It comes as no surprise that Penguin Random House—the country’s largest trade publisher—is also the biggest children’s book publisher. But the size of the gap between PRH and second-place HarperCollins might raise a few eyebrows.
According to data released by Nielsen BookScan at its October 27 Children’s Book Summit, PRH had a 31% share of the children’s print book market for the July 1, 2015–June 30, 2016, period, while HC had an 11% share. (BookScan measures about 85% of print book sales.) PRH’s lead occurred despite a 5% drop in sales, to 72.7 million units, in the year ended June 30, compared to the prior year. Among the keys to PRH’s success is its ownership of a number of bestselling franchises, including Dr. Seuss and Golden Books.
In third place in the period was Scholastic, which had a 9% share, helped by its success with Minecraft titles. Scholastic’s share for the balance of the calendar year will likely rise, given the huge sales of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which has sold four million copies since its July 31 release. Simon & Schuster was in the fourth spot on the list, with the 17.6 million units it sold in the year ended June 30 giving S&S an 8% market share. Macmillan edged out Disney-Hyperion for fifth place, although each publisher had about a 5% market share. The top five children’s publishers together had a 64% share of print units sold through outlets that report to BookScan in the period, but Nielsen noted that their share was down from 66% in the prior year.
A number of children’s publishers ranked between 11 and 20 had strong growth over the past two years. While some, particularly Dover, saw children’s sales rise because of adult coloring books being classified as children’s titles, others have seen real growth in the kids’ market. Sourcebooks, for example, has invested heavily to build its children’s business, and its Jabberwocky and Put Me in the Story imprints have had solid gains, making it the 16th-largest children’s publisher on the BookScan list.
School Zone was the fastest-growing company among the 20 largest children’s publishers in the year ended June 30. School Zone is primarily a publisher of educational materials for school children, and CEO Jonathan Hoffman said that there was no one thing that led to the big gains in the past couple of years. He noted that sales were down in the 2013–2014 year, but that investment in product development led to a number of introductions—an inspirational coloring book/workbook line, a toddler line, and some larger format bind-ups—that yielded “some hits,” he said. An agreement with Readerlink also broadened School Zone’s reach into nontraditional markets.
20 Largest Children’s Publishers
Rank Publisher 2014–2015* 2015–2016** Change 2015–2016 1 Penguin Random House 76,913,637 72,743,648 -5% 31% 2 HarperCollins 25,338,469 25,484,539 0.5% 11% 3 Scholastic 18,633,939 20,387,939 9% 9% 4 Simon & Schuster 16,476,846 17,594,783 7% 8% 5 Macmillan 10,305,228 12,645,764 22% 5% 6 Disney 11,419,783 12,616,925 10% 5% 7 Hachette Book Group 8,034,250 8,052,209 0.2% 3% 8 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 7,158,608 6,799,994 -5% 3% 9 Abrams 5,122,962 5,273,936 3% 2% 10 Candlewick 4,298,416 4,686,870 9% 2% 11 Sterling 2,974,859 2,741,936 -8% 1% 12 Workman 2,379,783 2,525,970 6% 1% 13 Carson-Dellosa 2,046,584 2,385,449 16% 1% 14 Dover 1,762,177 2,352,886 33% 1% 15 Chronicle 1,963,941 2,319,651 18% 1% 16 Sourcebooks 1,547,101 1,895,899 22% 1% 17 School Zone 603,594 1,782,312 195% 1% 18 Tiger Tales 1,552,945 1,763,632 13% 1% 19 Phoenix International 1,123,181 1,385,447 23% 1% 20 American Girl 1,393,215 1,301,772 -7% 1% All Others 22,483,570 25,676,716 14% 11%*For July 1,2014–June 30,2015 ** For July 1, 2015–June 30, 2016 Source: Nielsen BookScan
Bookworms everywhere agree on who the top fiction book publishers are. And they tend to be correct not solely based on popular opinion but also on the portfolio, readership, author diversity, book sales, and capacity to instill trends for readers and cinephiles everywhere. These literary publishers are sought after by readers everywhere for their variety of genres, award-winning adult fiction, or bold writing.
If you are looking for publishing houses but are still deciding if you should go with a literary agent or an independent publisher, here is a list of who's among the top fiction publishers, including the ones currently accepting submissions.
With a stated mission to ignite a universal passion for reading by creating books for everyone to love, Penguin Random House is one of the Big Five fiction publishers worldwide. They are headquartered in New York City and operate in 20 countries over six continents. They are home to more than 300 imprints that work independently and are creatively different.
One of the leading fiction publishers in the US, comprising dozens of esteemed imprints, Hachette publishes books of general interest, including children's books. Their house books include the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Caldecott Medal, Newbery Medal, Booker Prize, Nobel Peace Prize, and other major honors.
Simon & Schuster features a wide range of adult fiction, children publishing, and audio publishing imprints, making them a leading book publishing company worldwide. Submissions are considered if presented by a literary agent.
The second largest consumer book in the publishing industry, Harper Collins operates in 17 countries, publishing around 10.000 new titles yearly in 16 languages.
HarperCollins does not accept unsolicited submissions, with the exception of the Heartdrum imprint. More details here.
As an independent, forward-thinking, author-focused, and global entity, Macmillan is one of the top fiction publishers in Europe and beyond. One of the Big Five of the publishing world, Macmillan was founded in 1843 by two brothers, Daniel and Alexander Macmillan, who dreamt that a large tree could grow from a small seed.
Europa Editions, one of the mid-sized fiction book publishers, is dedicated to bridging cultural divides by introducing fresh and vibrant voices from an international writing community to the UK and the US publishing markets. This independent publisher of quality fiction introduced Elena Ferrante to English reading audiences.
Bonnier Books is a publishing model built on the vision that every book matters. It has 17 imprints and incorporates several publishing houses and book retailers in Northern Europe: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Australian leading independent fiction publisher Allen & Unwin has been voted publisher of the year 14 times, 12 of them since 2000. This fiction publishing house oversees approximately 250 titles yearly and has created an innovative submissions system, the Friday Pitch.
Allen & Unwin strictly requires that all manuscripts be submitted through their electronic system for consideration. Any hard-copy submissions received via mail will be recycled. Additionally, despite its title, "The Friday Pitch" is open for submissions throughout the week.
Grove Atlantic is an independent publisher established in 1917 with a catalog of diverse titles and boundary-pushing fiction that has set the standard for American fiction. They will consider manuscripts if submitted through a literary agent.
Established in 1975, Orient Paperback is a division of Vision Books with a vast catalog of themes, including Body, Mind & Spirit, Health & Fitness, Self-Help, Fiction, Brain Games, Sports, Humour, Religion & Spirituality, and Reference. Submissions take 10-12 weeks to be reviewed, and they must be submitted as hard copies with author bio-data included.
Verso is the largest radical independent publishing house in the English-speaking world. Submission guidelines are very strict, and unsolicited fiction submissions are not considered.
Haymarket Books is another radical, independent publisher of books contributing to social and economic justice.
The publishing house was founded in 2001 and currently has a portfolio of more than 900 titles. Published authors include Angela Y. Davis, Arundhati Roy, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Eve Ewing, Noam Chomsky, and many others.
Check the submission guidelines to see when you can apply.
Leadstart is a top publishing house from India with a mission to publish distinguished authors from across the globe. Writers in the portfolio have been longlisted, shortlisted, or awarded the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award, Crossword Awards, Man Asian Literary Prize, various State Literary Awards, or The Padma Bhushan Award (third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India). Submissions are accepted, and proposals take at least one month to be reviewed.
Graywolf Press is one of the leading fiction publishing companies committed to 21st-century American and international literature. This is a publisher devoted to observant editing, compelling design, and innovative promotion with careful consideration of diversity to ensure readers can encounter underrepresented voices.
Seven Stories Press is a literary press founded in 1995 by Dan Simon. It was named after the seven authors who committed to making this publishing house a fiercely independent space. They publish uncompromising works of fiction, poetry, and political nonfiction, or hybrid forms of the three.
Aspiring to be one of the leading independent literary publishers, Coffee House Press creates a space for artists and audiences to interact and stretch the definition of what literature is or who can write it. Submissions are welcomed. Watch out for more details and the submission period on the guidelines page.
Founded in 1946, this imprint of Macmillan is famed for its international list of literary fiction. Their portfolio includes twenty-five Nobel Prizes in Literature and numerous National Book Awards and Pulitzer Prizes. Nobel Prize winners include Knut Hamsun, Hermann Hesse, T. S. Eliot, Pär Lagerkvist, François Mauriac, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Salvatore Quasimodo, Nelly Sachs, Pablo Neruda, Seamus Heaney, Mario Vargas Llosa, Peter Handke, Louise Glück, and many more.
Soho Press was founded in 1986, and it publishes 80-90 books a year across its Soho Press, Soho Crime, and Soho Teen lists. This publishing house focuses on bold literary voices and strong authors with powerful stories and the ability to showcase new ways to see the world.
Founded in 1913, this is a publishing house looking to advance knowledge and learning. Their portfolio includes general readership titles and titles targeted to scholarly and professional groups from reputed experts and new voices.
One of Canada's most prominent and leading publishers, Dundurn Press, holds around 2300 printed titles and is recognized for high-quality, award-winning fiction in multiple genres.
They aim to make Canadian voices known in a world that hasn’t discovered their true value yet. Books in their portfolio have been nominated or awarded the Scotiabank Giller Prize, Donner Prize, LAMBDA Literary Awards, Crime Writers of Canada Awards, Heritage Toronto Award, Toronto Book Award, Hamilton Literary Award, and Forest of Reading Awards, among others. They are the publishers of award-winning author Rowan McCandless.
Harvard Square Editions is a publishing house run by Harvard Alumni who want to publish literary fiction of spiritual, social, and environmental value. They aim to transcend national boundaries and appreciate aesthetic value and constructive content. Submissions are currently accepted.
A publishing house created in 2006 to advance excellent writing while promoting readership and creative writing workshops. This daring publishing house conducts three annual Dzanc Prizes and accepts submissions outside the contest season.
Their portfolio includes award-winning writers such as Roy Kesey, Yannick Murphy, Peter Markus, Hesh Kestin, Kyle Minor, Michael Czyzniejewski, Suzanne Burns, Peter Selgin, Laura van den Berg, Robert Lopez, Dawn Raffel, Jeff Parker, Terese Svoboda, and Henning Koch.
Melville House is an independent publisher founded in 2001 to publish Poetry After 9/11, a volume of materials sent by poets and writers in response to the 9/11 events. Melville House has made a reputation for contributing to the rediscovery of forgotten international authors.
A publisher established in 1972 who believes poetry is vital to language and living.
The portfolio includes more than 400 titles, including esteemed authors such as Pablo Neruda, Odysseas Elytis, Octavio Paz, Vicente Aleixandre, and Rabindranath Tagore; Pulitzer Prize-winners Ted Kooser, Carolyn Kizer, Maxine Kumin, W.S. Merwin, Theodore Roethke, and Jericho Brown; National Book Award-winners Hayden Carruth, Lucille Clifton, Ruth Stone, and Arthur Sze; and some of the most original contemporary poets and translators such as Lucia Perillo, Ocean Vuong, Jericho Brown, and many others.
They will be reopen for submissions on March 15.
New Directions Books was founded in 1936 by James Laughlin, a 22-year-old sophomore at Harvard. Submissions are no longer accepted, but short queries will be answered.
This one’s a publishing house created in 2007 through the acquisition of Counterpoint, Shoemaker & Hoard, and Soft Skull Press, and it’s devoted to cutting-edge literary voices. They are distributed by Penguin Random House.
Manuscripts can be submitted only through a recognized literary agency.
Founded in 2014, this Ireland-based publishing house is dedicated to distinctive literary voices and publishes internationally.
Authors in their portfolio have won Irish Book Awards, the International Dublin Literary Award (formerly the IMPAC), the Goldsmiths Prize, the Rooney Prize, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, a Lannan Fellowship, the Davy Byrnes Award, the Hennessy New Irish Writing Award, the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize, and the Kate O’Brien Award.
Nominations and shortlisting include the Booker Prize, the Costa, the Desmond Elliott Prize, the Michel Déon Prize, the Republic of Consciousness Prize, the Guardian First Book Award, and the Rathbones Folio Prize. Submissions are closed until late 2024, but make sure to check their guidelines to see when you can apply.
Octopus Books is a small, independent poetry publishing house dedicated to publishing any number of books yearly.
A publisher of literary fiction and poetry committed to introducing the work of Dutch writers into the English-speaking market. Submissions are welcome in Dutch and English.
Looks to publish books able to ignite social transformation. We’re talking about cutting-edge fiction, activist nonfiction, literature translations, children's books, and others. Stories should be voice and vision-driven and genre-defying. Submissions will open in the summer of 2024.
BOA Editions is a non-profit publisher of poetry and fiction looking to support contemporary literature by publishing new and established authors and selecting unique literary voices.
Follow their submissions section for prizes and contest dates. Currently, the announced dates are for the 23rd annual A. Poulin, Jr. Poetry Prize: August 1 - November 30, 2024.
A literary press looking to publish works of fiction and nonfiction at the intersection between art and science. If your writing explores the social contract and nature of consciousness, this fits their primary interests and any other papers that place interdisciplinary dialogue at their core.
Founded in 2010, this is an award-winning independent publisher looking to feature new voices and great writers worldwide. Their portfolio comprises 40 titles translated from seventeen languages and twenty countries.
A house for poetry and other fine literature. Their mission is to publish contemporary voices followed by a consistent readership but overlooked by other commercial publishing houses. Check their submissions section for many literary contests featuring fiction, nonfiction, poetry, rising writers, and open calls.
If you are not willing to let the quest for the most appropriate fiction book publisher pull you away from your writing, then perhaps you should go solo and take full advantage of the perks of self-publishing.
PublishDrive is a platform for publishing, distribution, and royalties management that can connect you with all the major resellers and get your book, ebook, or audiobook in front of millions of readers worldwide. All these in a few clicks.
People who want to earn more royalties and manage the publishing process themselves choose to self-publish.
Here’s how to do it with PublishDrive.
There are several free self-publishing websites that you may test; below is a brief description of the steps needed to publish with an aggregator such as Publishdrive.
Once you have
created your account
, go to
My Books
located in the Dashboard and choose to upload a new title – ebook, audiobook, or print.
Upload your book’s files.
Fill out the creators' names.
Fill out the
book’s metadata
and add a relevant description. There are
tips for writing a back cover description
that attracts readers.
Set the book’s price.
Define your rights and set a publication date. In this step, you can also set
pre-orders
.
Select the stores.
Click
Enable
on each store you want to distribute your book to.
Click on the
Publish
button.
Finding the right novel publisher can be a long process, where authors and editors assess a matching of values and styles. This list should help you get started.
However, if, despite your best efforts, you haven’t found a good publisher to match your vision, you can go for self-publishing. With the right platform and marketing tools, your books can find their right audiences.
Start publishing