Children’s publications provide writers with a unique opportunity to stretch their creativity, offer education, and captivate readers in a fresh and exciting way. In part two of our Children’s Markets series, read about how to pitch powerhouses like National Geographic Kids and Sports Illustrated for Kids. You need to do your homework, read the magazine, and query like a pro. Developing the right voice to speak to a young reader is a challenging task, and essential to landing an assignment.
1. National Geographic Kids
This monthly from the National Geographic Society publishes general nonfiction for 6- to 14-year-olds. Like many established magazines, each editor has a list of go-to writers, so make your pitch solid and concise, and be sure to include clips and a resume. For the complete writer’s guidelines, email MKRAUSS at NGS dot ORG.
Pay: $1/word on average
Advice: Managing editor Rachel Buchholz advises writers to study “at least three years’ worth” of issues before querying. And don’t assume every story has to be about kids. “Instead, pitch us something that reflects what we do — for instance, a fun Amazing Animal story, a query with a wacky twist, or an Animal Rescue idea — anything that shows you have an understanding of what will work for our audience. A fun, energetic query letter is also key.”
Direct all pitches to: Rachel Buchholz, managing editor, for queries about human interest, archaeology, history, pets, and entertainment stories to; or to Catherine Hughes, science editor, for queries about science, space, technology, wildlife, and geography. Editors can be pitched by mail, at NG Kids, 1145 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. Include clips with your submission.
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2. Sports Illustrated for Kids
This monthly magazine for kids and young teens has been published since 1989, and reaches readers through subscriptions, online at SIKids.com, at live events, and in schools.
Pay: Varies.
Advice: “Our stories need to be interesting, fun, well-reported and well-written,” says Der. “The biggest mistake some people make is thinking they can submit a ‘dumbed down’ version of a story that they have previously written for a publication aimed at adults.”
Direct all pitches to: Bob Der, managing editor, at BOB_DER at SIKIDS dot COM, or Justin Tejada, assistant managing editor, at JUSTIN_TEJADA at SIKIDS dot COM, or via snail mail to Sports Illustrated Kids, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Editors don’t recommend sending completed manuscripts.
3. Boys’ Life
The Boy Scouts of America began publishing this monthly magazine in 1911, and it now has a circulation of 1.3 million. The magazine is for boys ages 6 to 18.
Pay: $400 to $1,500 for major nonfiction articles. $750 and up for fiction short stories. $150 to $600 for departments.
Advice: “It’s best for a writer to start with queries for departments briefs in our Heads Up! section,” says Paula Murphey, senior editor. “These columns run from 150 to 300 words and cover subject categories that include science, nature, health, pets, sports, outdoors, history, cars and space and aviation.”
Direct all pitches to: For fiction, send queries or manuscripts with a cover letter to senior editor Paula Murphey; For departments, send queries to associate editor Brad Riddell. All submissions should be sent by regular mail to Boys’ Life, 1325 West Walnut Lane, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015.
4. AppleSeeds
This Cobblestone magazine by Carus Publishing focuses on social studies for readers ages 6 to 9, or a third-grade reading level. Visit CobblestonePub.com for writer’s guidelines and themes for the year’s nine issues.
Pay: $50/page
Advice: “Especially if a writer is new to AppleSeeds, I look for a well-developed query that goes into some detail about the particular approach the writer will take to the subject. A query that says: ‘An article on Thomas Edison and his invention of the light bulb’ doesn’t tell me much, as opposed to a query that describes the way the writer plans to tell the story, important details to be included, etc.,” says Susan Buckley, editor.
Direct all pitches to: SUSANBUCKLEYNYC at GMAIL dot COM
5. Calliope
This Cobblestone magazine by Carus Publishing focuses on world history and is geared for readers ages 9 to 14. Visit CobblestonePub.com for writer’s guidelines and themes for the year’s nine issues.
Pay: $0.20 to $0.25/word for features, supplemental nonfiction, and fiction. Rates vary for activities, puzzles, and projects.
Advice: “A query should also be accompanied by a writing sample and a reason why the prospective writer chose the query topic and the qualifications the writer has to write on the topic,” says Rosalie Baker, editor.
Direct all pitches to: Rosalie Baker, Cobblestone Publishing, 30 Grove Street, Suite C, Peterborough, NH 03458. Send hard copies only. For queries submitted well ahead of deadline, you may wait several months before your query is answered.
6. Cobblestone
For this flagship publication at Carus Publishing, read lots of sample issues before developing a pitch and be sure to include a detailed and complete bibliography.
Pay: $0.20 to $0.25/word for features, fiction, and supplemental nonfiction
Rates vary for activities, poetry, and games.
Advice: “If an author is new to Cobblestone, a lot rides on the query. I read an average of 50 queries for each issue, so I need something to jump out at me… A creative title suggestion is always a good hook for me. It is easy to tell, too, when an author is passionate about a subject, and I like to see that,” says editor Meg Chorlian. “[Also], we break a subject down into specific aspects or events so that we can go into greater detail — for example, the debates between Lincoln and Stephen Douglas deserve their own article rather than being lumped in with a general article about Lincoln’s political career.”
Direct all pitches to: Meg Chorlian, Cobblestone Publishing, 30 Grove Street, Suite C, Peterborough, NH 03458. Send hard copies only.
7. Dig
This Cobblestone magazine by Carus Publishing focuses on archaeology and is geared for readers ages 9 to 14. Visit CobblestonePub.com for writer’s guidelines and themes for the year’s nine issues.
Pay: $0.20 to $0.25/word for features, supplemental nonfiction, and fiction
Rates vary for activities, puzzles, and games.
Advice: As always, study up on the publication before pitching. “The query should focus on a specific topic related to an upcoming theme, with a bibliography of resources (not just websites and encyclopedia-type information, but current analysis as well),” says Rosalie Baker, editor of Calliope and Dig.
Direct all pitches to: Rosalie Baker, Cobblestone Publishing, 30 Grove Street, Suite C, Peterborough, NH 03458. Send hard copies only.
8. Faces
This Cobblestone magazine by Carus Publishing focuses on world cultures and geography and is geared for readers ages 9 to 14.
Pay: $0.20 to $0.25/word for features, supplemental nonfiction, and fiction
Rates vary for activities, puzzles, and games.
Advice: Visit CobblestonePub.com for writer’s guidelines and themes for the year’s nine issues.
Direct all pitches to: Elizabeth Crooker Carpentiere, Cobblestone Publishing, 30 Grove Street, Suite C, Peterborough, NH 03458 or email queries to FACESMAG at YAHOO dot COM
9. Odyssey
This science magazine from Carus Publications is for readers ages 9 to 14. While the standard approach for getting published in Odyssey is to send a query relating to a particular issue theme, this magazine’s senior editor says she likes completed manuscripts, but only if they are well-executed.
Pay: $0.20 to $0.25/word for all content.
Advice: “I would recommend reading about science on a regular basis — journals, magazines, and good websites. Then you’re likely to have ideas for articles that relate to Odyssey‘s theme list,” says Elizabeth Lindstrom, senior editor. “Follow the guidelines and make sure your query includes a lead that shows you have a lively writing style, a bibliography that includes recent research and interviews with scientists, and an outline that shows that you have a good grasp of the subject matter.”
Direct all pitches to: Mail hard copy queries to Elizabeth Lindstrom, Cobblestone Publishing, 30 Grove Street, Suite C, Peterborough, NH 03458 or email them to BLINDSTROM at CARUSPUB dot COM
10. Jack and Jill
The U.S. Kids magazines Humpty Dumpty, Turtle, and Jack and Jill are published by the Children’s Better Health Institute, was established in 1976 and is a part of The Saturday Evening Post Society. The Institute aims to educate parents, teachers, and professionals about good health. This U.S. Kids publication is for 8- to 12-year-old readers and focuses on education and healthy living, promoting activity and nutrition.
Pay: $0.25/word for fiction and nonfiction, $25 to $50 for poetry, $25 minimum for puzzles and games.
Advice: “We’re looking for things that encourage a fun, healthy lifestyle and encourage kids to live well,” says Julia Goodman, editor of Jack and Jill. “Don’t preach [to kids] — show, or demonstrate, instead. And encourage kids to live well and broaden their horizons.”
Direct all pitches to: Editor Julia Goodman: J dot GOODMAN at CBHI dot ORG
11. Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty is geared at readers ages 5 to 7 and features puzzles, crafts, and content that promotes health and nutrition.
Pay: $0.35/word for fiction and nonfiction, $25 to $50 for poetry, $25 minimum for puzzles and games.
Direct all pitches to: Editor Terry Harshman: THARSHMAN at CBHI dot ORG
12. Turtle
This U.S. Kids publication is a bi-monthly read-aloud magazine for preschool kids ages 3-5.
Pay: $0.35/word maximum for fiction, $25 to $50 for poetry, $25 minimum for puzzles and games.
Direct all pitches to: Editor Terry Harshman: THARSHMAN at CBHI dot ORG
Katie Bunker is an associate editor at Diabetes Forecast magazine and a freelance writer in Washington, D.C.
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