“What a fantastic look at the inner workings of children's book publishing. The information was just priceless—I can't imagine NOT having this knowledge!”
“My first book deal”
—Ernest R.
“I received my first book deal while attending ACQUIRED! This amazing workshop will give any writer a tremendous advantage in the world of publishing.”
“By far the best”
—Karen J. M.
“The Acquired Workshop with Bushel and Peck was an amazing experience from start to finish. They offered one-on-one time with each author and gave invaluable advice. I have attended many conferences and workshops, but this one was by far the best.”
“Exceptional workshop”
—Jeanne P.
“This exceptional workshop provided concrete, valuable information on how to craft stories for children and about the nature of children's publishing as a business. Critical thinking about how to place your stories in today's market is invaluable.”
Recommended to my writer friends”
—Stephanie J.
“This class was one of the most helpful experiences in my 5+ year kidlit journey . . . I've already recommended Bushel & Peck's Acquired class to several of my writer friends.”
“Well worth the expense!”
—Lynne Marie D.
“This class was eye opening, fun, inspiring and educating—well worth the expense! I really enjoyed it and there was so much takeaway with which to pave my path to success.”
“Invaluable experience”
—Elizabeth G.
“Absolutely invaluable experience! So much so, I have done it twice!!”
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.8 / 5 from 2703 reviews.
Getting the interactive art book from Bushel and Peck in the next step in me continuing my own education. I’m degreed but art was not what I’ve studied but it a subject I want to learn more on my own. This felt like a fun way to start learning. My husband and I have enjoyed using the cards to practice recognizing pieces of art. We challengers are daughter who has a degree in art history to name the artists and names of the works! It’s kicked off a new passion for all of us. I’m so excited to add this book to my growing art library.
I got these for my grandkids, they are 8 and 5! They live in VA and I live in MT. I visiting them in Oct, so I’m sending these early & asking their dad to hold them til I get there 🩷. These are neater than I thought; esp the Creation one; I’ve been wanting to talk to them and this is a great starter! Those 3 books chg to COLOR in the tub. So that will be fun for them. The science book is for Otto; he loves experimenting & it’s easy ones to do. Great gifts
This is such a fun silly story that has helped my daughter feel more prepared to start kindergarten this fall. We love that even the teacher/adult has to go to the naughty bench helping exemplify it’s not just kids that have trouble with their big feelings/actions sometimes.
I absolutely love this book! I was a little nervous that the book would be small in size, but it is larger than I expected and a great size for kids. Super interactive and educational. My son loves learning from it and it is wonderful and fun refresh tool for all! Would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone, 10/10!!
Extremely high quality book that is clearly meticulously researched, telling stories of "forgotten founders" during the Revolutionary time period of America's history. We love it!
The idea is there, this is a cool book, but the opportunities for interactive learning were really difficult to do without damaging the book. I tried to carefully open the flaps and help my son through the book and I continually tore and bent the flaps. The toilet paper was so tight that we couldn't get it back in without it bending and now it's bent and broken. Similarly to the digestive system slider, we couldn't move through the image without scuffing it up. I really wanted to love this book, my son loves learning about the body, but he lost interest when the interactive bits were difficult, not working, and the book is slightly all over the place with the content.
I love this book! When you're 2 years old and everyone wants a hug and a kiss, add in a Midwest goodbye and you could easily have 10 hugs for 3 people. It's hard to tell an adult "no" and harder as an adult to hear it. This book empowers your children to understand consent, develop a deeper respect for personal space and touch, and it's presented in a relatable and even fun way. Ending with final words for the child and for the caretakers. Great book!
My younger viewers love these short stories and SO DO I!!
Here's a link to one of them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLu5WIPkjHA
These little 5-minute stories are an excellent introduction to so many SEL topics and a perfect fit for my channel.
THANK YOU for providing so many wonderful works of literature that are worthy of my Very Picky Standards.
Keep up the great work!
Such a gorgeous book. While Emily's work is most appropriate for my older viewers, I still enjoy sharing classic works such as hers on my channel. Here it is!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0KMzJ6ioz0
Please feel free to share and subscribe; I'd love for this channel to grow and provide even more time / opportunity to provide awesome literature and SEL messages to kids and their grown ups. ; )
I love your books so much and share them on my channel all the time. Here's a link to this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk3SyXeR3Sc
Please enjoy and share! I'd love to celebrate my 2nd year YouTube anniversary with a few more subscribers. ; )
Thanks for all the great books; I'll definitely keep purchasing!
Wonderful Book! Great recipes! Super thought out and beautifully designed. My 8-year-old daughter loves it. She said it was her favorite gift for birthday. She makes something out of it every weekend. And as a health conscious parent, I'm so pleased knowing it's all healthy stuff. 6 stars–fully recommend!
I bought this for my 10 yo grandson who’s fascinated with tornadoes. The cover shows some hand-drawn tornado activity which I thought might be used on the inside of the book.
The book seems a little cheaper than I thought it would be according to the cover. No pictures, which he’s old enough to do without, but that would be a nice touch while he’s reading..
I’m not sure I would buy from this company again, but my grandson does like the book.
We LOVE these poetry books! They are so beautifully made, the illustrations are engaging, and perfect for engaging with our children. We bought all the poetry books!
We LOVE these poetry books! They are so beautifully made, the illustrations are engaging, and perfect for engaging with our children. We bought all the poetry books!
We LOVE these poetry books! They are so beautifully made, the illustrations are engaging, and perfect for engaging with our children. We bought all the poetry books!
We LOVE these poetry books! They are so beautifully made, the illustrations are engaging, and perfect for engaging with our children. We bought all the poetry books!
This book is full of insightful scientists who used their faith in God to make the world a better place. I am inspired by them, and kids will be also. What a fun gift to read and enjoy with your children.
I loved writing this book. It helps children calm themselves in creative and fun imaginative ways. A great gift for both parents, teachers, and children.
Our child was given the book as a gift and we immediately spotted several obvious tells of generative AI use for the "paintings" from legs detached from bodies, extra fingers on hands, to radically different "painting" styles and not a single image credit anywhere in the book. I can't, in good conscience, support a publisher that supports stolen work/not paying actual artists for their work.
Uses AI artwork, even for the birds. EXTREMELY disappointing, especially for a nonfiction title. They are credited to Shutterstock. Not at all what I expected, buyer beware!
Store owner replied:
Hi Sarah, thank you for taking the time to leave a review! I'm very sorry the book didn't meet your expectations. We do offer a 100% money back guarantee. If you'd like a refund, please reach out to Nicholle (help@bushelandpeckbooks.com) and she'll assist you asap!
Really cool interactive book that has a lot of unique features making learning fun.
Reading THE WITNESS TREES gave me goosebumps. The words, by Ryan G. Van Cleave, are spare and lyrical and powerful, and the illustrations by Đốm Đốm portray both the sweep of history and the sense of majesty these trees impart. The pattern of each spread typically gives a glorious full-page illustration of the featured tree, with a facing white page with spot art, the text, and a sidebar providing more historical details. That combination of white space with sparse poetic text gives this book an unexpected intensity that made me turn back to the beginning and re-read as soon as I had finished.
If I were using this book to teach, one of the things I would focus on is the author's created words—words like "barksong" and "thunder-smash" and "caverndeep." I could see this book being the springboard for some incredible writing.
HEIST! by Marshall Holland is the type of book that's hard to put down. The true stories behind these massive, daring thefts are riveting. I loved the Heist Meters for each story, which give ratings of the scale of planning, risk and impact, provides a natural path to activities of compare and contrast. This topic captures attention, and will appeal to anyone from reluctant readers to adults.
The size of this book (thin, lightweight, easy to carry) makes it perfect for those times when a parent needs to have an incredible, engrossing distraction to be tucked away for a trip or any activity where there might be long delays.
EXOPLANETS is one of those books that you just want to hug—it's that beautiful. Add to that author Wendy Bjazevich's text that makes terms like "spectroscopy" and "gravitational microlensing" completely understandable for kids. The artistic choices that David Miles made in the color palette and design, with multiple layers and blocks of information on every page, completely draw in the readers. I loved the activity of tracing our sun's movement over the past half century—it helped solidify the understanding of the movement of stars. Highly recommended for the kids (and astronomers) in your life!
Such a beautiful book! I bought it for my daughter and me to read together, and it is so beautifully written. We love the questions at the end of each story they really help deepen the stories message. 10/10 would absolutely recommend !
What do publishers actually want? Take a peek behind the curtain.
We all know how tough it is to break into publishing. But what if the reason you’re not getting picked up isn’t talent . . . what if you're just missing the mark on what publishers are looking for? That’s exactly what Acquired fixes.
You'll work directly with kidlit publishing professionals who will pull back the curtain on the inner workings of acquisition decisions and help you develop manuscripts of your own that have a real chance at making it! During our three-day course, you'll:
Learn the Acquired! method of creating winning children's books
Hear firsthand what editors are looking for (and not looking for!)
Brainstorm winning ideas that match your expertise and writing style
Grow those ideas into compelling manuscripts that will catch an editor's eye
Witness a real-life editorial planning meeting
See what's been acquired through our course!
Amazing Webs
An illustrated guide to creepy, beautiful, and intricate creations of spiders.
Author: Julie Lavender
Publisher: Bushel & Peck
Releases: 2027
The World of Trains
All aboard the world’s most famous trains! A illustrated lavishly guide to everything from bullet trains to Amtrak to the Orient Express.
Author: Jeanne Pettenati
Publisher: Bushel & Peck
Releases: 2027
Uh-Oh!
An adorable board book to reassure young kids that uh-ohs happen to everyone, even grownups!
Author: Florencio Glassberg
Publisher: Bushel & Peck
Releases: Announcing soon!
Scenic America
Take a zig-zagging tour of America’s most scenic roadways—complete with roadside curiosities, plants and animals, and other fun facts—from major highways to little known byways.
Author: Ernest Robertson
Publisher: Bushel & Peck
Releases: 2027
I See You, Jesus!
A sweet reminder that Jesus can be seen in miracles, moments, and our very own lives.
Author: Katie Bishop
Publisher: Bushel & Peck (Sunbeam)
Releases: Announcing soon!
Kids of the Revolution
From food to clothes to games to chores, find out how kids lived during the Revolutionary War.
Author: Jennifer Newton
Publisher: Bushel & Peck
Releases: Announcing soon!
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Upcoming 2026 workshops:
February 19-21
Acquired! Board Books, Picture Books, and Illustrated Nonfiction
VirtualWeekend Intensive
Held Thursday night through Saturday afternoon, this intensive course packs the Acquired experience into one exciting weekend to make it easier to fit into your schedule.
Acquired! Board Books, Picture Books, and Illustrated Nonfiction
VirtualSplit Weekend
Held Friday night, all day Saturday, and all day the following Saturday with small-group meetings during the week, this course stretches the Acquired experience across a full week to give you more writing time.
Can't make any of these sessions? Join our waitlist below. You'll get priority access when new sessions open!
Did you know? We guarantee that at least one workshop participant each session will earn a publishing contract right here with Bushel & Peck!
How Acquired works:
Work one-on-one with publishing professionals and decision-makers
You know those people who rejected your manuscript? (Sorry if it was one of us!) This is your chance to work directly with them and find out what they really want! Together, your instructors have over 50 years of experience in acquiring, making, and selling children's books. They have won numerous awards, starred reviews, and worked with premier talent from celebrities to bestselling authors. In short, they know a thing or two—and they're about to share their insider know-how with you.
Find your golden idea
You don't need to bring any manuscripts to our course—in fact, we encourage you not to! Instead, we'll start at square one: coming up with golden ideas. You'll work one-on-one with our professionals to brainstorm, vet, and select winning concepts that publishers will want to publish. You'll also hear firsthand about trends and other topics succeeding in the current marketplace. Then, with golden ideas in hand, you'll be ready to finally start writing, now with confidence that you're already on the right track!
Win over editors with irresistible writing
Though the ideas you generate in this class are already invaluable, we don't stop there! We'll help you begin the writing process with special attention to structure, voice, and language—the essential elements that can capture the hearts of acquiring editors.
Analyze real-life submissions
At the end of our course, you'll even have the chance to peek inside the slush pile and critique real-life submissions alongside our professionals. You'll discover firsthand what elevates a submission and what dooms it, and you'll take away valuable best practices to make your submissions shine!
Best of all: At least one writer from the course is guaranteed a traditional book publishing offer from Bushel & Peck!
Yes! We're so confident in the ideas and manuscripts you'll create with us that we guarantee to make an offer on at least one of the submissions generated by the class.
Did we mention you get to learn from the comfort of your own home?
No travel or extensive days off work are required to participate in this course.
Meet your instructors
David Miles
Publisher, Bushel & Peck
David Miles, along with his wife Stephanie, is the founder of Bushel & Peck, a children's publisher based in California. In just a few years since launching its first titles, Bushel & Peck has become one of the fastest-growing kids presses in America. Today, their authors include some of the most recognizable names in the industry, from Jane Yolen to Nancy Kerrigan and beyond.
Over his career, David has acquired and developed countless children's titles, many of which have gone on to win starred reviews, state awards, Junior Library Guild honors, and other accolades.
An author, designer, and illustrator himself, David's own children's books have sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Originally from Pennsylvania, he now lives in California with his wife, son, and too many beagles.
Dr. Ryan G. Van Cleave
Editorial Director, Bushel & Peck
Dr. Ryan G. Van Cleave is the Editorial Director at Bushel & Peck Books, where he helps shape one of the most creative and dynamic lists in children’s publishing today. He’s also The Picture Book Doctor, the industry’s go-to expert for helping celebrities create unforgettable content for the page, stage, and screen.
A prolific author and ghostwriter, Ryan has published more than 75 books for young readers, including collaborations with Olympic medalists Fred Richard and Nancy Kerrigan, kidlit legend Jane Yolen, and former MLB player and inspirational speaker Chris Singleton.
He also runs Only Picture Books, a popular blog dedicated to thoughtful reviews and behind-the-scenes insights into the world of picture book writing and illustration.
Over the past 25 years, Ryan has taught creative writing at Florida State University, Clemson, George Washington University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and now serves as Department Head of Creative Writing at Ringling College of Art and Design.
He’s also a contributing editor for Writer’s Digest magazine and remains passionate about storytelling in all its forms—and yes, he really does have a penguin as a patronus.
Each workshop runs over three days. It's a jam-packed course!
Day 1
3:00–5:00 pm (Pacific Time)
3:00 pm Introductions
3:30 pm Foundation Lecture: "Winning Ideas"
What are publishers looking for? What makes them pick one manuscript over another? And how can a children's writer hit the mark? Find out in our first foundation lecture! Publisher David Miles will teach you how to THINK like a publisher, analyzing things like market, topic, value, package, competitiveness, rights potential, and more. By the end, you'll have learned how to blend creativity with savvy to generate idea after idea to captivate publishers.
5:00 pm Session End
Homework
To cap off the first day and prepare for the next, you'll each be asked to brainstorm a list of 10 original book ideas for use in tomorrow's session.
Day 2
7:00 am–4:00 pm (Pacific Time)
(Reminder: Each class member must bring their list of book ideas from the day before.)
7:00 am Book Idea Consults
This session is the magic of Acquired! Each class member will have 20 minutes to pitch their best book ideas to David and Ryan (and the class), who will give on-the-spot feedback just like an acquisitions board. We'll help you spot the gems in your list of ideas, telling you what we love, what might be an instant rejection, and best of all, HOW to whip your most promising ideas into shape. Class members are encouraged to participate in all discussions so everyone learns together, even when it's not your turn to present. However, if you need some time away to write or work on homework, you're welcome to slip in and out.
11:00 am Lunch Break
12:00 pm Book Idea Consults
The magic of book consults continues! Trust us: nothing will give you more of a competitive edge as a writer than hearing decision makers critique book ideas for 6+ hours.
3:00 pm Foundation Lecture: "Winning Writing"
Your book idea is just the beginning. Now, it's time to tackle the execution. Ryan, a celebrated author and The Picture Book Doctor, will walk you through common pitfalls in children's writing and help you find simple ways to dramatically improve your craft.
4:00 pm Session End
Homework
It's time to start writing! From your list of ideas, we'll help you select one to begin developing. Tonight, start writing the book and bring as much as you're able to complete to Saturday's session. You'll have an additional hour to write Saturday morning, too, so don't stress!
Day 3
7:00 am–4:00 pm (Pacific Time)
(Reminder: Each class member must bring the start of their manuscript to class.)
7:00 am Writing Time
This hour is for you! We know your head will be buzzing with ideas after Ryan's lecture on Friday, and you might not have been able to finish everything you wanted the night before. This hour gives you extra time to get ready for our writing consults.
8:00 am Writing Consults
Each class member will work directly with David and Ryan to improve the book they've started. We'll look at language, voice, vocabulary, and more, providing specific ideas and tips throughout.
11:00 am Lunch Break
12:00 pm Writing Consults
Writing consults will continue for another hour so everyone has a chance to get feedback specific to their book.
3:00 pm Guest Lecture: "Writing Between the Lines" by Fred Koehler
Calling all Picture Book Writers! Join Boston Globe Horn Book Award Honoree Fred Koehler as we explore this format through the eyes of a writer/illustrator. Learn how to turn your words—and especially what's left unsaid—into "illustrator bait" that hooks editors, art directors, and readers alike. Come with a work in progress, ready to create and reimagine!
3:45 pm Foundation Lecture: "Winning Submissions"
Are there secrets to crafting a good submission? Yes! While a good book can speak for itself, knowing what publishers look for can give you a leg up. And of course, there are some things that are immediate turn-offs, too. Together, we'll review some real-life submissions and see why some rise and some fall.
4:30 pm Ask Us Anything: David and Ryan; Final Remarks
We run the entire course virtually on Zoom. This lessens the burden of travel and having to take time off work for our class members. We recommend you download the Zoom software in advance and test your audio and video.
What does the course not cover?
Our course is laser-focused on helping you get an original manuscript acquired by a traditional kidlit press. We leave other wonderful topics, like illustration, AI, work-life balance, the creative life, and so forth, to other worthy conferences.
Do you really guarantee a publishing contract to one of the participants?
We do indeed! We know from experience that at least one of the books from one of the participants in the course will be so good, we'll want to contract it on the spot. We've even been known to acquire more than one!
Made locally with love
Bushel & Peck is a family-run publisher. Our books are dreamed up in California, Texas, Florida, and everywhere else our talented team is found. Some take years to create. Hours of work by passionate, industry-leading authors, illustrators, editors, and designers go into every book. Each detail is carefully crafted, from the foil embellishments on the cover to the designer endpapers on the inside. It’s a labor of love made by hand and heart, and that’s what you’ll feel when you open each extraordinary cover:
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
