What Little Pickle Press is Seeking in a Manuscript Submission

By Rana DiOrio, Founder of Little Pickle Press

Keith Anthony press checking What Does It Mean To Be Safe?

“What are you looking for?”

I get asked this question at least twice a week. My response historically has been, “I’ll know it when I read it.” That is hardly a satisfactory response, however. So, at the urging of many, I am committing to writing what it is I am seeking as the curator of the award-winning Little Pickle Press collection.

The Common Denominators. All of the manuscripts that we select send meaningful messages to children. They catalyze conversations between parents and children, teachers and students, about the topics that matter most to the generation of children we are shaping today. We welcome fiction and nonfiction written for ages 4–8 or 9–12. The manuscripts are well-written, thought-provoking, progressive, fresh, distinctive, and lend themselves well to not only illustration, but also to extrapolation into other mediums, such as interactive e-books and applications.

No distractions or interruptions, please. I am loath to admit this, but I must convey to you the truth. Manuscripts that are not submitted as Word documents (in .doc format vs. .docx), double-spaced in Times New Roman font 12-pt and without illustrations are distracting in a way you would not want them to be. So, to position yourself for the possibility of success, please submit your manuscripts in the following manner:

• As a Word document (in .doc format)

• Double-spaced

• With Times New Roman font 12-pt

• With your suggested title and name at the top as well as a word count

• With pages numbered

• Without illustrations

Accompany your manuscript with a brief cover note/email that tells me why you think your manuscript is a good fit for Little Pickle Press. Also attach the signed and dated copy of our Manuscript Submission Policy & Agreement, which you may download from our website by clicking here.

Send your cover letter/email with manuscript and executed Manuscript Submission Policy & Agreement as two attachments to me via email to submissions@littlepicklepress(dot)com.

If you are not yet online, you may also mail manuscripts to:

Acquisitions Editor
Little Pickle Press
Box 983
Belvedere, CA 94920

In so doing, you eliminate all distractions and allow me, our Senior Reader, and our team to focus on your all-important written words.

The heart of the matter. Specifically, what subject matters are most interesting to us at this point? I’ll tell you (in no particular order):

• Altruism (and other anti-narcissism themes)

• Creativity: the importance of it, fostering it, etc.

• Forgiveness

• Gratitude

• Tolerance/Acceptance

• What is a conscience? How do we foster it? Use it?

• Leadership and/or Entrepreneurship

• Divergent (vs. Convergent) Thinking

• Systems Thinking

• Healthy and sustainable eating

Our selection process. Once I receive your complete submission, I will forward your manuscript to our Senior Reader. She will read it and send me her preliminary thoughts. If she has a favorable opinion of the manuscript, then I will read it. If the manuscript resonates with me, then I send it to one of our Editors and our Art Director. If they like it, too, then we schedule a call or meeting to discuss its merits. If at any point during our process, a team member thinks that the work does not fit for us, then I will let the author know. If you indicate that you would like specific feedback, I will do my best to include that in my note back to you.

Thanks for your interest. Thanks for your interest in Little Pickle Press. Thanks for reading this post. And if you elect to send us a submission, thanks also for considering us as your publisher. I know from experience all that you have gone through to get to this point, and I respect and honor you for it.