Understanding Kidlit: Tips for Aspiring Children’s Book Editors

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Join Editors Toronto on Wednesday, October 25, at 7:00 pm EDT via Zoom for “Understanding Kidlit: Tips for Aspiring Children’s Book Editors.”

As adults, it’s easy to think of children’s books as short and simple. Kidlit editors know that they’re anything but. Editing for children is a joyful, engaging niche—but some editors feel nervous about getting started, especially when many editing programs don’t include information about the market or conventions of children’s literature.

As an editor and an author, Laura Bontje has been on both sides of the editing experience. In this presentation, she’ll share tips and examples to help new and aspiring kidlit editors gain confidence in the following areas:

Identifying the different types of children’s literature (from board books through young adult)

Understanding the relationship between language and audience in picture books, early readers, and chapter books

Addressing common areas for refinement in picture book manuscripts

About the Speaker

Laura Bontje (she/her) is a freelance editor in London, Ontario. She works with both traditional and self-published authors across numerous genres, with a particular focus on the children’s literature market. Laura’s debut picture book, Was It a Cat I Saw? (illustrated by Emma Lidia Squillari), comes out on March 12, 2024, from Amicus Ink. Her second, When the Air Sang (illustrated by Sarah Whang), will be released by Annick Press in 2025. Laura also volunteers as the managing editor for The Editors’ Weekly, the official blog of Editors Canada.

Connect with Laura on Instagram: @LauraBontjeBooks or on X (formerly Twitter): @LauraBontje