21 Canadian 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 Canadian 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.
Common Deer Press
Common Deer Press publishes uncommon and well-written books for children and teenagers.
Genre: Picture books, middle grade and young adult fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Flanker Press
Flanker Press publishes general trade books with strong Newfoundland and Labrador content.
Genre: Literary fiction, children's books, middle grade, young adult, upmarket fiction, mystery fiction, historical fiction and nonfiction with strong Newfoundland and Labrador content. For nonfiction, they accept biography, autobiography, cooking, crafts & hobbies, gardening, general, history, humour, nature, politics, reference, religion & spirituality, sea stories, thriller, true crime and wartime history.
Word count: Not stated.Harbour Publishing
Harbour Publishing publishes books on topics concerning the Pacific Northwest of Canada.
Genre: Children's books, young adult, middle grade, literary fiction and upmarket fiction. For nonfiction, they consider cookbooks, food & drink, aviation, art, photography, architecture, memoir, biography, history, geology, literary criticism, maritime, politics, social issues ad the great outdoors. Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Arsenal Pulp Press
Arsenal Pulp Press is a small Vancouver-based publisher.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction, including political, sociology, cultural, regional British Columbia, youth culture, young adult literature, craft books and books for children that emphasize diversity.
Word count: Not stated.Annick Press
Annick Press is a proudly independent children's publisher in Toronto, Canada. They aim to empower readers, open minds, and create a lifelong love of reading.
Genre: Picture books, chapter books, middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: 50,000 to 70,000 words for young adult.Heritage House
Heritage House publishes 20 to 30 books each year from Canadian authors who write about topics relevant to Western Canada.
Genre: Nonfiction and children's books.
Word count: Not stated.Bayeux Arts
Bayeux Arts entered the publishing world in 1994. They are committed to producing books of beauty that build bridges across cultures.
Genre: Children's books, middle grade and young adult fiction. For adult fiction, they accept literary, upmarket, western and mystery. For nonfiction, they accept biography, history, art, architecture, theatre, social science, nature, environment, inspirational, health and management.
Word count: Not stated.Second Story Press
Second Story Press is a feminist publisher who focuses on publishing Canadian authors.
Genre: Literary fiction, mystery and nonfiction looking at the lives of girls and women, social justice and children's empowerments from Canadian authors.
Word count: Not stated.Acorn Press
Acorn Press is proud to publish books about Prince Edward Island, by Prince Edward Islanders.
Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, middle grade and children's picture books written by Prince Edward Islanders.
Word count: Not stated.Tundra Book Group
Tundra Book Group is Canada's oldest English children's book publisher. They are currently only accepting manuscripts from underrepresented communities.
Genre: Middle grade, young adult fiction, young adult nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Breakwater Books
Breakwater Books was established in 1973 to highlight the vibrant literary culture in Newfoundland and Labrador. Today, they welcome books from authors across Canada.
Genre: Children's books, poetry, literary fiction, crime, suspense, and nonfiction, including art, photography and cookbooks.
Word count: Not stated.Boulder Books
Boulder Books is an innovative Atlantic Canadian book publishing company, dedicated to high-quality works that explore unrepresented parts of Canadian culture.
Genre: Children's books and nonfiction, including biography, cookbooks, field guides, gardening, gift, hiking, history, hobbies & crafts, maternal health, medicine, nature, photography, saltwater, trivia and vaccines.
Word count: Not stated.Plumleaf Press
Plumleaf Press was created in 2015 as a passion project to create "books to linger over".
Genre: Children's books, literary fiction and nonfiction. They are particularly looking for books aimed at women and children.
Word count: Not stated.Kegedonce Press
Kegedonce Press is an Indigenous publishing company from Neyaashiinigmiing and Owen Sound, Ontario.
Genre: Children's books, fiction and creative nonfiction from Indigenous authors in Canada.
Word count: Not stated.Kids Can Press
Kids Can Press is a Canadian-owned children's book publisher established in 1973.
Genre: Picture books, middle grade fiction and children's nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Bradan Press
Bradan Press publishes books about or related to Gaelic and Celtic languages and cultures.
Genre: Children's books and nonfiction in English or Gaelic.
Word count: Not stated.Eye of the Newt Press
Eye of the New is a Canadian publisher of curiosities beautiful and fantastical.
Genre: Children's fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Formac
Formac publishes a variety of genres, especially nonfiction related to Mi'kma'ki, children's fiction and other nonfiction.
Genre: Children's books, middle grade, young adult and adult nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Greystone Books
Greystone Books is an independent publisher of books about nature, science, health and social issues.
Genre: Children's books and nonfiction relating to the environment, nature, travel, adventure, health and current issues.
Word count: Not stated.MacIntyre Purcell Publishing Inc.
MacIntyre Purcell Publishing Inc. currently produces 10-12 books a year.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Monster House Publishing
Monster House Publishing was founded in 2014 and aims to inspire a love of literacy in children across New Brunswick and throughout Canada.
Genre: Picture and board 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.