page, including what to me is the most exciting, which is that my friend and colleague Eileen Robinson has moved to Charlesbridge. Check the page for details!
I've also added three online workshops with the Long Island SCBWI to my conferences, retreats, and workshops schedule. The first of these is coming up soon, on December 4. I've pencilled in dates for other workshops in 2023 and will add more information, and registration links, as they firm up.
Finally, I made some updates to my article on No-Advance and Hybrid Publishing.
June 25, 2022: I've been busy at Kane Press, and haven't been able to keep up with the Who's Moving Where page, but I've now done a thorough update, adding 14 items, including 3 new imprints and publishers. I've also updated my conferences, retreats, and workshops schedule, notably with full details of this summer's Revision Retreat at the Highlights Foundation (which is already filling up).
I've also updated my PC Editorial Services information to note that I am now open to freelance projects, but with limitations to avoid a conflict of interest with my job at Kane Press.
February 7, 2022: Just a few things this time around, starting with three items on the Who's Moving Where page.
Last week, the ALA announced their "Youth Media Awards," and so I'm starting all over again to update the Award-Winning Children's Books section of the site. I'm continuing to link to Bookshop.org instead of Amazon. I started the new round of updates with the Newbery Medal page, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Scroll down to the bottom of the Newbery page for some links to articles about the 100th anniversary.
January 17, 2022: New updates to the Who's Moving Where page, and a reminder that I've got some online workshops starting soon, as you will see in my 2022 conferences, retreats, and workshops schedule.
Also, I've been working to update the Award-Winning Children's Books section of the site ahead of the announcements at the ALA winter conference, called "LibLearn" this year, when I'll have a whole new round to catch up. I'm working to link to Bookshop.org instead of Amazon, and have been replacing links as I work through that section. This time, I updated the Scott O'Dell Award page and the Sibert Informational Book Award Page.
Last of all, I linked in a new interview with me, on the Interviews page. This is my first interview since starting at Kane Press, and includes a considerable amount of personal history.
December 19, 2021: I made several updates to the Who's Moving Where page, and I've also done my first look at my 2022 conferences, retreats, and workshops schedule.
October 16, 2021: I have updated my conference page to note that I will be moderating an online panel of children's book agents being held online on November 8 at 6 PM Eastern time. It's free to SCBWI members and $20 for everyone else, but you must register in advance.
September 26, 2021: I know it's only been a couple of weeks since I last updated the Who's Moving Where page, but there's big news! I've taken a job as Executive Editor at Kane Press. It's been a long time since I last appeared on Who's Moving Where, so I had to post--and there is more about changes at Astra Publishing, of which Kane Press is one of the children's book imprints. Since I was doing updates, I also added a new update on the integration of HMH into HarperCollins, but I hope you'll understand that I think the big news is the Astra news!
That's not all. I also did some work to update my conference and PC Editorial Services pages. Though not related to my new job, I also updated the Purple Crayon Bookstores page.
I hope to have more news from Kane Press soon. And in case you're wondering--Kane is closed to submissions at present.
September 12, 2021: I've got a few new updates on the website. There are of course updates on the Who's Moving Where page, including news of further fallout from the purchase of HMH by HarperCollins, and a link to a feature article on new imprints, as well as news of editors moving. And I've noted there that Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market, after a year's hiatus, has a new edition coming out soon.
But that's not all. I've also updated the books listed on my Resources Listing Agents and Art Reps page, and updated an interview from 20 years ago with Arthur Levine with a link to a parallel interview just completed--the first interview was done not long after he started his imprint at Scholastic, and the new one not long after he started Levine Querido.
Last but not least, I've updated my Conferences page, notably with a link to a free webinar I'll be doing soon with Crystal Allen and Eileen Robinson on the key things something needs to know when getting started in the children's book writing and publishing world. If you know anyone who needs that information, please direct them to it!
July 14, 2021: Several new updates on the Who's Moving Where page, and that's all, this time!
June 3, 2021: Once again, it's been a while since my last update. But I'm excited to tell you that this year's Revision Retreat at Highlights is now open for registration. Like last year, we are offering it online, including the Retreat (in a structure we set up last year that worked very well), but this year there's an option to retreat AT Highlights. I also want to note that there is still room in the Crash Course in Children's Book Publishing, which starts June 9, though you can join after that if you want. These and a fall session of the Crash Course are listed on my Conferences page.
I've got lots of updates on the Who's Moving Where page--15 (oops, now 16) in all this time! These include some new imprints and very interesting moves by Stacey Barney and Tiffany Liao.
You may have heard about the Authors Guild's new "Model Trade Book Contract." This is a highly useful resource, and I've put up a page about it, with my comments and links to the contract itself and the press release about it. Please let me know if you have used the model contract and what you think--I'll update that page with comments.
Finally, I want to remind you about Harold's Book Lists at Bookshop. I am working to promote Bookshop, as I explain in my March update below, and I've been surprised by how little the links I've set up have been used. Maybe I should explain that you can march right past the books in my lists, once you get to Bookshop. I'll still get credit for any purchases you make on that visit. Thanks!
Older news: This goes all the way back to 1996, if you're interested.
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