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Harold D. Underdown
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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, 3rd Edition Paperback – May 6, 2008

by Harold D. Underdown (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 125 ratings
See all formats and editions
“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
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    384 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Alpha
  4. Publication date
    May 6, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    7.38 x 0.82 x 9.13 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1592577504
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1592577507
Next slide of product details
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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

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Alpha; 3rd edition (May 6, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1592577504
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1592577507
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.38 x 0.82 x 9.13 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 125 ratings

About the author

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Harold D. Underdown

Harold D. Underdown

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Harold Underdown is an independent editor; he does critiques, helps to develop manuscripts, and provides other editorial and consulting services for individuals and publishers.

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 for writers and illustrators about the children's publishing world at http://www.underdown.org/. He speaks and gives workshop through the Highlights Foundation, SCBWI's national and regional conferences, and Kid’s Book Revisions (offering online and on-site tutorials and workshops in partnership with Eileen Robinson).

As an in-house editor, he worked at Macmillan, Orchard, and Charlesbridge, and has experience in trade and educational publishing. Among the books he has edited are Evelyn Coleman and Daniel Minter's The Footwarmer and the Crow, 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.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
125 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides helpful advice on how to get a book published. They find it realistic and informative, with firsthand knowledge of the business. The layout is easy to read and understand, making it a complete guide for writers. Readers appreciate the value for money, finding it reasonably priced.

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Information qualityReadabilityValue for money
32 customers mention "Information quality"32 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides helpful information on how to get a book published. They say it's a great resource with realistic advice and knowledge of the business. The book is described as an excellent resource for children's book authors, especially beginners.

"Excellent resource for children’s book authors, especially beginners!" Read more

"...if much more useful...." Read more

"A light hearted guide to publishing. Very patiently takes you through the steps and carefully explains everything along the way...." Read more

"...Written in the form of short notes, this book contains all the information, wisdom, reading lists and even contacts that you might expect to harvest..." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They appreciate its concise writing style and informative content. The book provides a step-by-step plan for preparing a manuscript for submission to an editor. Readers also mention that it encourages writers and is a handy reference.

"A light hearted guide to publishing. Very patiently takes you through the steps and carefully explains everything along the way...." Read more

"Underdown shares his long career expertise and encourages writers. His book is a handy reference...." Read more

"...I refer to it often, I like the layout and it is easy to read and understand...." Read more

"...learned how to play nicely with others, and about very specific, realistic steps in the process of moving towards publication...." Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They say it provides encouragement and is reasonably priced.

"...to be frank, thorough, just about right in encouragement, and reasonable in price...." Read more

"...I can't believe I got it used in such good condition and at such a low cost. The information provided is worth way more than I paid for it...." Read more

"Very easy read with plenty of good advice and a very good price for the value of the information in it" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Althea Young
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent resource for children’s book authors, especially beginners!
    Helpful
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  • Sinjin
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good for submitting manuscripts and marketing but getting out-of-date
    Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    If you're not really a dummy, you can skip the first half of this book. If you're setting up a home office for writing, you probably already know that you need to have a phone (seriously, this is discussed). The second half, where the author discusses publishing houses, submitting manuscripts, marketing your book, etc., if much more useful. I definitely learned some things, like how publishers will hire their own illustrators for the picture book you wrote, so don't bother finding an illustrator and submitting the full package. The author also goes in-depth about things like "who you know", the need for agents, the ways the publishing industry is changing, how to target your submissions, whether or not to submit multiple submissions (don't), and much more. My main concern about the book is that it is 10 years out-of-date, so the part on the changes to the publishing industry could probably use an update, but much of the other info still seems to be relevant.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Dana
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very patiently takes you through the steps
    Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A light hearted guide to publishing. Very patiently takes you through the steps and carefully explains everything along the way. How to be a professional writer, formats for different ages, when is it ready, do you need an agent?, how to work with the publishing world and what to do after you find a publisher. A very good book for those beginning their children's book publishing career.
    One person found this helpful
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  • John Joyce
    5.0 out of 5 stars Packed full of useful ideas
    Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Virtually Maria (Virtual Trilogy)

    Written in the form of short notes, this book contains all the information, wisdom, reading lists and even contacts that you might expect to harvest at a three-day seminar on publishing children's books, as a mere fraction of the price.

    It starts with the basic truth that children's books MUST appeal to adults (since adults buy them - not children) and then takes the reader through the 'world' of children's books and how to write, illustrate and publish them. I use the word 'world' because this book goes beyond the simple 'how to' manual in that it takes the reader inside the childrens' book industry and deals with agents, publishers and how to build a career as a successful childrens' book writer.

    There are other books that deal with the writing, layout and illustration of childrens' books in far more detail, but this is the first book that I've encountered in my thirty-plus years of writing that gives me a feel for the greater universe of book production that I need to navigate in order to achieve success.

    A highly recommended first manual for every children's book author.
    16 people found this helpful
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  • Person
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have Book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I think of this book as a friend. It is so realistic and shows such knowledge of the business that I recommend it to anyone who writes for children.There are very few questions you would have that cannot be answered by this book, or will point you to a place to get the information. I have used Harold Underdown's website [...]and thought how generous a person he is, to share all that with writers.I once hired him to edit some of my writing and also found him to be frank, thorough, just about right in encouragement, and reasonable in price. I am in three critique groups of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and I recommend this book to all of them. Note, I do not know Harold personally. I am also a published author.

    [...]
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Pensive
    4.0 out of 5 stars Everything Here, Even What You Didn't Know You Needed
    Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Underdown shares his long career expertise and encourages writers. His book is a handy reference.
    He redefines rules, because some are really suggestions. He quotes other learned celebs. I especially appreciated "When You Get a Nibble." Under this heading he looks at notes written on rejection letters and reads between their lines. The editor really meant "submit again."

    One thing I didn't care for was the Sample Cover Letters for Unpublished Authors section. The don'ts are self-evident. I would have preferred to see more do's.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Wayne Cash
    5.0 out of 5 stars Idiot book for non-idiots!!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Yes! This is SUCH a huge resource file! It literally covers every aspect of the publishing business, from start to finish. I am still sifting thru it, and i will probably never keep it out of reach. I lilke the fact that there are many different voices that tell you the ups and downs of getting into children's books. It really is a passion-based industry, and if you don't love it, you have little hope of being successful.
    If you DO love the art and craft of children's book production, then this book is for you. Highly recommend it!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Holly Friesen
    3.0 out of 5 stars OK help for writing children's books.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    It is ok. I think the information was fairly good, just not laid out or orgainized in a smooth, interesting and helpful manner. Sorry. And it doesn't include much on self publishing. But could be helpful to the right person. Just wasn't me.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Danadino
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
    Reviewed in Germany on August 2, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A very comprehensive guide on how the publishing world works from someone in the Business. Lots of highly valuable advice, resources, and tips. A must read for anyone interested to publish a children's book one day. It's well structured, easy to read... Invaluable!
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  • Bow Fox
    4.0 out of 5 stars very informative
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A good book which gives lots of information and advice. Could do with being updated in places especially in terms of self publishing. But all in all, a good book for both new and experienced writers
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  • Names don't matter ;-)
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not an up to date bersion but very useful
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 13, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Great book with lots of ideas
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