[alicia-griffith Posts: 3 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

 I am writing a query to an agent who asks what the book "audience" is in 500 words or less. Right now I have my audience/market analysis divided into these markets: Child/Parent, School, and Therapeutic (such as children's art therapists).  Are there better more industry-specific terms for these? Such as do you call parents buying a picture book a "home market," a "child/parent" market or something else? I am hoping to get this sent out soon so thanks for any feedback on the correct terminology!

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,875 Status: Offline Happy writing to all! WWW]

For a picture book, you could say something like "ages 3-6 for school and public libraries."

Can you find a comparable book that is already published and see where that book is found?

[karen-b-jones Posts: 279 Status: Offline Will draw for money! WWW]

What is the subject?  Is it a niche market, or something broader?  Age range?  Is it mostly educational, or religious, or just an entertaining story?  What's the format?  (Board, Picture, Graphic Novel, Chapter Book?)

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,002 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

Here are broad categories commonly used in the industry:

Trade: sold in bookstores
Educational: sold to schools and libraries---this is sometimes known as the institutional market and does include books for people who work with children.
Mass Market: sold in stores like Target and grocery chains (often these books are in series and use licensed characters from children's TV or movies.)
Religious: May appear in trade or educational markets, but will appeal to people in a specific religion (possibly broad religious category, like Christian) and is sold mostly in stores geared for that group or to schools for them.

Think about who will buy your book and who will read it as well as the format. Why would that person buy it? So people who work with children may purchase for art therapy but grandparents may also read with their grandchildren because it talks about a famous artist as a child living with a grandmother and learning how art helps process emotions. (Just an off-the-top-of-my-head possibility for a non-existent book.)

So, as Karen said, what are your specifics?

[alicia-griffith Posts: 3 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thank you all! The book is a 524-word picture book geared toward ages 3-9. It is a book about colors and feelings. I see it being purchased by parents/grandparents, classroom teachers, art teachers (like me!), outdoor educators and art therapists. It is both an art resource book with classroom extensions and also a book about feelings. I think dividing it into the categories mentioned (educational and trade) might help. Then, I can divide up the market further within those categories. Any help is welcomed.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,002 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

Three year olds and nine year olds are worlds apart on reading capability and emotional needs/maturity. Traditionally picture books were labelled as ages 4-8, but that is moving younger, 2-6. Might you be targeting more specific kids in that older group? Like those with difficulty identifying and expressing emotions. For the teacher/ therapist market, look at Magination Press.

That said, have you checked to see the nothing similar is on the market. This sounds familiar to me. Good luck.