Kids Lit
Books and More for Children and Teens

Here, here! I am an elementary school librarian and I have been wondering the same thing. How can the smaller presses get their work out there on a limited budget?

As an author who is published by a smaller press (Millbrook Press, imprint of Lerner), my comments will probably sound a bit like sour grapes. But I would certainly applaud more coverage of books that aren't being covered by everyone else. My publisher happens to focus on the school and library market (I write non-fiction books about art) and these books don't get nearly as much coverage as trade books. And while I understand why this is so up to a point, the fact is there's a lot of crossover between school/library books and trade books. In short, I think there are plenty of gems to be found in the school and library book market. Trade publishers aren't the only ones taking chances.

Tasha,

The only bit of advice I can give to you and fellow bloggers is ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE.

The worst someone could say is NO but I doubt that would be the case.

And just because you receive automatic copies from a small press at certain times of the year doesn't mean that you can't ask for more books, or backlist titles.

People who WANT what we have to offer and who are just as excited about what we do as we are tend to make their way onto our radar one way or the other.

So, think of yourself as one of us, someone who enjoys children's literature, wants to spread that joy and is looking for ways to make that happen.

SSL

Tasha, I have a hard time getting a hold of the small press--and university press--titles, too. Often I don't even hear about them at all.

At the recent NCTE convention, I made sure to stop and talk with some of the smaller publishers--whether this turns into anything remains to be seen. I would like to hear more from the publishers who target the the school and library markets; you can often find some fascinating nonfiction there--like Mr. Raczka's "3-D ABC"!