How do I proceed with a book idea?

Get a copy of Writer’s Market or sign up online. You have to pay, but it worth every penny. It is THE resource for writers wanting to get published.

You can self publish or work up a pitch with a synopsis for agents. You should have illustrators/illustrations in mind also for childrens’ books. Have you published any stories anywhere?

Here is some basic information and some helpful suggestions on going about getting a children’s book published. As the article writer states, different publishers will want you to submit in different ways. The author of the article also provides a link to the Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market which is published by the same people, Writer’s Digest, who publish the Writer’s Market , the book that @bkcunningham1 mentioned but it, of course, is geared specifically to the children’s book market. The author also points out something very important when she says:

“Time spent learning about the children’s publishing industry will pay off tenfold when pitching your manuscript to publishers.”

From what I know, the publishers like to supply the artist if you are new to the scene, even if you are an artist yourself. It wouldn’t hurt you to storyboard your work though, for your own sake.

And if you feel like it’s a better selling tactic to have art, already, do it. But don’t expect them to keep it if they accept you writing.

I’ve read numerous times that publishers of children’s books do not want you to supply the art or engage an artist. They don’t even want your sketches unless there’s really no clue in the text as to what the illustration should be. At most a rough sketch would suffice to give the general idea. The writer concentrates on the text, and the rest is up to the publisher.

I’ve heard the same; that the publsiher usually will choose the illustrator. I second gettring a copy of the Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market and studying it.

Thanks to everyone – this is all very helpful!