How to Publish a Children’s Book in Canada: A Complete Guide

Let’s be honest! Publishing a children’s book is an uphill battle, especially if you are doing it aside from your full-time job. It is a pretty time-consuming and daunting task, which can take weeks and months,

However, to save time, most authors decide to opt for traditional publishing. This can be ideal for authors who want their children’s books to meet the high standards of the industry.

But the question is, how can you actually publish a children’s book in Canada?

Let’s learn how you can publish your children’s book with the help of the best children’s book publishers in Canada.

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How to Publish a Children’s Book in Canada?

Let’s start our blog by discussing how to publish a children’s book in Canada.

To publish a children’s book, you must start by creating a polished and professionally edited manuscript. Also, create highly captivating illustrations to engage children.

Then comes the main part: Choosing between self-publishing and traditional publishing. If choosing traditional publishing, research publishers and follow their submission guidelines.

Let’s get into the details. 

●     Prepare Manuscript:

The very first step is to prepare your manuscript. However, before that, you need to choose an age group which you want to target. This will help you decide whether to go with board books, picture books, or chapter books.

Besides, the ideal word count for a children’s book is between 1000 and 1500 words. Try to keep it in this range.

●     Edit Professionally:

Moreover, editing your book is a crucial yet most ignored step. Your manuscript may have countless unseen errors that can’t be eliminated in just a single read.

Therefore, you have to dedicate significant time to proofreading and editing your manuscript. This will help you remove all minor to major errors.

●     Create Illustrations:

One of the key things that keeps children engaged in books is visually appealing artwork. But if you are opting for traditional publishing, you should not include any illustrations in the manuscript unless you are a professional book illustrator in Canada.

But what’s the reason for this? These publishers basically prefer to match authors with expert illustrators based on your book’s genre.

●     Decide Between Self-Publishing/Traditional Publishing:

Now, the main part is deciding whether to go with traditional publishing or self-publishing. If you want to have full creative control over your book, want it to be published as soon as possible, and have a flexible budget for upfront investment, then choosing self-publishing might be the best choice for you.

But if you have a tight budget and want an expert’s assistance, then you can opt for traditional publishing.

●     Research Publishers:

To find the best children’s book publishers in Canada, you can start by searching for the top ones on the internet. Compare the ratings and reviews of the top-ranked publishers and shortlist a few of them.

Choose the one you are most satisfied with.

●     Follow Submission Guidelines:

Now, take a look at the submission guidelines of your desired publisher. Apart from your manuscript, you also have to send a cover letter and a proposal to the publisher.

How to Get a Children’s Book Published in Canada

To get a children’s book published in Canada, many authors often hire expert publishers with proven experience in the publishing industry.

If you also want to hire the best children’s book publishers in Canada, you need to consider the following factors when hiring one:

●     Genre and Expertise:

The very first and most crucial factor is choosing a publisher based on your book’s genre. For instance, hiring a publisher with expertise in fiction won’t be wise for your non-fiction book.

In addition to this, you must ensure you choose a publisher with expertise in children’s books.

●     Top-Notch Illustrations and Editing:

A children’s book is nothing without spectacular illustrations. Hence, you must ensure that their illustrations meet your book’s vision. Also, make sure that their artworks are ideal for children’s books, making them captivating.

Besides that, confirm with the publisher that you don’t have to seek children’s book editing services after hiring them. Instead, the publishers take responsibility for editing and polishing your manuscript to help your book meet the high standards of readers.

●     Marketing and Distribution Strategy:

Most publishers also offer assistance with marketing and distribution of your books. Make sure that the marketer you choose has strong marketing and distribution strategies to help your book perform well in the industry.

●     Reputation:

Lastly, you must also consider the reputation of the publisher. This will help you ensure that your book is in the right hands and allow you to avoid scams.

Also, this will enable you to choose among the top children’s book publishers in Canada.

FAQs:

1. How to find the best children’s book publishers in Canada?

Ans. To find the best children’s book publishers in Canada, you can:

• Start by searching for the top publishers
• Check their submission guidelines
• Analyze their catalogue

2. Do Canadian children’s book publishers accept unsolicited manuscripts?

Ans. Yes, various Canadian children’s book publishers accept unsolicited manuscripts. However, some of them don’t. Also, they have specific and limited submission windows or often require authors to follow strict guidelines.

3. What is the difference between self-publishing and traditional publishing in Canada?

Ans. In self-publishing, an author has to pay the upfront cost but receives higher royalty rates (70%). On the other hand, in traditional publishing, the author doesn’t pay an upfront cost; the publisher pays instead. However, they receive relatively lower royalty rates (10 to 15%).

Also, self-published authors have full creative control, and the pace of publishing depends on them, taking up to several days or weeks. However, traditional publishing doesn’t give authors any creative control. Besides, their books can take months, even years, to get published.

4. How do I submit my children’s book to a Canadian publisher?

Ans. To submit your book to a Canadian publisher, you must follow these steps:

• Target a publisher with expertise in your book’s genre
• Prepare your manuscript, illustrations, and query
• Follow the submission guidelines of your desired publisher

In a Nutshell!

To wrap it up, publishing a children’s book is not a piece of cake. But with the help of an expert publisher, publishing your book is no longer a hassle.

However, to publish your book, you must first prepare your manuscript, edit it professionally, create visually appealing illustrations, and decide between traditional and self-publishing. If you choose traditional publishing, then research some top publishers and choose the one you are satisfied with. Then, submit your manuscript by following their submission guidelines.

Besides that, you must also consider the expertise, reputation, and other crucial factors for choosing the best children’s book publishers in Canada.

Best of luck with publishing!