Submission Guidelines
Free Spirit is currently closed to unsolicited submissions.
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.
The Benefits of Working with Free Spirit
- 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.
Determining Whether Your Work Is a Fit for Our List
If you are interested in working with Free Spirit, it is best to start by familiarizing yourself with our books. You may request a copy of our catalog or review our titles online at freespirit.com. We also recommend that you check out our books at your local library or bookstore to get a feel for our tone and style.
When Will You Hear from Us?
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.
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Submission Guidelines for Educator Resources
Free Spirit is currently closed to unsolicited submissions. If you are a returning Free Spirit author, please contact us at acquistions@freespirit.com to receive the link to the invited submissions Submittable form.
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 youth development, creative teaching strategies, leadership, and a wide range of social and emotional needs.
GIFTED & SPECIAL EDUCATION
Resources for educators, counselors, parents, and other adults that support children’s diverse learning and social and emotional needs.
BULLYING PREVENTION & CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Books for teachers, counselors, and other educators to help young people understand, prevent, and respond to bullying incidents.
CHARACTER EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Resources for teachers, counselors, and other educators to help young people build character, discover their leadership potential, and engage in their communities.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Guides for early childhood teachers, program directors, and other educators working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary children (birth to age 8). We look for hands-on, teacher-friendly guidance that is research-based, classroom tested, and focused on best practices to support the social, emotional, and cognitive development of young children. Topics include social skills, behavior challenges, healthy emotional development, diversity and equity, family engagement, emergent learning, and teaching strategies.
COUNSELING & SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING
Educator resources 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 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.
Submission Guidelines for 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.
Free Spirit is currently closed to unsolicited submissions. If you are a returning Free Spirit author, please contact us at acquistions@freespirit.com to receive the link to the invited submissions Submittable form. Agents may also reach our acquiring editor Deidra Purvis at acquisitions@freespirit.com.
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, you may 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.