TEN
The Kids Lit Market
4 easy steps to getting into kids lit
Okay maybe not easy, but doable. These are based on observing Renata’s experiences on how to do it right, and my own first hand experiences on how not to do it!
Bring out your inner self
Practice and Study – Draw every single possible moment you can, but with purpose.
Draw cute kids – Kids books are about kids.
Draw cuddly animals – As mentioned kids books are about kids, but kids are often drawn as animals.
Draw fun stories – Kids books are storybooks, draw storytelling pictures with kids doing fun stuff.
Draw playful places – Kids like to go out and play and explore.
Research kids lit
Remember what it was to be a kid. Read kids books, better yet read to kids, it’s eye opening to see what actual children respond too. Visit a bookstore or library to see what books are out there.
Research publishers. Make a list, understand what types of books they publish and what they are looking for. Don’t send to publishers that don’t need your style of work. Editors and Art Directors are generally who buy and hire art for publishing.
Research literary agents. The easiest way to do this is to look at illustrators you like and identify who their agents are.
Build a body of work
Build a Portfolio. It makes sense to have a portfolio with a diversity of content and types of books. Make yourself appear useful, clients are looking to find someone to solve a problem they have. Consider what your angle is, how do you differentiate your work. Approx 15 images at least, include process which can build understanding and trust, a dedicated instagram page is fine.
A diverse portfolio can showcase a variety of communication methods, genres, and markets. A portfolio should be a live document that is changing as you grow your work, voice, and your understanding of the industry and relevancy of your work
Connect with others
Design a promotional strategy, create promos and mailers (digital and/or print), create an identity, consider direct publishing, build a five year plan and a schedule of promotion, read books and research marketing. Learn about business.
Consider other markets outside of the printed book. Online, mobile games, digital education, motion, ebooks, Patreon, and such. Kids literature can also be thought of as a method of communication for anyone that needs to talk to kids. Institutions, government, public service, editorial, advertising, and beyond.
Join the SCBWI.
Types of Books
Board Books – ABC, informational, pop up books, novelty, fiction.
Picture Books – Fiction, literary, entertainment, education, poetry, non fiction, experiences of 4- 6 year olds.
Early Readers – Interior art and cover, Fiction, nonfiction, info, mythology, history, science, natural history, elementary school experiences.
Middle Grade – Cover, B+W Interior, maps, chapter headings, journals, growing up, informational, graphic novels for younger kids.
YA – Covers, literary graphic novels for older kids, teen issues.
Education – Textbooks, icons, infographic, all ages.
AU Arts Alumni that have or are doing Kids Lit (partial list)
Renata Liwska, Jillian Tamaki, Kim Smith, Joy Ang, Sam Weber, Dena Seiferling, Julie Morstad, Jeremy Tankard, Byron Eggenschwiler, Josh Holinaty, Genevieve Simms, Fiona Staples, Riley Rossmo, Tyler Jenkins, Hilary Jenkins, Aaron Leighton, Lincoln Agnew, Tim Mack, Laura Bifano, Murray Kimber, Kyle Simmers, Rick Sealock, Karen Klassen, Jacqueline Hudon, Jacqui Lee,
Etcetera
Most Kids Lit in publishing is contract or freelance work, if you are looking for a job look to digital mediums such as online education, games, ebooks, app developers, motion graphics, animation, and other digital publishers, which can have staff positions. These can be specialized or generalist. Some small publishers very occasionally have art staff.
Canadian publishers often use Canadian artists because they receive government funding through Canada Council, etc. Which gives you the advantage of a smaller market to compete in.
When doing contract or freelance work, artists are considered sole proprietorship under tax law. Research through Revenue Canada for more info.
When American companies hire freelance work they may withhold 30% for tax purposes. Canadians need to claim treaty exemption/rights that designate you work and pay taxes in Canada and are exempt from withholding. This may be done through filling out a FW8 Ben form for single payment projects or applying for an ITIN when requested for doing projects that involve royalties and advances.
A great book for more information is Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market 2020.
Another useful book is the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook which has a new edition coming out right when you graduate in 2021.