Find out what children's publishers want.
Learn how to make ultra-marketable books.
Refine your ideas with one-on-one help from a children's publisher.
Enter Pitch Day for a real chance to be traditionally published!
An amazing experience from start to finish. —Karen J. M.
I received my first book deal. —Ernest R.
The information was just priceless. —Eva S.
Absolutely invaluable experience! —Elizabeth G.
1. Find out what children's publishers want.
Take our free online course to see why only certain books make the cut.
Free Introduction Why Some Children's Books Get Acquired—and Most Don't
Go behind the scenes of children's publishing with David Miles, publisher at Bushel & Peck. Discover the surprising qualities that editors are really looking for when they evaluate submissions. (1 hour)
2. Follow our Acquired Academy to create ultra-marketable books.
Our step-by-step program will help you develop books that stand a real chance at getting acquired.
Lesson 1 Understanding a Book's Real Value
No matter how beautifully it's written, if a book doesn't offer a compelling value—that is, an experience or lesson or tangible reason for someone to drop $20 on it—it will struggle to sell. Understanding a book's true value to parents and readers will help you maximize its value to publishers. Modules include:
- Finding Ideas with Value
- Case Studies in Book Value
- A Look at Real Submissions
- Refining Your Ideas
Lesson 2 Bestselling Evergreen Topics
Many submissions fail because there simply isn't a market for the topic. Learn what's working in the industry today. Modules include:
- Bestselling Topics
- Tier 1: Publisher Powerhouses
- Tier 2: Relationship Books
- Tier 3: Educational Evergreens
- Tier 4: Animals
- Tier 5: Fantasy and Adventure
- Tier 6: Holidays
Lesson 3 Bestselling Trends (and Some Cautions)
Getting the right topic is only half the battle. What you do with the topic will make or break your submission. Learn how to make your book stand out by being the best or the first. Modules include:
- All About Trends
- Rule #1
- Rule #2
- Rule #3
- Refining Your Ideas
Lesson 4 How to Make Your Book Stand Out
Getting the right topic is only half the battle. What you do with the topic will make or break your submission. Learn how to make your book stand out by being the best or the first. Modules include:
- A Mantra for Standing out
- Be the First
- Zooming In
- Zooming Out
- Using Mashups
- Refining Your Ideas
- Be the Best
- Using Format to Stand Out
Lesson 5 Market-Stack Your Book
Only 25% of books are sold in bookstores, so publishers look for books that can work in multiple markets. Learn what those markets are and how you can craft a manuscript that stacks the retail opportunities. Modules include:
- The Secret of Market Stacking
- Market Evaluations
- Refining Your Ideas
Lesson 6 Unlock Foreign Rights Sales
Foreign rights sales can be a significant revenue stream for children's publishers, but small missteps can ruin your chances. Learn simple changes you can make to appeal to foreign publishers. Modules include:
- Introducing Foreign Rights
- Case Studies
- What Works
- Turn-Offs for Foreign Publishers
- Boosting Foreign Rights Appeal
- Refining Your Ideas
Lesson 7 Writing
Hear the five things a publisher looks for when reviewing an author's writing. Modules include:
- The Writing a Publisher Wants
- Creating an Experience
- Making it Kid-Centric
- Emotion, Emotion, Emotion
- Building a Strong Structure
- Leaving Room for the Illustrator
Lesson 8 Finding Your Bullseye
In our final course, you'll take everything you'd learned and blend it into a new, truly marketable book idea—ready to discuss with a real publisher. Modules include:
- The List
- Value Cuts
- Scoring the Candidates
- Refining the Winners
- Your Bullseye
Capstone Getting Published
By this point, you should have identified several superb book ideas, ready for writing and submission. But we don't stop there! The final course in the Acquired Academy outlines the next steps you can take to propel your publishing journey forward, from publisher consultations to entering our semi-annual Pitch Day competition.
3. Refine your ideas with on-the-spot feedback from a real publisher.
TALK WITH A PUBLISHER Take the guesswork out of getting published.
Schedule a one-on-one call with David Miles, publisher at Bushel & Peck. You'll receive honest feedback on your work, market insights, and personalized suggestions for turning your work into a marketable submission.
You don't have to complete the Academy to have a call, but it's highly recommended so that you can discuss your most marketable work.
"David and Ryan were so welcoming and knowledgeable. They immediately took a list of nearly two dozen manuscript ideas and helped me decide where to focus my energy, then offered meaningful feedback on book structure and voice . . . I would sign up again in a heartbeat!" —Jennifer N.
"David and Ryan are talented and intelligent but it is their kindness and incredible generosity that make them exceptional." —Sarah R.
"This . . . will give any writer a tremendous advantage in the world of publishing." —Ernest R.
Schedule your publisher consultation:
4. Enter your book to Pitch Day for a chance to get published!
PITCH DAY Win a traditional publishing contract with Bushel & Peck.
Open to all Acquired graduates!
"I received my first book deal while attending Acquired!" —Ernest R.
It's time to celebrate everyone's hard work—and acquire some books!
Twice a year, all Acquired graduates are invited to pitch their best manuscript to our editorial team. The two best concepts—sometimes more!—will be crowned Pitch Day winners and offered traditional publishing contracts with Bushel & Peck.
At least two winners are guaranteed a publishing offer every Pitch Day! Our next deadline is October 1.
Plus, all Acquired graduates receive these awesome perks:
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$500 off our Jumpshot program
Check out JumpshotJumpshot is Bushel & Peck's groundbreaking hybrid program for children's authors and illustrators. Our clients range from first-time authors to traditionally published veterans looking to publish more books and reach more readers.
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$100 off Acquired In-Person
Notify me when registration opensComing soon in 2027! Get ready for a 3-day in-person retreat filled with fun, learning, and lots of publishing. You'll work one-on-one with publisher David Miles, editorial director Ryan G. Van Cleave, and fellow attendees to craft incredible books with a real chance of getting acquired.
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Live "Advice Line" help during our Ask the Publisher podcast
Join Advice Line waitlistComing soon! During our Ask the Publisher podcast, David and Ryan will discuss trends, best-practices, and other know-how to help listeners get ahead in their publishing journey. Anyone can listen, but Acquired graduates can join our Advice Line segments to get live help with manuscripts and publishing questions.
Meet your publishing instructor
David Miles is both a publisher and bestselling children's author. As publisher of Bushel & Peck Books, he has acquired and developed countless children's books, from award-winning titles like The Witness Trees to commercial powerhouses like the Draw With Mom franchise. His work with authors—from celebrities like Nancy Kerrigan and Keyshawn Johnson to kidlit luminaries like Jane Yolen and Rob Sanders—has produced a host of starred reviews, awards, and other accolades. David's own books have sold over a half million copies. He was named a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree and a Trvst Changemaker. He lives in Fresno with his family.
FAQs
Do I have to finish the Acquired program before booking a one-on-one call?
It's not required to finish the Acquired program before booking a call, but it's highly recommended. The further along your concepts are prior to meeting with David, the more help he'll be in getting you closer to a publishable version.
Can I book multiple one-on-one calls?
Yes! There is no limit on the number of consultations you can have. You can use them to revise existing work, brainstorm new ideas, or just get advice for publishing in general.
Can I enter more than one Pitch Day?
Yes! Anyone who has graduated from the Acquired Academy is welcome to enter one manuscript each Pitch Day.
What other publishing options are there besides Pitch Day?
At Bushel & Peck, we're thrilled to offer three paths to publication:
- Traditional Path: Normally, submitting to our traditional path requires an agent, but we open it to all authors during the months of June and July. In the traditional path, authors publish with an advance + royalties model.
- Acquired Academy: Through our Acquired Academy, authors develop skills to make the most compelling manuscripts possible. Twice a year, we hold a Pitch Day where two Acquired Academy graduates win traditional publishing contracts with Bushel & Peck.
- Jumpshot: Jumpshot is our hybrid program, but don't let that fool you. Our book acceptance rate at Jumpshot is still less than 10%, and publications through this program are held to the same rigorous standards of art and story as our other programs. Authors who publish through Jumpshot include both debut writers looking to break in and seasoned veterans wanting to publish more titles more quickly.
And of course, you're absolutely welcome to pitch your books to other publishers!
Does Bushel & Peck own any of the work I create during the Acquired Academy program?
Not at all! And you're absolutely allowed to take what you write and develop here and pitch it to other publishers. Though many authors who finish the program do eventually become Bushel & Peck authors either through Pitch Day or our Jumpshot program, we encourage you to explore other paths for bringing your work to market. Qhat appeals to each publisher will vary, of course, but generally speaking, what you develop through our program should be marketable to many other publishers.
