I'm frequently asked about how to get into children's books. Here are some resources, tips, and organizations that can help you along on your path to publication. I will be continually updating this page with more resources as I gather them. 

Here are some links to more information from various places on the internet about how I got started and my creative process:
How I Became an Illustrator
How My First Book with Scholastic Came to Be
My Creative Process
Pre-Recorded Webinar About Creating Books for the Youngest of Readers (requires a fee to access)

BEFORE YOU START:
It's VERY important to familiarize yourself with what’s already out there in the marketplace which you can find out by spending time at the bookstore or children’s section of the library and just reading a lot in the genre you are interested in pursuing. Pay close attention to which publishing houses publish what, length of books, word count, and themes. Look at how the illustrations and the text work with each other. Study the rhythm, the page turns, the characters, and emotions.

WRITERS, do not have your manuscripts illustrated (unless you are illustrating it yourself). Editors at publishing companies prefer to match illustrators with manuscripts that they acquire. Sending your manuscript with illustrations can hurt your chances of being published. It won’t help, and it’s a waste of your and your illustrator’s time, which can be particularly awkward if the illustrator is someone you know. Most publishing companies these days do not accept unsolicited manuscripts so your next step after completing a manuscript (ideally a few manuscripts) is to look for a literary agent. Agents can help you polish a manuscript before sending it out, they can offer career advice, negotiate contracts to get you the best offer possible, and just help you navigate the complex world of publishing. Publishing houses also usually give agent submissions priority.

ILLUSTRATORS, work on creating a portfolio of work that look like they belong in children’s books so there should be some sequential images, animal characters, children characters etc. Tailor your portfolio for children’s books. You do not need to necessarily have your own stories to get published as an illustrator. Publishing companies often receive manuscripts that need to be matched with an illustrator. Many well-known author/illustrators started out only illustrating books before they published their own story. If you both write and illustrate, create a book dummy entirely of sketches with 2-3 finished art pieces which you can show to editors or agents. Some ways to get your work out there is participating in portfolio showcases offered at SCBWI conferences where portfolios are put on display and judged by a panel of top professionals, sending out postcards regularly to editors and art directors, and maintaining active social media accounts where you regularly post your work. Finding a literary agent to help you is also another option and if you do get an offer to illustrate a book, I would recommend that you go into it with an agent.

ORGANIZATIONS & CONFERENCES 

SCBWI
An international professional organization for writers and illustrators of children’s and young adult literature. It provides education, networking, conferences, critique opportunities, and industry access to help creators develop their craft and navigate the publishing world. Look up your regional chapter and find out what events are coming up. Some conferences even offer one-on-one manuscript and portfolio critiques with a guest editor, agent, or art director for an additional fee. I've attended many SCBWI conferences and workshops since 2010 and not only have I learned so much about the industry but I have made many great friends in the industry along the way. 

Rutgers University Council On Children's Literature
An annual conference called the One-On-One Plus Conference where attendees are paired with experienced authors, illustrators, editors, art directors or agents. There is an application process to attend and acceptance is based on the strength and quality of the applicant's work.  

RETREAT CENTERS & PROGRAMS

Boyds Mills (formerly Highlights)
A retreat center located in Milanville, Pennsylvania offering craft and community through workshops, courses, and peer retreats (both online and in-person) covering a wide range of topics for both aspiring and published authors and illustrators. Workshops are led by editors, authors, art directors, publishers, agents, academics, and others who are there to help you realize your creative goals. Also, the food is AMAZING. :)

Kindling Words
A nonprofit retreat community for traditionally published children’s book authors, illustrators, and editors. It offers an inclusive, noncompetitive space to deepen craft, engage in meaningful conversation, and renew the creative spirit.  Gatherings are held twice a year: a four-day retreat in Southbridge, MA (Kindling Words East) and a week-long retreat on Whidbey Island, WA (Kindling Words West). 

The Writing Barn
A writing center founded by author Bethany Hegedus in Austin, Texas, offering a variety of in-person and virtual workshops, events, and retreats facilitated by local and visiting authors.

Milkwood
A retreat center founded and run by author-illustrator Sophie Blackall and playwright Ed Schmidt in the West Catskills of New York state offering workshop retreats, peer retreats, and self-catered residencies.

ONLINE COURSES

The Cuddlefish Academy
An online learning platform for children’s book writers and illustrators. It offers courses, workshops, and mentorship from industry professionals to help creators strengthen their storytelling, illustration skills, and publishing knowledge. With a focus on practical craft, creative growth, and supportive community, Cuddlefish Academy provides accessible, flexible education for both aspiring and working kidlit creators.

Make Art That Sells
Five-week online course about illustrating children's books created by agent Lilla Rogers. You’ll create a complete pitch presentation ready to send to publishers and art directors, including a front cover and more.

ONLINE COMMUNITIES 

Storystorm
Founded by author Tara Lazar and is a free month-long online story brainstorming event for picture book writers held every January. The Storystorm challenge is to create 30 story ideas in 31 days. Daily posts by authors, illustrators, editors and other publishing professionals will help inspire you. Tara's website also offers a lot of tips, interviews, and resources related to writing picture books.

12x12
Founded by author Julie Hedlund where you can join 1000+ authors and illustrators in a 24×7, 365-day online writing community where you’ll get the support, motivation, accountability, and education to write your picture books.

PUBLICATIONS / DIRECTORIES

The Book: Essential Guide to Publishing for Children
SCBWI publishes a comprehensive guide for members that contains information about writing and illustrating for the children’s book market. Includes the latest market reports, articles on social media, discussions on independent publishing options, and up-to-the-minute directories of everything from agent and book reviewer directories to current list of bloggers, reviewers, grants, and awards.

The Children's Writers & illustrator's Market 
A comprehensive publishing guide for anyone who wants to write or illustrate for kids and young adults. Inside you'll find more than 500 listings for children's book markets (US, Canadian and international publishers; literary agents; magazines; conferences; and contests) including contact names, how to properly submit your work, and what categories each market accepts. Also includes interviews with authors and illustrators and informative articles.

WEB RESOURCES & PODCASTS

The Purple Crayon
Created by children's book editor Harold Underdown, this website provides lots of general information for those new to children's book writing, illustrating, marketing, and publishing. 

Kidlit411
Created by author Elaine Kiely Kearns and author-illustrator Sylvia Liu, this website provides articles, resources, author/illustrator spotlights, and manuscript/portfolio swap opportunities.

The Children's Book Podcast 
A weekly podcast, created and hosted by elementary school librarian and author Matthew Winner, featuring interviews with authors, illustrators, and everyone involved in taking a book from drawing board to bookshelf.

Book Friends Forever Podcast
Weekly podcast created and hosted by two of children's publishing's top professionals, Vice President, Publisher at Hachette Book Group/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Alvina Ling, and author-illustrator Grace Lin.

Kidlit Social (no longer active but episodes are archived here)
Presented by Children's Book Insider. Video interviews with kidlit's top authors, editors, agents, and publishing professionals.

MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUES

I don't provide manuscript critiques, however, the following are published authors and freelance editors, who I know personally or have come recommended to me, who do:

Jen Bonnell: http://www.jenbonnell.com
Alli Brydon: https://www.allibrydon.com
Marcie Colleen: http://www.thisismarciecolleen.com/critique-services.html
Emma Dryden: http://www.drydenbks.com
Catherine Frank: http://editedbycatherine.com
Harold Underdown: http://www.underdown.org/pced.htm

SELF-PUBLISHING

I have never self-published a book so I don't have any personal insight to offer in that regard but there is a lot out there written about this topic including this article written by Harold Underdown: http://www.underdown.org/self-publish.htm. SCBWI has also, in recent years, been offering more resources and information about self-publishing.