Rating: 
Summary: A Great Addition to Your Bookshelf
Review: As a writer, I found Underdown's guide informative and a great read for all writers. He provides readers with the inside track - something I would have loved 10 years ago when I started in the book biz. Great sidebars with web sites and other resources. This book is a must have for all people interested in writing books for children. Underdown is upfront in his approach and does not sugarcoat the business side of the industry. Readers will benefit from his years in publishing.
Rating:
Summary: More information for illustrators, please
Review: Excellent, must-have resource for those interested in writing children's books. However, as a published children's book author and illustrator, I was disappointed to find that very few pages are devoted to those interested in a career in children's illustration.
Rating: 
Summary: Not just for idiots
Review: I have never conceived of myself as a language person, preferring to communicate through body art, and sometimes logical calculus. For this reason, I believed my dream of writing a bestselling series of children's novels would remain forever beyond my reach. Well, reading this book finally got my creative juices flowing, and now even my perpetually lachrymose agent is optimistic about my series of adventure novels for the Christian youth market. Get ready for Jerry Slaughter and the Painted Strumpet!
Rating:
Summary: Highly useful book: Don't buy the ebook
Review: I'm the author of this book, and I'm posting this review of the Microsoft Reader edition because I want people to think twice about this particular format. The print edition is being sold here on Amazon for less. Another problem is that although Microsoft Reader ebooks can be downloaded into a PDA or laptop, making them easily portable, they do not keep the original design of the print book. Since Idiots Guides are carefully designed to make them readable and easy to use, this is a significant loss. So I think you should get the print edition.If you must have an ebook version, get the Adobe Reader version. Amazon is not selling it for some reason, but it's available from at least one other reputable site. If you can't find it, please come to my web site, The Purple Crayon, where I have sample chapters from my book and links to purchase it from various sources. One of this is a link to the Abode ebook version. (I would give you the URL but I believe that Amazon does not allow them in reviews). For reviews of the book itself, please read the several reviews of the print version, or come to my site and see some others.
Rating:
Summary: A terrific contribution to the children's publishing field
Review: I'm very glad to be able to direct anyone who's interested in learning more about what it takes to succeed in children's publishing to this fine book. Harold Underdown knows children's publishing inside-out, and it shows. This book is wonderfully objective, in that it fairly presents all sides (editorial, writing, illustrating, marketing...) And it's terrifically subjective, as Harold uses many situations experienced by people all over the field to illustrate his points. I've been writing for children for 20 years, and I still found much that I didn't know, and got clarification of things I sort of thought I understood. If I'd had this book when I was starting out, my 'apprenticeship' in the field might have been considerably shorter and more efficient. I'm very glad to be able to direct anyone who's interested in learning more about what it takes to succeed in children's publishing to this fine book.
Rating:
Summary: The best basic guide to the biz now has a 2nd edition!
Review: If you're just getting into writing for children and you'd like some inside information on how it all works, this book is for you. Yes, it answers basic questions about what types of children's books are out there and who draws the pictures for picture books, etc. But it also goes into detail about submissions (with examples of cover and query letters), working with editors (what's it like to be one?), what to expect in a contract (what are the basic clauses?), how to approach marketing (getting the word out on you and your book), who does what at a publishing house (why do changes happen and who makes them?), etc. It's like having one of the top people in the biz talk you through everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-children's-publishing but not might have even thought to ask! I admit to lurking in the Writing Reference section of my local bookstores just for fun--I love a good "how to" guide. I own many "How to Write for Children" books, but Harold Underdown's Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books is NOT a writing technique book! It tackles all the other aspects of a kid lit career. I have recommended the first edition of this book over and over to people who are interested in learning the basics of the biz, and I was glad to see this second edition was out. It has all the great info that was packed into the first book, plus more. New chapters just for illustrators have been added (one basic "so you want to illustrate" chapter, and one on how to submit). A new chapter on agents has been added (the first edition had only a page on this). There are a bunch of other changes throughout (you can check Harold Underdown's website under "Second Edition FAQ" if you really want details about the differences in the editions). Overall, the 2nd edition seems slightly longer, more compact, and a bit more adult, to tell you the truth (the cartoonish "Idiot's Guide" icons are smaller and more subdued, for example). If you already own the first edition and you consult it frequently, like I do, you might check this one out--I think it's nicer to look at, and definitely fills in some gaps left by the first book (particularly for illustrators). If you didn't buy the first edition and are considering getting this guide to boost your career, do it--it's the best book of its kind out there!
Rating:
Summary: The best basic guide to the biz now has a 2nd edition!
Review: If you're just getting into writing for children and you'd like some inside information on how it all works, this book is for you. Yes, it answers basic questions about what types of children's books are out there and who draws the pictures for picture books, etc. But it also goes into detail about submissions (with examples of cover and query letters), working with editors (what's it like to be one?), what to expect in a contract (what are the basic clauses?), how to approach marketing (getting the word out on you and your book), who does what at a publishing house (why do changes happen and who makes them?), etc. It's like having one of the top people in the biz talk you through everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-children's-publishing but not might have even thought to ask! I admit to lurking in the Writing Reference section of my local bookstores just for fun--I love a good "how to" guide. I own many "How to Write for Children" books, but Harold Underdown's Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books is NOT a writing technique book! It tackles all the other aspects of a kid lit career. I have recommended the first edition of this book over and over to people who are interested in learning the basics of the biz, and I was glad to see this second edition was out. It has all the great info that was packed into the first book, plus more. New chapters just for illustrators have been added (one basic "so you want to illustrate" chapter, and one on how to submit). A new chapter on agents has been added (the first edition had only a page on this). There are a bunch of other changes throughout (you can check Harold Underdown's website under "Second Edition FAQ" if you really want details about the differences in the editions). Overall, the 2nd edition seems slightly longer, more compact, and a bit more adult, to tell you the truth (the cartoonish "Idiot's Guide" icons are smaller and more subdued, for example). If you already own the first edition and you consult it frequently, like I do, you might check this one out--I think it's nicer to look at, and definitely fills in some gaps left by the first book (particularly for illustrators). If you didn't buy the first edition and are considering getting this guide to boost your career, do it--it's the best book of its kind out there!
Rating:
Summary: You'd Be An Idiot Not to Read This Book
Review: If you're just, just, JUST getting started, this book will help you a lot. It's a very broad survey with a lot of information that will give you an idea of the field. But don't buy this book if you have a specific question. Need to know how to write query letters? Get John Wood's book, How to Write Attention-Grabbing Query and Cover Letters. Want to know about submission format? Look for some of the Writer's Digest books. Agents? There are hundreds of books on agents. Publishers? Come on, if you need information about publishers, just look. So...buy this book if you are, as the title says, a Complete Idiot when it comes to Publishing Children's Books. Otherwise, leave it alone. -
Rating: 
Summary: A broad survey of what to do
Review: If you're just, just, JUST getting started, this book will help you a lot. It's a very broad survey with a lot of information that will give you an idea of the field. But don't buy this book if you have a specific question. Need to know how to write query letters? Get John Wood's book, How to Write Attention-Grabbing Query and Cover Letters. Want to know about submission format? Look for some of the Writer's Digest books. Agents? There are hundreds of books on agents. Publishers? Come on, if you need information about publishers, just look. So...buy this book if you are, as the title says, a Complete Idiot when it comes to Publishing Children's Books. Otherwise, leave it alone. -
Rating:
Summary: Your One-Stop Shop for info on getting published.
Review: In the best traditions of the CIG books, "Publishing Children's Books" gives you all the basic info you need to know, distilled down into plain talk and understandable terms. The book has some info on how to write and illustratate your story, but it really comes into its own when discussing what you need to do in order to get the book published. Indispensible for the novice children's author/illustrator, and invaluable in helping those of us just starting out with navigating the confusing and imposing world of children's book publishing.
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