Spring brings a feeling of newness to the world and this year it’s no different for 12 x 12! We have two first time Featured Agents in April! Get to know these agents and then read the guidelines on the forum as you prepare your submission and decide which one is the best fit for you and your work. Be sure to double-check everything before you hit the send button.

Little GOLDen Book members can choose one of these two agents to submit their manuscript to in April. (If you are a SILVER member, you may use this info for research. Check out our How to Use 12 x 12 Featured Agent Posts article here.)

Ariana Philips of Jean V. Naggar will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members from April 1-15. Saribel Pages of Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members from April 16-30. Ariana’s profile appears first, followed by Saribel’s. 

Here we go!

Ariana Philips of Jean V. Naggar Literary 

A little bit about Ariana:

When asked what she’s looking for in submissions, Ariana replied:

“I represent authors, illustrators, and author-illustrators of all ages. In all children’s categories, I gravitate toward stories full of humor and heart, with a strong sense of voice and place, and characters that are quirky, memorable, or unexpected—ones that stay with you long after the page is turned. I’m drawn to voices that leap off the page where I can’t help from reading it aloud and visualize the illustrations as I go. I love books that explore and tackle big themes or subjects in a way that feels engaging and accessible. I’m not interested in stories that focus on teaching a lesson in a didactic way, nor am I drawn to overly sweet or quiet narratives. For nonfiction, I’m looking for narrative-driven takes on STEM topics—books that tell a clear, compelling story with a strong narrative arc, rather than simply presenting a list of facts. “

Ariana is new to 12 x 12! Here are some additional resources for your research: 

Saribel Pages of Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency 

A little bit about Saribel:

Spanish Harlem born and bred, Saribel Pages graduated from Kalamazoo College with a B.S in Anthropology, an embarrassingly long to be read list, and a passion for children’s literature. This passion led her to positions at Penguin Random House and W.W. Norton, where she learned about the different sides of the publishing industry. Now at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency, she is excited to work with a team so dedicated to uplifting marginalized voices. When not reading, you can find her playing various tabletop roleplaying games or explaining roller derby to her friends.

When asked what she’s looking for in picture book submissions, Saribel shared this:

“I’m looking for silly kid-centric humor, and fun goofy characters. I also am invested in acquiring some nonfiction authors, so if someone has an approachable non-fiction title, please send them my way!”

Saribel is a new 12 x 12 Featured Agent! Additional resources are below: