21 Australian children’s book publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts in May 2025
Now that you’ve written your children’s book, it’s time to pitch it to a local Australian publisher!
Perhaps you have written a picture book, a board book or even an early reader but no matter which type of children’s book you have on your hands, you’ll find plenty of publishers who are accepting manuscript submissions without a literary agent here. I’ve done my best to weed out vanity publishers and those with less than savoury business practices.
If you are looking for middle grade publishers, take a look at this list instead.
I update this list at the start of every month so be sure to check back if you don’t find a publisher that suits your needs or have a look at my worldwide list of children’s book publishers or my other publishers lists where you can search via genre.
Finally, don’t forget to check out my picture book editing services, early reader editing services or pre-querying package if you want to make sure your novel is in top shape before you send it to a publisher for consideration.
Pan Macmillan Australia
Pan Macmillan Australia is committed to investing in Australian authors and publishes a variety of bestselling books.
Genre: Middle grade, young adult, commercial and literary fiction. For nonfiction, they're interested in narrative nonfiction, contemporary issues, memoir, history, true crime, lifestyle, health, and mind, body & spirit.
Word count: Not stated.Affirm Press
Affirm Press is an independent Melbourne-based publisher dedicated to publishing Australian stories and ideas. Please note they only accept submissions from Australian authors or authors based in Australia.
Please note they accept manuscripts for their kids publishing program on Monday 2 December and Monday 2 June. You'll find these on my publishing lists the month before as well so you don't miss the deadline!
Genre: Literary and genre fiction as well as nonfiction that is engaging and entertaining.
Word count: Novel-length work.Backroom Press
Backroom Press is an Australian publisher who publishes books with themes about the Kimberley (Western Australia) by authors who have lived in the region.
Genre: Children's books, adult Fiction and nonfiction which involves the Kimberley.
Word count: Not stated.CSIRO Publishing
CSIRO Publishing is an nonprofit business unit within the Australian CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation).
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of animals, marine & freshwater, built environment, natural environment, food & agriculture, physical science, gardening & horticulture, plants & fungi, science in society and children's nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Five Mile
Five Mile is a boutique children's publishing house that specializes in creating books that spark joy, imagination and learning across a large range of formats.
Genre: Picture books, board books, activity books, middle grade and children's nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Ford Street Publishing
Ford Street is an independent Australian publisher of books for children and young adults. They publish 15 titles a year and have a strong presence in schools and bookshops around Australia.
Genre: Middle grade and young adult fiction.
Word count: Around 50,000 words for young adult novels.Fremantle Press
Fremantle Press is an independent book publisher whose mission is to give a voice to Western Australian writers .Fremantle Press publishers unsolicited manuscripts from authors of Western Australian origin or whose main place of residence is Western Australia.
Genre: Nonfiction, literary fiction, genre fiction (including crime, mystery and historical), upmarket fiction,poetry, children's books, young adult books and narrative nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing is the children's division of Hardie Grant. They are the home of innovative and inclusive stories from tots to teens. They accept submissions from citizens or residents of Australia and/or New Zealand.
Genre: Picture books and graphic novels from author-illustrators.
Word count: Not stated.Magabala Books
Magabala Books is an Indigenous publishing house in Australia. Please note they only accept submissions from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers. They will consider collaborative works between Indigenous and non-Indigenous authors.
Genre: Children's picture books, memoir, literary fiction (including middle grade, young adult and adult), non fiction, social history and poetry that celebrate the diversity of First Nations voices.
Word count: Not stated.MidnightSun Publishing
MidnightSun Publishing grew from a disenchantment with the established publishing houses in Australia. They want their readers to be entertained and accept manuscript submissions in the first week of every month.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction. They also accept picture books, middle grade and young adult novels.
Word count: Not stated.National Library of Australia Publishing
As their name applies, the National Library of Australia Publishing is the publishing arm of Australia's national library! They love creative books that tell stories by and about Australians.
Genre: Adult nonfiction, illustrated children's nonfiction and picture books in the areas of art, photography, the environment and literature.
Word count: Not stated.New Frontier Publishing
New Frontier is an Australian publisher established in 2002. Their motto is to inspire, educate and uplift children.
Genre: Picture books and junior fiction.
Word count: Under 600 words for picture books and 5,000 to 55,000 words for junior fiction.Scribble
Scribble is the children's imprint of Scribe Publications. They are committed to questioning the status quo and seeking out new ways to tell stories.
Genre: Picture books, board books and middle grade fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Text Publishing
Text Publishing is an independent Melbourne-based publisher of fiction and nonfiction. They accept submissions from citizens or residents of Australia and New Zealand.
Genre: Genre fiction, including crime, thriller, erotica, fantasy, paranormal, historical, romance, LGBTQIA+, young adult, and middle grade. For nonfiction, they accept biography, memoir, essays, film, history, humour, philosophy, politics, religion, science, environment, relationships, society, culture, sport, travel and war.
Word count: 10,000-120,000 words.Thames & Hudson Australia
Thames & Hudson Australia publishes Australian content in the areas of art (fine or decorative), history (Australian, natural or cultural), architecture, science, design, fashion, gardens, photography and popular culture.
Genre: Narrative nonfiction, children's nonfiction, illustrated books, picture books and board books that focuses on one of their Australian-focused areas.
Word count: Not stated.UNSW Press Limited
UNSW Press Limited is a not-for-profit Australian company that started operating in 1962. Its mission is to contribute to intellectual and cultural development.
Genre: General, scholarly, and literary nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.UQP
UQP is the wholly owned subsidiary of The University of Queensland. They produce culturally significant works across genres such as fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
Genre: Nonfiction, literary fiction, children's and young adult books, and poetry.
Word count: Not stated.UWA Publishing
UWA Publishing is a division of The University of Western Australia that shares stories, research, and education with the world.
Genre: Scholarly works, nonfiction, adult fiction, and children's books. Please note they do not accept genre fiction and only accept adult fiction in July and young adult/children's books in August.
Word count: Not stated.Ventura Press
Ventura Press is a Sydney-based independent publisher established in 2002.
Genre: Literary fiction, upmarket fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: 40,000-120,000 words.Wakefield Press
Wakefield Press is a leading independent publishing company based in Adelaide.
Genre: Genre fiction, especially crime, literary fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Windy Hollow Books
Windy Hook Books is an independent publisher of picture books for children with a focus on strong stories and beautiful illustrations.
Genre: Board and picture books.
Word count: Not stated.
Best of luck with your manuscript submissions! If you want to ensure your manuscript is in the best position to be accepted, check out my picture book editing services, early reader editing services, pre-querying package or my free writing advice.