The best picture book developmental editing services

Sign up for free to meet top developmental editors on Reedsy

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

Brooke 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

Passionate picture book editor with 15+ years' editorial experience for companies including Disney and Penguin.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Disney Publishing Worldwide
  • Penguin Random House
  • Sterling Publishing

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

Abby 5 star rating

Portland, United States

Dedicated editor of children's books specializing in middle grade and YA fiction. Worked at HarperCollins, Disney-Hyperion, and Scholastic.

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

Work experience:

  • HarperCollins
  • Disney-Hyperion
  • Scholastic
  • Self-employed

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

Laura 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

Expert developmental and line editor, ghostwriter, and consultant collaborates on all aspects of nonfiction and fiction for adults and kids.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Poetry, Inspirational, Women's Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Jill Grinberg Literary Management
  • Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
  • Pocket Books
  • Simon & Schuster
  • Penguin USA
  • Theater Communications Group

📞 Chat with our team

Need a hand finding the perfect professional? Our team is here to help. Get in touch for recommendations.

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

Maxine 5 star rating

Austin, TX, USA

Empathetic editor specializing in children's picture books. Industry expertise beyond editorial, formerly in publicity and literary agency.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Picture Books, Children's, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Callisto Media
  • HarperOne

Shannon 5 star rating

Arlington, VA, USA

Meticulous development editor with a Master's from Harvard in Learning Design. A focus on nonfiction and academic writing.

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Anthologies, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Pearson
  • Curriculum Associations
  • Elsevier – Science & Technology Books, Academic Press
  • Self-employed

Paige 5 star rating

Pittsburgh, PA, USA

I am a children's and Young Adult book fanatic. I've worked on them at Penguin, studied them in graduate school, and even wrote one . . .

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Young Readers
  • University of Pittsburgh

coll 5 star rating

Cherry Hill, NJ, USA

Picture book author with 10 years experience working with NYC publishers. My passion is picture books. Let me share my knowledge with you!

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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

Nivair 5 star rating

Somerville, MA, USA

I am a writer, editor, and aerospace engineer with eight years of professional experience and two master's degrees in children's literature.

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

Work experience:

  • Albert Whitman & Company
  • Kirkus Reviews
  • Barefoot Books
  • Charlesbridge Publishing

Michael 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Creative and dynamic children's book editor with 15 years experience at companies such as Scholastic Books and Random House Children's Books

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Humor & Comedy, and LGBTQ Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Random House Children's Books
  • Scholastic Books
  • Self-Employed

Gabriel 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Children's editor with 10+ years experience. Picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA.

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

Work experience:

  • Little Passports, Inc.
  • Teacher Created Materials
  • BEGiN

Kate 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I'm a freelance writer and editor of children's and young adult fiction with 9+ years of industry experience.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Entertainment, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Literary Fiction, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Bloomsbury Children's Books
  • Self-employed
  • Bright Group USA
  • Random House Publishing Group
  • Quail Ridge Books and Music
  • Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill

Browse 2,000+ additional profiles

Create your free Reedsy account and begin requesting free quotes.

How it works

Browse profiles, request quotes, then collaborate.

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.