[anna-paulson Posts: 34 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

I have written a 495 word picture book manuscript about a little girl named Sally dealing with her autism.  I am autistic myself and the only one in my family.  So I wrote this story to help autistic children and their families understand what life is like as an autistic child.  I have been trying like crazy to find a publisher or and agent, but I'm not finding any luck. 

Based on the response from beta readers and editors, I know this story will help many children and families connect.  I am unable to draw the story myself and don't have enough money to pay an illustrator in order to self publish on Amazon.  Any help or ideas would be welcome and thanks for even reading this post. 

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 6,208 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

I'm the parent of a now adult on the spectrum and wish there had been more books like this 15 years ago. There are a few now. Have you checked that yours is unique enough? Magination Press is a good place to look. Ask your librarians and search Amazon to see what is already available as well. Here's a list from a Google search to get you started: https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisprograms.com/30-best-childrens-books-about-the-autism-spectrum/. Some of the books skew older but many are PBs.

[anna-paulson Posts: 34 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thanks so much for responding. 

The story I have written is about Sally trying to understand the world before learning she is autistic.  It mostly deals with how she sees the world vs everyone else around her.  She doesn't even hear the word autism until her parents take her to a doctor.

I am currently looking at the link and resources you have given.  Again thanks for the help.  All of the writers I personally know don't write stuff like this

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 6,208 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

So it's pre-diagnosis. Interesting. I don't know if I've seen that. I'd think it would appeal more to the school and library market than to the trade (bookstores). It sounds like a book a therapist might use to help a child newly diagnosed. There's a list of publishers here: http://www.evelynchristensen.com/markets.html. You'll have to go through each individually and see if your work might be a good fit. This list may not be up to date any longer. Also, look into organizations for professionals who work with autistic youth. Sometimes an organization has a publishing arm. Good luck.

[Meghan Wilson Duff Posts: 17 Status: Offline STEM Nonfiction]

Not sure about picture books, but Jessica Kingsley Publishing has a lot of autism related books for different ages. Much of it features autistic writers.

[anna-paulson Posts: 34 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thanks again.  And yes it is about the pre-diagnosis because I based Sally on how life was for me at that age...Didn't find out I had autism until I was in my mid 20s

[anna-paulson Posts: 34 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Not sure about picture books, but Jessica Kingsley Publishing has a lot of autism related books for different ages. Much of it features autistic writers.

Thanks I will look them up

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 6,208 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

Thanks again.  And yes it is about the pre-diagnosis because I based Sally on how life was for me at that age...Didn't find out I had autism until I was in my mid 20s

This is not uncommon. I read on a blog once about someone who was diagnosed in his 60s. At least now you know.

[anna-paulson Posts: 34 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

This is not uncommon. I read on a blog once about someone who was diagnosed in his 60s. At least now you know.

That is both sad and nuts...At least awareness is growing and that is happening to fewer people.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 6,208 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

At least awareness is growing and that is happening to fewer people.

Agreed. He just came up in a time when less was known and managed to work and raise a family without finding out. But he was still relieved to hear it. As with your protagonist, it explained a lot.

[anna-paulson Posts: 34 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Agreed. He just came up in a time when less was known and managed to work and raise a family without finding out. But he was still relieved to hear it. As with your protagonist, it explained a lot.

cool

[cherise-arthur Posts: 2 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

I have written a 495 word picture book manuscript about a little girl named Sally dealing with her autism.  I am autistic myself and the only one in my family.  So I wrote this story to help autistic children and their families understand what life is like as an autistic child.  I have been trying like crazy to find a publisher or and agent, but I'm not finding any luck. 


Have you thought about doing an audible book for this? 

Based on the response from beta readers and editors, I know this story will help many children and families connect.  I am unable to draw the story myself and don't have enough money to pay an illustrator in order to self publish on Amazon.  Any help or ideas would be welcome and thanks for even reading this post. 

[JodyJS Posts: 1,246 Status: Offline Preorder now! Out April 2021! WWW]

You might check out Albert Whitman's list, too. They publish books like this. https://www.albertwhitman.com/submission-guidelines-for-unrepresented-authors/

[anna-paulson Posts: 34 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

You might check out Albert Whitman's list, too. They publish books like this. https://www.albertwhitman.com/submission-guidelines-for-unrepresented-authors/

Thanks I will take a look

[RebeccaL-G Posts: 1,194 Status: Offline RA SCBWI Cen-Cal WWW]

Since you are an SCBWI member, you have free access to SCBWI's The Book, which lists publishers and the type of books they publish. You can find it here https://www.scbwi.org/online-resources/the-book/
You must be logged in to the SCBWI site to view the publication. You can download it for free. There is a print copy available for a price, but since it is close to year's end, go with the free download.  There is an index at the beginning which gives you appropriate page numbers (I often find they are off by one or two pages) and it is full of other helpful information about preparing and submitting a manuscript.

[anna-paulson Posts: 34 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Since you are an SCBWI member, you have free access to SCBWI's The Book, which lists publishers and the type of books they publish. You can find it here https://www.scbwi.org/online-resources/the-book/
You must be logged in to the SCBWI site to view the publication. You can download it for free. There is a print copy available for a price, but since it is close to year's end, go with the free download.  There is an index at the beginning which gives you appropriate page numbers (I often find they are off by one or two pages) and it is full of other helpful information about preparing and submitting a manuscript.

Thanks I didn't know that.  The membership was a Christmas gift from my family, so I am still figuring everything out lol

[RebeccaL-G Posts: 1,194 Status: Offline RA SCBWI Cen-Cal WWW]

Thanks I didn't know that.  The membership was a Christmas gift from my family, so I am still figuring everything out lol

That's why I like to mention it to people. There is a lot on the SCBWI site that is very helpful, so poke around. Also, your membership makes you a member of a local region--and local regions may have information, get-togethers, webinars, etc. of interest to you.  You can find your region here https://www.scbwi.org/regional-chapters-new/     

[Trine Posts: 117 Status: Offline WWW]

Great Christmas present, Anna-Paulson!!

[anna-paulson Posts: 34 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Great Christmas present, Anna-Paulson!!

Yep.  I am very lucky :D