This page is for un-agented writers and author-illustrators pitching Early GNs (defined as early readers and chapter books such as: Narwhal and Jelly and Toon Books). The comments section won’t be visible until 8 a.m. EDT on the Saturday before the pitch event opens for editors and agents.
How to Pitch:
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Add your pitch as a comment below.
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Keep your pitch at 600-characters or less, including any hashtags you want to use (as seen here).
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Author-Illustrators: You can upload one file 5MB or under that includes multiple pieces of project art.
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Writers-only: You may upload an image file with your bio plus a PDF of up to 4 script pages if you’d like. Both together cannot exceed 5MB.
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Be sure to review the full How to Pitch guide before posting.
Very Important:
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Only agents and editors are allowed to comment on pitches. GN creators, if you reply to a pitch your comment will be removed. We want to keep the pages as easy to navigate as possible, so please respect this rule.
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Illustrators, if you want to reply to an author who has indicated a wish to find a collaborator, please DO NOT reply to their pitch, use the contact info they provided to reach out to them instead.
Thanks for being part of KidLitGN — we can’t wait to see your stories!
Hi, my name is Tom Rolim. This is my pitch idea.
BRUTO, FLORA AND FAUNA — Early Graphic Novel
Bruto is a giant, grumpy forest guardian who wants nothing more than peace and quiet. Then a magical seed and a mysterious egg bring two chaotic girls into his life: Flora, who controls plants, and Fauna, who talks to animals. Now Bruto must face the most terrifying adventure of his life: fatherhood. In an enchanted forest, raising magical kids is anything but quiet.
#FA #HA #AD #AC
Hello, I’d like to see more of the story if possible. Could you please send more illustratd pages or script pages (or both) to the submissions link for our agency: https://www.mckinnonliterary.com/ Please include the subject line KidLit Pitch
Hi Tom, I would love to read more! Could you send your materials for this story (and any other illustration work you’d like to share) to me at cmegill@catagencyinc.com, including KidLitGN in the subject line? Thanks so much! Looking forward to seeing more!
Hi, my name is Marjory E. Leposky. This is my pitch idea.
MR. GRUMBLES—Children’s Chapter Book
A kitten is abandoned beside the road at a driveway to a house. He has to deal with the weather, other animals living in the front yard, and finding food. His survival is up to him until humans of the house take him in.
Through Words (essay), The 2020 Spring/Summer edition of Teach. Write.: A Writing Teachers’ Literary Journal – April 17, 2020
https://winkler766087.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/teach.-write.-springsummer2020_edited.pdf
PRINCESS BLACK x HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON x KAI & THE MONKEY KING
Yǒng, a 9 year old local princess in 1380 Ming China, seeks to solve the doubts of her parents, through the mastery of the five Shaolin Kung fu. Under the tutelage of Shifu Nap, Yong finds confidence in herself, learns to read more, gains independence, and transforms into a worthy ruler of her subjects. #POC #HF #F #AD #AC #CB chapterbook
Hamburger and Hotdog have always had a friendly rivalry but when they are lunch options on the same day, who will claim the #1 spot? Hamburger believes he will be chosen more since he was one of Elvis Presley’s favorite foods, but Hotdog disagrees and believes he will come out on top since he was one of the first foods eaten on the moon. Who will be victorious in this food fight?
#H #AC
Unlikely Heroes centers around a small party of misfits who just can’t seem to do anything right. Their desire to be recognized as a capable party is going nowhere due to their growing list of failed quests. But an opportunity for redemption arrives when the town’s new baker, Millie, the mouse, gets her supplies stolen by a dragon. Unaware of the party’s success rate, she hires them to reclaim her stolen goods and the party embarks on a quest for redemption.
#H #AD #FA #AC
There are endless possibilities for these deemed misbehaved cats, but the first volume in this series centers around Pawly getting sent to the Acatemy for his bad cat behavior. When he arrives, he meets a variety of different cats (and a ferret who believes he is a cat). As he makes friends with Nib the ferret, Meowbert, Clawdia, and Hampurrger, he also learns not everyone is as friendly and has the same goal of reaching star cat-izen to return home. He faces the challenges of Whisken the bully and trying to stay true to his prank-loving self. #H #AD #AC
My name is Marie Quills this is my pitch: Little Tilly loves stomping through her mother’s blooming tulip garden in her favorite pink galoshes. But when her imagination turns the flowers into a giant maze and she loses her boot in the mud, tears begin to fall. Enter the “Flower Guardian “—Tilly’s mother in disguise— who gently guides Tilly on a search through the stems, helping her bravely encounter bees, worms, and butterflies along the way. Tilly and the Tulips is a heartwarming story about emotional regulation, the magic of nature, and the power of a mother’s playful guidance. #MR
MEET DOYLE & SHERLOCK
What happens when an 8-year-old builds his own best friend?
Doyle gets a talking koala.
A detective koala.
And definitely NOT the kind of friend who always agrees with him.
Think Calvin and Hobbes—
with a Build-a-Friend twist.
Humor. Heart. Snark. Mystery.
One unforgettable 8-year-old.
One highly-intellectual detective bear.
And Lily—the clever, feisty girl who keeps Doyle on his toes.
97-page graphic novel | Ages 7+ | Series potential
PINGO & MISTER
PINGO, 7, feels everything out loud. Hungry and missing his best friend, Pingo stumbles onto MISTER’s bun stand, where a stoic old man sells buns his wife sent him to share with the neighbors. No money? No problem. Pingo’s loud heart earns him one bun, on one condition: keep trying for what you want. So Pingo recruits half the park to settle the Great Bun Debate, turning Mister’s empty stand into a hit, and revealing a deadpan heart of gold. A big-hearted early-reader graphic novel for kids with big feelings, and the grown-ups who can’t help but care about them. #CON #HA #OWN
I WANT MOCHI ICE CREAM
Big sister JEJE has one mochi ice cream and no intention of sharing it with little brother DIDI. Cue the world’s most stubborn sibling standoff: “Oh fine, have it.” “No, I don’t want it.” Until the mochi melts into a sad sack of soup. But when the kulfi cart rolls up with just one left, JeJe faces the choice all over again: keep it or share it. An early-reader graphic novel for kids who’ll fight with their siblings and yet love them through everything. Because even melted ice cream can’t melt their love. #CON #HA #OWN
Apple and Grape: Newsworthy Nonsense (Early GN) follows the titular characters and their friends as they have mundane and not-so-mundane misadventures in the small town of Cardinal Valleys. These misadventures range from being school news anchors to competing with major coffee shops for relevance. Each story has a theme of friendship, individuality, perseverance, creativity, and the importance of community
The stories include “Rose’s Delivery Service”, “Newsworthy Nonsense”, “Shades of Berryton”, “Turning In With The Turnovers”, “The Devious Three and the Butterfly Scouts”, and “Eight-Legged Geeks”.
#HA #FA #LF
When Jules spies a mischievous raccoon, she decides to make it her pet. 7-year-old Jules is capable, determined, and uses a pink electric wheelchair. She wants a pet with furry ears and a long tail — why not a raccoon? But after picking up the raccoon’s scattered trash, Jules might be open to other pet ideas. Mom’s hamster plan falls flat when Jules falls in love with a tiny orphaned kitten who refuses to eat.
For fans of Owly and Otis & Peanut, JULES & DIAMOND is a slice-of-life Early Reader Graphic Novel featuring the adventures of Jules and her new pet cat Diamond. #CON #DIS
SKULLY & BOO: THE GHOST NEXT DOOR
by Sherry Fry
When Boo moves in next door, Skully can’t handle such a big change! He brushes off Boo’s attempts to befriend him until he realizes that Boo is sad and lonely (and maybe, just maybe, Skully misses Boo too). In the end, Skully takes a step out of his comfort zone and into the rain to extend his friendship to Boo. Fun and relatable adventures ensue.
This story leverages the graphic novel format to bring Boo’s non-speaking communication to life. Follow along as this sweet and spooky duo prove the best friendships are anything but typical!
#HA #DIS #ND
Hi Sherry! I’m Andi, an associate agent with Spencerhill Associates. I’d love to see more of Skully & Boo’s adventures if you feel we could be a good fit! Please submit using this event link (this will allow you to submit even though I’m currently closed to queries!): https://QueryTracker.net/query/Andi_Twaddle/KidLitGN_2026
Thanks,
Andi
I’d love to take a look at this! Please send to my QT – https://QueryTracker.net/query/holliemichaels/KIDLITGN
Thank you! I look forward to hearing from you.
Hollie, Martin-Newens Literary Management
Hello, I would love to look at more pages in this story. Please send to out submissions link: https://www.mckinnonliterary.com/ and please include the subject line KidLit Pitch. thank you!
PROTECT THE CHOSEN ONE. Early readers chapter book with series potential.
In this story there’s a lazy chosen one, Pumpkin. Her overprotective, self-proclaimed bodyguard, Pepper. And of course, the whole society Pepper secretly created to protect her (Pumpkin’s a bit clumsy, yes, but it may be a bit overreacting). Word somehow spreads and now people from other towns are also creating their own clubs to protect her and everything is even more of a mess… and of course there’s bound to be some evil too, was anyone thinking about that? Pumpkin and Pepper will have to set their differences aside if they want to succeed.
Hi! My name is Shawndae Jackson. This is the picture children’s book that is very near to my heart. This is It’s Okay to Be Gray. Jason and Donna Fuller give birth to a child, normal in every way, except that she’s gray. After an incident with a parent, her parents cover her in makeup so that she would be accepted by the world. When a rainstorm uncovers her disguise, little Carol Fuller must decide to either keep hiding who she is or have the strength to not ask the world permission to exist. This is a Queer-coded tale for anyone at any age that struggles with accepting themselves.
#BIPOC #CON
YOUR BUS DRIVER IS A VIKING & OTHER TIMELESS TALES
With a staff recruited from across the ages, Average Genius Elementary School (AGES) is anything but average. That’s why a former class developed a handy guide to help new students navigate the rough waters ahead.
The adventures begin when you board a bus captained by a Viking who wants nothing more than to pillage your backpack. Fun facts throughout introduce elementary readers to the history and lore of each staff member’s time period.
This standalone chapter book with series potential is Teacher from the Black Lagoon meets DK Eyewitness book.
#AD #HA #HF #TT
Hi Quincy, I would love to read more! Could you send all the materials for this story to me at cmegill@catagencyinc.com, including KidLitGN in the subject line? Thanks so much! Looking forward to seeing what you have!
The Day Everyone Liked Blue. Early readers chapter book with series potential.
Things get weird when everyone in town starts to have the same favourite colour, in fact, you would expect some people to not even have a favourite colour, wouldn’t you?
Well, no one seems to care in this more and more blueish town, except Kunene, who starts her own investigations convincing her sister and some other new friends on the way, to find out a young witch’s messing up with his graduation task may be the problem.
Now, can they fix it before the witches council finds out and fixes it by deleting the whole town?
THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT gets a paleontology twist in BETTER THAN DINOSAURS.
The strange, fascinating creatures who populate our fossil record are FED UP with dinosaurs hogging the spotlight. So they band together to demand their time to shine!
#STEM #HA
A Mosquito, a Fly, and a Roach Walk Into a Juice Bar
It sounds like a joke. For three evicted pests, it starts with a juice bar heist. Roach works alone because he’s too cool for fools. Fly is buzzing for a new team. Mosquito is bloodthirsty with trust issues. Their raid proves each bug’s real-life superpower works. Teamwork doesn’t. Then a mini-human snatches Roach for her hungry bearded dragon, and the trio must trust each other to save their cocky friend. With “pest-acular” humor and enough bug science to make any reader a cerci expert, you’ll fall for these unwanted bugs. Ages 6-9. #HA #STEM #POC #AD
Hello, we are an author and illustrator duo!
In THE ADVENTURES OF SUPER SISTER AND DIAPER DIVA- LICK, Diaper Diva enjoys licking things, everything… especially if it’s not food! As she explores the world with her tongue, Super Sister desperately tries to stop her. This humourous, slice of life story would appeal to early readers ages 4-8. It is a standalone book with non-sequential series potential. This is a collaborative project with author Reed Hilton-Eddy, debut picture book April 13, 2027, and West Coast artist Nicole Wein.
#HU
ONE MOON — OR MANY?
Earth’s moon thinks she is special. After all, she is Earth’s only moon. Right? Wrong, say a gaggle of objects, including soccer pitch-sized rocks and creepy dust clouds. They claim they’re Earth’s moons too. For our orb, it’s a shock bigger than the catastrophic collision that created her. She must fend off these usurpers — or learn to share her crown.
ONE MOON — OR MANY? (950 words), aimed at 8–10-year-olds, combines Pluto Gets The Call’s humor and There’s Only One You’s message to highlight the space rocks that hang around Earth but aren’t its true satellites.
#HA #InformationalFiction #STEM
Eight-year-old Arya never wanted to spend a second at the central taxi stand. And at night? No way. Not since he heard the vehicles there have eyes that follow you. But when Arya is forced to babysit his bullying big brother’s taxi, he’s terrified to find that these taxis don’t just have eyes that shift, blink and flash — they can speak. And though they seem friendly, Arya senses they hide a sinister secret. He must escape their clutches — or risk becoming their human “pet”.
THOSE CARS ARE WATCHING ME blends Troubling Tonsils!’s suspense with The Skull’s problem-solving strategizing.
#H #S #OWN
THE LEAGUE OF LOST PETS: ORIGINS is a graphic novel chapter book with series potential for fans of Smith’s PEA, BEE, & JAY and Spiotto’s MAX, A LITTLE AXOLOTL.
Now sworn to ‘protect the lost and forgotten” as junior members of The League of Lost Pets, mellow Kip and adventure-seeking Azula, need to secure their place among an eclectic group of fellow lost pets but when Azula’s latest treasure is stolen, the two friends must expose the traitor in their midst before the secrets of The League are revealed and their new home destroyed.
Hi Nikki! I’m Andi, an associate agent with Spencerhill Associates. I’d love to see more of The League of Lost Pets: Origins if you feel we could be a good fit! Please submit using this event link (this will allow you to submit even though I’m currently closed to queries!): https://QueryTracker.net/query/Andi_Twaddle/KidLitGN_2026
Thanks,
Andi
I am Mark Gottlieb, EVP and literary agent at Trident Media Group, a leading literary agency in book publishing. Please send your submissions here: https://www.tridentmediagroup.com/submissions/
BY THE LIGHT OF THE FOX (650 words, ages 5-8) A sleep-deprived student looks up from her late night studies to see a glowing starry fox outside her window trying to ask for help unscrewing a street light bulb. Seeing that sleep won’t come to her tonight anyway, she decides to help the fox out and soon finds out it’s one of many lights he’s collected from the city to help him glow the brightest in the sky. After many nights helping out the fox, the young woman starts to see the positive effects of his collecting on the local wildlife and begins to wonder if his collecting has been a selfless mission deep down.
#MR #UF
FISH GOES FOR A WALK
From his bowl, by the window, FISH watches all the neighborhood pets walk by down the street to a party. Desperate to join, FISH devises more and more elaborate schemes to get his fishbowl moving. From a skateboard, to a slingshot, to mechanical robot legs, all of FISH’s attempts end in disaster. In desperation, FISH flings themselves out of their bowl and crawls down the street only to discover the others are all going swimming in the lake. “Swimming!” cries FISH. “I could have stayed home and done that!” “Yes,” says DOG, “but now you can do it with friends.” FISH joins in.
Twigs loves science. Leaf loves art. Together, these best friends love asking big questions! When their attempt to teach readers about naturalist and artist Maria S. Merian gets crashed by a talking, 400-year-old flea diagram, they don detective hats to investigate nature’s greatest mystery: Where do butterflies come from? Along the way, their scribbly friend Dance Break pops in with a boom box to get everyone dancing, readers included! Through clue boards, a thinking violin, and plenty of silliness, Twigs and Leaf inspires kids to be curious, be kind, and get out in nature. #STEM #HA #BIPOC
SQUID, INC is an Early Graphic Novel mystery perfect for fans of Squirrel Lock Holmes and P.I. Butterfly.
A precious pearl is missing from the S.S. Sunken Ship— the hub of a bubbling ocean community. In this zany undersea mystery, Anglerfish jumps to conclusions about each suspect, but Squid considers all the facts. She’s determined to solve her first real case. Yes, the door was locked, but there is a small gap at the bottom. Could Flounder have scooched in and nabbed the pearl? Or perhaps a tiny plankton thief? But who could have opened the glass jar where the pearl was kept?
PIRATE BUGS
When the insects of Prickleweed Pond are bullied by the Ant Queen and her army, Merryn becomes a pirate to fight back, thwarting the ants at every turn. She cleverly steals back the food that the ants take from other bugs and returns it, infuriating the Ant Queen and her commander Captain Thorn. When Merryn sets out with her crew to find the Lost Lily, a giant mythical flower, she hopes to gather enough nectar and pollen to feed all the bugs plundered by the ants. But first she must evade hungry frogs, snapping turtles, and an army of ants on her trail!
Hi John!
I’ve perused your website after viewing this submission, and really love your art direction and ideas – they’re so fun and playful. I’d love to see more of PIRATE BUGS to gauge if it might be a good fit for my list! If you are interested in showing me your materials, shoot me an email at rrunge@spencerhillassociates.com.