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Submissions

We accept submissions from authors and agents for our Free Spirit Publishing and Shell Education imprints. Please review our submission guidelines closely, and if your submission fits, submit using Submittable. If you are an agent or returning Free Spirit or Shell Education author, please contact us at acquistions@freespirit.com.

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About Our Imprints

Determining Whether Your Work is a Fit for Our List

If you are interested in working with Free Spirit or Shell Education, it is best to start by familiarizing yourself with our books. You can browse the website, and we also recommend that you check out our books at your local library or bookstore to get a feel for our tone and style. Learn more about our work below.

Benefits of Working with Us

  • You can expect a high level of personal attention from our editors and our promotions and sales departments.
  • Our strong backlist ensures that your book will have a long life in print.
  • You will join a prestigious community of authors, including many award-winners.
  • Our books have been translated into more than 20 languages.

  • About Free Spirit Publishing

    About Free Spirit Publishing

    Free Spirit is the leading publisher of learning tools for youth and educators that support young people’s social, emotional, and educational needs. We help children and teens think for themselves, overcome challenges, and make a difference in the world. We care about young people and the issues and challenges they face every day. Our line of materials includes early childhood board books and picture books on social skills and positive behavior; Self-Help for Kids®; Self-Help for Teens®; and teaching resources for educators. Our titles inform, engage, and inspire children, teens, and the adults who live and work with them.
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  • About Shell Education

    About Shell Education

    Optional Subheading

    Shell Education publishes professional resources that build educator instructional capacity, content-area knowledge, and confidence.
    SEP_560x375

About Free Spirit Publishing

Free Spirit is the leading publisher of learning tools for youth and educators that support young people’s social, emotional, and educational needs. We help children and teens think for themselves, overcome challenges, and make a difference in the world. We care about young people and the issues and challenges they face every day. Our line of materials includes early childhood board books and picture books on social skills and positive behavior; Self-Help for Kids®; Self-Help for Teens®; and teaching resources for educators. Our titles inform, engage, and inspire children, teens, and the adults who live and work with them.
FSP_560x375

About Shell Education

Optional Subheading

Shell Education publishes professional resources that build educator instructional capacity, content-area knowledge, and confidence.
SEP_560x375

Submission Guidelines

Professional Resources and Children's and Teens' Books

  • Professional Resources

    Professional Resources

    We Publish Books That Support Teaching Strategies and Professional Development

    Practical, jargon-free materials for educators, administrators, counselors, and youth workers that focus on positive learning environments that promote strong outcomes. Topics include early childhood education, academic subject-area strategy books, creative teaching strategies, gifted and special education, and a wide range of social and emotional needs.

    We Do Not Accept the Following Types of Submissions

    • Material with religious or New Age content
    • Biographies, autobiographies, or memoirs
    • General self-help for adults
    • If your proposal is in any of the above formats, it is not right for us—even if content themes overlap with those we publish.

  • Children's and Teens' Books

    Children's and Teens' Books

    Free Spirit Publishing is committed to uplifting diverse voices with books that are relevant and inclusive for the youth we serve. We are especially seeking manuscripts from authors of diverse representation; including race, ethnicity, culture, religion, social class, LGBTQ identities, ability, and physical differences.

    We Publish Books for Ages Birth through Eighteen in the Following Categories

    PICTURE BOOKS WITH ALIGNMENT TO AN SEL TRAIT OR STRATEGY

    Authentic, high-interest, and lyrically written picture books reflecting contemporary experiences of children from diverse cultures, backgrounds, religions, and identities; and that also align with a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) trait or strategy.

    GIFTED & SPECIAL EDUCATION

    Books on academic, social, and emotional development for young people of all ages with diverse learning needs, including gifted students and students with learning differences, ADHD, behavioral difficulties, or autism spectrum disorders.

    BULLYING PREVENTION & CONFLICT RESOLUTION

    Picture books and books for kids and teens, and resources for teachers, counselors, and other educators, to help young people understand, prevent, and respond to bullying incidents. We will also consider fiction for kids and teens that relates to these topics.

    CHARACTER EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

    Picture books and books for kids and teens to help young people build character, discover their leadership potential, and engage in their communities. We will also consider fiction for kids and teens that relates to these topics.

    BOOKS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

    Board books for infants to age 4 and picture books for ages 3 to 8 that focus on social skills and getting along, early learning, character education, self-esteem, and other topics related to positive early childhood development. We will also consider fiction that relates directly to these areas of focus.

    COUNSELING & SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING

    Picture books and books for kids and teens to help children and teens deal with grief and loss, health and wellness, depression and other mental illnesses, stress, social skills and friendship, anger management, LGBTQ issues, manners, family, self-confidence, and more. We will also consider fiction for kids and teens that relates to these topics.

    Note: Due to the large volume of submissions we receive, we are unable to respond personally to each query. Please review our publishing categories carefully. If you think your work may be a fit for Free Spirit, please submit a proposal according to our guidelines.

    WE DO NOT ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF SUBMISSIONS

    • Books with animals or mythical creatures as the primary characters
    • Poetry
    • General self-help for adults
    • Nonfiction material with religious or New Age content, or books with religious messages outside of the representation of religious practices

    If your proposal is in any of the above formats, it is not right for us—even if content themes overlap with those we publish.

Professional Resources

We Publish Books That Support Teaching Strategies and Professional Development

Practical, jargon-free materials for educators, administrators, counselors, and youth workers that focus on positive learning environments that promote strong outcomes. Topics include early childhood education, academic subject-area strategy books, creative teaching strategies, gifted and special education, and a wide range of social and emotional needs.

We Do Not Accept the Following Types of Submissions

  • Material with religious or New Age content
  • Biographies, autobiographies, or memoirs
  • General self-help for adults
  • If your proposal is in any of the above formats, it is not right for us—even if content themes overlap with those we publish.

Children's and Teens' Books

Free Spirit Publishing is committed to uplifting diverse voices with books that are relevant and inclusive for the youth we serve. We are especially seeking manuscripts from authors of diverse representation; including race, ethnicity, culture, religion, social class, LGBTQ identities, ability, and physical differences.

We Publish Books for Ages Birth through Eighteen in the Following Categories

PICTURE BOOKS WITH ALIGNMENT TO AN SEL TRAIT OR STRATEGY

Authentic, high-interest, and lyrically written picture books reflecting contemporary experiences of children from diverse cultures, backgrounds, religions, and identities; and that also align with a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) trait or strategy.

GIFTED & SPECIAL EDUCATION

Books on academic, social, and emotional development for young people of all ages with diverse learning needs, including gifted students and students with learning differences, ADHD, behavioral difficulties, or autism spectrum disorders.

BULLYING PREVENTION & CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Picture books and books for kids and teens, and resources for teachers, counselors, and other educators, to help young people understand, prevent, and respond to bullying incidents. We will also consider fiction for kids and teens that relates to these topics.

CHARACTER EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Picture books and books for kids and teens to help young people build character, discover their leadership potential, and engage in their communities. We will also consider fiction for kids and teens that relates to these topics.

BOOKS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

Board books for infants to age 4 and picture books for ages 3 to 8 that focus on social skills and getting along, early learning, character education, self-esteem, and other topics related to positive early childhood development. We will also consider fiction that relates directly to these areas of focus.

COUNSELING & SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Picture books and books for kids and teens to help children and teens deal with grief and loss, health and wellness, depression and other mental illnesses, stress, social skills and friendship, anger management, LGBTQ issues, manners, family, self-confidence, and more. We will also consider fiction for kids and teens that relates to these topics.

Note: Due to the large volume of submissions we receive, we are unable to respond personally to each query. Please review our publishing categories carefully. If you think your work may be a fit for Free Spirit, please submit a proposal according to our guidelines.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF SUBMISSIONS

  • Books with animals or mythical creatures as the primary characters
  • Poetry
  • General self-help for adults
  • Nonfiction material with religious or New Age content, or books with religious messages outside of the representation of religious practices

If your proposal is in any of the above formats, it is not right for us—even if content themes overlap with those we publish.

How to Submit

Free Spirit and Shell Education use Submittable.com. Proposals may also be sent by mail. While we do our best to offer timely feedback on your project, the high volume of proposals we receive dictates a reply time of two to six months. Only proposals with the following elements will be considered for publication:

  • A cover letter briefly outlining your project, the intended audience (including age ranges), and your relevant expertise
  • A current résumé
  • A market analysis with a comprehensive list of similar title and a detailed explanation of how your project differs from available products
  • A detailed chapter-by-chapter outline (if proposing a longform book)
  • At least two sample chapters (if a full manuscript is available, you may send it) Note: For board book and picture book submissions, the entire text is required for evaluation. Bracketed art suggestions are appreciated, though illustration samples should not be sent unless professionally competent.
  • A description of our personal promotion plan for the proposed book (including both in person and social media outreach).

DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS. Free Spirit is not liable for work lost in the mail. For return or your materials, include a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage.

Send proposals to:

Free Spirit Publishing/Shell Education
Attn: Acquisitions
9850 51st Ave. N, Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55442 

Or upload your submission on Submittable:

submit