A must reference text, any novice children’s author or even the experienced, will find the 2003 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, edited by Alice Pope and Mona Michael, an invaluable tool.

What else could you wish for than having more than twenty-five experienced experts in various disciplines let you in on their secrets?

Dividing itself into three major sections, this well researched and informative book deals with the following topics: how to use the book, identifying appropriate markets, business aspects, contracts, professional attitudes, picture book writing, work habits, crafting stories, revising, promoting, structure, non-fiction projects, inspiration, conferences, critique groups, book publishers and magazines, greeting cards, play publishers, young writer’s and illustrators.

Presented in an easy to follow format, each one of the contributing authors “cut away the fat” when discussing their respective specialities.

As a good example, if we refer to the article, The ABC’s of Writing For Children, contributed by well- known children’s author, Verla Kay, we have everything you wanted to know about writing for children, but were afraid to ask. Do you know what is a kill fee, the different kinds of children’s books, slush pile, vanity publishing? These and many more topics that form part of the genre are explored.

Examples of other contributors’ words of wisdom are: Lisa Rondinelli Albert’s essay The Writer’s Menu for Success:Crafting Stories Readers Crave, and Darcy Pattison’s Picture Books 101: Pay Attention to Structure.

The second half of this “must have” reference book concentrates on listing the various book and magazine publishing houses you can approach and perhaps sell your masterpieces.

Listed alphabetically, the reader has at his or her fingertips names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, email addresses, web sites, contacts, and a brief description of the publisher or magazine and the kind of material they would consider.

There are also sections concerning greeting cards, puzzles and games, as well as play publishers, producers, agents, clubs, organizations, contests, awards, and grants.

Very helpful indexes are included at the end of the book. There is index listing book and magazine publishers by the age groups for which they publish. This can prove to be invaluable when trying to locate appropriate markets for your works.

The index breaks itself down into: Picture Books and Picture-Oriented Material, meant to appeal to preschoolers to 8-year olds. Young Readers geared towards 5-8 year old age group. Middle Readers would encompass the 9 to 11 year olds. Young Adults addressed to the 12 and older children. There is also a subject, photography and general index.

The 2003 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market is an up-to-date, well organized resource that would make an excellent addition to a children writer’s tool box. Don’t begin to think about writing for children without this book at your side!