Query Letter Considerations

Submissions in Kidlit 2026

Welcome back to my once-a-month posts for paid subscribers.

This month I’d like to look at query letters again, as I have some updates with links to great information.

Let me start by saying that I’ve heard word on the street for middle grade writers: while the buying trends have been soft for middle grade books for a while now, some agents are reporting an uptick in interest in middle grade from editors. This makes sense. As market growth slows, a product gap grows, and that spurs the need for new material.

Moreover, it appears that the new year has opened some doors. If you have a middle grade manuscript ready for submission, now is a great time to query.

Things that are still hot market trends: young adult romance, especially in the horror and mystery subgenres; picture books but largely in the realm of puzzles and activity books (which are usually created in-house).

But as always – write the book that you must write, for what agents and editors really want is something fresh, with a distinctive voice. There’s good advice for your query process below if you are ready to pitch.