The best picture book editing services

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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

Eliza 5 star rating

Maplewood, NJ, United States

I'm a detail-oriented editor, specializing in children's nonfiction, with 10 years of experience at publishing houses and literary agencies

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Education & Reference.

Work experience:

  • Diversion Books
  • Self-employed
  • Leigh Feldman Literary
  • The Bent Agency
  • Callisto Media
  • Rebel Girls

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

Kaitlin 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

I have copyedited and proofread more than five hundred books, adult and children's, nonfiction and fiction, in all genres.

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

Work experience:

  • Simon & Schuster
  • Macmillan
  • Self-employed

JANE 5 star rating

Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Former publisher with 35 yrs of editing kid's books and literary fiction in CA, UK, EU and US. I'd love to help you craft your next book!

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, African American Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Middle Grade, Children's, Picture Books, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • The Montreal Gazette
  • Tundra Books/Les livres Toundra
  • Optimum Publishing
  • C.D. Howe Institute
  • Roussan Editeur Inc.
  • Reedsy

Katherine 5 star rating

Huntington Beach, CA, USA

Award-winning author and highly experienced former publisher of illustrated children's books

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Nosy Crow
  • Scholastic UK
  • Simon & Schuster
  • Campbell Books (Macmillan UK)

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

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Lana 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Proofreader for middle grade and YA books. Words are my passion and I love helping authors become strong writers and clear communicators.

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

Work experience:

  • Candlewick Press
  • Penguin Random House
  • Self-employed

Rebecca 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

With 10+ years of experience working at NYC publishers, I've edited 100s of books across genres. Thorough, candid, and easy to work with!

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Young Adult, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Disney Publishing Worldwide
  • McGraw-Hill Education
  • Penguin Random House
  • Self-employed
  • Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Education

Katie 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I am a children's book editor at Scholastic with 12 years of experience in picture book fiction and nonfiction.

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

Work experience:

  • Scholastic
  • HarperCollins

Brittany 5 star rating

Palmetto, Florida, USA

Editor and proofreader specializing in children's books: Middle Grade, YA, and New Adult. Worked for three of the Big Five publishers.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • CVS Health
  • Simon & Schuster
  • HarperCollins
  • Penguin Random House

Rennie 5 star rating

Baltimore, MD, USA

USA Today bestselling author, editor & collaborator; 18 years of experience in fiction & non-fiction for kids and adults. *Booked thru Sept*

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult, and Sports & Outdoors.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • People and People.com
  • The Plaid Horse

Miriam 5 star rating

Houston, TX, USA

I have a passion for effective communication in science, health, and nonfiction. Editor in the Life Sciences (BELS), RN, published writer.

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Life Sciences, Math & Science, Medicine, Nursing, & Dentistry, Children’s Non-Fiction, Nature, Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, and Inspirational.

Work experience:

  • Baylor College of Medicine
  • Lone Star College
  • Self-employed

Jamie 5 star rating

Pocatello, Idaho, USA

Enthusiastic editor of Children's and Adult Fiction/Nonfiction. MFA Grad. Trad. published author. Freelancer for Penguin Random House.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Young Adult, Inspirational, Non-Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

  • Playful Learning Press
  • Self-employed
  • Idaho State University, Continuing Ed
  • Kelly Yang
  • Vermont College of Fine Arts
  • Gibbs Smith Publishing
  • Penguin Random House
  • Hares & Hatter Bookshop

Delia 5 star rating

Olathe, KS, USA

Offering the unique perspective of having been a writer, agent, and publisher, Delia discovers, develops, and delivers quality content.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Inspirational, Non-Fiction, Women's Fiction, Business & Management, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Hallmark Cards, Inc.
  • DSM Agency
  • John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Connection Newspapers

Emily 5 star rating

Boston, MA, USA

An eagle-eyed copyeditor and proofreader specializing in literary fiction with editorial experience at Penguin Random House and McSweeney's.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Random House
  • McSweeney's
  • Harvard Alumni Association
  • Self-employed

Deborah 5 star rating

Batavia, IL, USA

I am an experienced book editor who loves children's books and fantasy fiction! I hold an MFA in writing from VCFA and a PhD in linguistics.

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

Work experience:

  • Tyndale House Publishers
  • Green Bottle Creative Services

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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 2

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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.

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