The best picture book editing services

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Erica 5 star rating

Parrish, United States

Freelance editor offering friendly but thorough editing to independent authors.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Tracy 5 star rating

Baltimore, MD, United States

Passionate about helping writers realize their visions. I love picture books (especially rhyme!), young adult, fantasy, memoir, and more.

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Agent Carrie Pestritto (formerly of Prospect Agency, now with LDLA)
  • Marketing Agency
  • University of Baltimore
  • SCBWI MD/DE/WV
  • Self-employed

Lindsay 5 star rating

New Jersey, United States

I'm an enthusiastic freelance editor with experience across the industry--bookselling, marketing, publicity, agency, editorial, and writing.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Picture Books, Children's, Christian Fiction, Women's Fiction, Short Story, Middle Grade, Dystopian, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency
  • Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Margaret K. McElderry Books at Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing Division
  • Abrams Books for Young Readers/Amulet Books
  • Candlewick Press
  • Borders Books and Music
  • Verily Magazine

Jenn 5 star rating

Leawood, KS, United States

I am an award-winning author and editor of books for children and young adults. I specialize in humor, fantasy, and scifi.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Picture Books, Children's, Action & Adventure, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Nevin 5 star rating

Portland, OR, United States

My goal is to guide writers to their best work, to coach them in eloquence and clarity, to lead them to their best stories and storytelling.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Scholastic
  • Penguin Random House
  • Government Technology magazine
  • Self-employed
  • Green Bean Books
  • Portland State University

Katie 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I am a children's book editor at Scholastic with 11 years of experience in picture book fiction/nonfiction and chapter book nonfiction.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Scholastic
  • HarperCollins

Rebecca 5 star rating

Washington D.C., DC, USA

Editorial expert in middle grade, picture books, and learning titles. Former editorial director for National Geographic Kids and Disney.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • National Geographic/The Walt Disney Company
  • National Geographic
  • Self-employed

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Brian 5 star rating

Springfield, VA, USA

Professional Editor | 22 years and 3 NYT Bestsellers | 58 Books Published by Penguin, HarperCollins

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Gaming & LitRPG, Fantasy, Middle Grade Fantasy, New Adult, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, Space Opera, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • The Asia Foundation
  • United States Peace Corps
  • Pearson Education
  • DK Publishing / BradyGames
  • Cadoza Publishing / Book Republic Press
  • HarperCollins Publishers
  • Self-employed

Julie 5 star rating

Yarmouth, Maine, USA

With 16 years of experience as a book editor, I specialize in shaping picture books and middle-grade novels at all stages of development.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Charlesbridge
  • Simmons University, Center for the Study of Children's Literature

Ellen 5 star rating

Estero, FL, USA

I am an editor with decades of experience developing books for the education market. My special interest is editing children's books.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Literary Fiction, Short Story, Themes & Motifs, Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Anthologies.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Scott, Foresman and Company

Erin 5 star rating

Madison, WI, USA

I'm a children's author and long-time editor of children's books, from picture books and middle-grade fiction to advice and activity books.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • American Girl/Mattel

I have been editing books for kids and teens for over 15 years. I'd love to look at yours next. Tell me all about your book!

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Picture Books, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • CBAY Books
  • St. Edward's University
  • Blooming Tree Press
  • Self-employed

I'm an award-winning author with over 50 publications (from early readers to young adult) with 17 years of editing experience.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Middle Grade, Coming of Age, and Middle Grade Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Institute of Children's Literature
  • St. Edward's University
  • self-employed

Tiara 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I'm an editor at a Big 5 publisher with over 10 years of industry experience working on picture books, middle grade, YA, and romance novels.

Genres: African American Fiction, Fiction, Coming of Age, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Children's, Picture Books, Romance, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Random House
  • HarperCollins
  • Macmillan

Leslie 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

I'm an editor of award-winning children's books, with over twenty years of experience working on picture books, middle grade, and YA novels.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Middle Grade Fantasy, Picture Books, Social & Family Issues, Young Adult, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

  • Scholastic
  • Freelance

Julie 5 star rating

Washington D.C., DC, USA

Former senior editor at Little, Brown with 19+ years' experience editing acclaimed and bestselling books for children and young adults

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Picture Books, New Adult, Young Adult, Social & Family Issues, and Young Adult Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers

35+ years' experience in nonfiction, memoir, self-help, kid lit. Known for speed, accuracy, versatility, and compassion. MSW & MFA.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Career Guides, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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Hire the best picture book editors

Whether they rhyme or not, picture books are like poems: they use so few words that every word choice and phrase can transform your young readers' experience. Alongside your illustrator’s art, your writing has the opportunity to reach a little reader’s heart with its story, as long as you can offer kids something that holds their attention: an appealing voice, fun new information, an eccentric character, or a plot that involves an experience they can relate to.

To help you refine your picture book manuscript, you can hire a picture book editor on Reedsy. Together, you’ll work on your manuscript’s style, form, and plot, ensuring the language you use is kid-friendly and that characters are vivid enough to leap off the page. Your picture book editor will draw from their experience working with New York Times bestsellers and small publishers alike to offer feedback, comments, and suggestions about how your writing can improve.

With over a hundred editors with experience in several genres across children’s literature, Reedsy is the perfect place to find an editor who can give your manuscript a professional edge. We've vetted every freelancer on our marketplace so you can be sure that they're qualified to help you. Most of our editors have worked with authors in traditional publishing, so if you're looking for the same treatment that writers like Julia Donaldson and Mo Willems get, you’ve come to the right place. Sign up and check out our picture book editors’ profiles, read testimonials from past clients who’ve used their editing services, and ask any questions related to your project. Create an account today to take the first step toward publishing your picture book.

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Step 1

Apply filters

Reedsy is home to thousands of professionals. Select the specific services you need and narrow your search based on your book’s genre and requirements.

Step 2

Browse

Then, browse professional profiles to find out more about their personalities and past projects.

Step 3

Request quotes

Request quotes from up to five freelancers at any time. They’ll look at your sample pages to give you a tailored quote as well as a sense of how they work.

Step 4

Collaborate

Once you agree on terms and a timeline, you’ll start collaborating using the many communication and editing tools available on Reedsy.

Reedsy | 3 editors | 2025-05

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