Eve Adler

I’m an agent at Red Fox Literary, where I represent board books, picture books, early readers, and chapter books. Prior to joining Red Fox, I held editorial positions at Macmillan, Penguin, and Union Square Kids. I’ve worked on a variety of formats, series, and publishing programs, including bestsellers and award-winning titles such as Girls Who Code: The Friendship Code by Stacia Deutsch, the Hello, World board book series by Ashley Evanson, and The Ninth Night of Hanukkah by Erica S. Perl.

I’m actively building my list, and welcome submissions in the 0-10 age range, especially from author-illustrators. I’m drawn to stories that make kids feel comforted, loved, and understood; to diverse voices; to ideas that break the mold; to projects that meet kids where they are developmentally; and to books that expand kids’ worlds while helping them understand their own.

What I’m looking for: I’m seeking projects for ages 0-10 that elicit strong emotions—I love manuscripts and dummies that give me goosebumps. That’s how I know they’re worth pursuing! If you’re a visual person like me, check out my MSWL Pinterest board.

Please note that I do not represent YA or adult books, and I’m not interested in fantasy, horror, or sci-fi.

Here are more specifics for my wish list:

Illustrator portfolios:

I’m open to any type of artwork appropriate for a children’s book, as long as it feels fresh and original, and has its own unique style. When I look at portfolios, I’m looking for samples that make me feel something, and make me wonder what the story is behind an image.

Board books:

I’d love to find board books on the artsy side, whether they explore simple concepts or more involved topics (while still being appropriate for the audience, of course). I’m particularly eager to find artists who might not have considered children’s books before. The board book space keeps evolving, and there’s always room for innovation! I’m also interested in character and story themed board books. Some examples are The Hair Book and Will Bear Share? by Hilary Leung.

Picture books:

–Humor: there’s always a need for humor-filled picture books! I like stories that have substance, and offer something in addition to a good laugh. Some favorites are the Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast series and the Elephant & Piggy books.

–Kid-friendly social emotional themes: I’m always on the lookout for stories that tackle issues kids deal with, like anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, feeling shy, scared, nervous, etc., and help them deal with these feelings. For example: What If, Pig? about anxiety, and Trying, about self-doubt.

—Cultural themes: I love books that address kids’ experiences with their cultural heritage, like Where Three Oceans Meet and Ten Ways to Hear Snow.

–Biographies: I can’t get enough of picture book biographies! I love learning about inspiring people who have impacted our world. Some favorites are Before John Was a Jazz Giant, The Tree Lady, Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando, and Shark Lady.

–Lesser-known holiday books: I’m interested in books that broach lesser-known holidays. I’m also interested in books about other holidays that are original and/or sweet, such as The Tooth Fairy vs. Santa and Bunny with a Big Heart.

–Nonfiction: I enjoy nonfiction that’s approached in a relatable, kid-friendly way like If You Had Your Birthday on the Moon and The Great Water Cycle Adventure.

Chapter books:

I’m interested in simple, short stories aimed at ages 5-8, and longer, and more involved stories aimed at ages 7-10. I’d love to see graphic novels for this age range, too! Here are some themes I’m interested in:

–Funny/Silly: the wackier the better! Some favorites are Kung-Pow Chicken and Pea, Bee, & Jay.

—Adventure/Mystery: I love stories that push adventure and/or mystery to the brink, like CatStronauts.

—Friendship or books based on one character: these resonate when done well. Some examples are Fox & Chick, Boris, and Yasmin.

Submission Guidelines

At the moment, I’m closed to queries, except for submissions (manuscripts, illustrator dummies and portfolios) through industry referrals or from conferences I’ve participated in, or other circumstances in which I’ve extended an invitation to submit. I will provide a QueryManager link specific to conferences for those who attended, or for invitations to submit. Please do NOT email me queries!