Little GOLDen Book members of 12 x 12 will be able to choose one of two agents to submit their manuscript to each month.

Rachel Orr of Prospect Agency will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members February 1-15. Jennie Dunham of Dunham Literary Agency will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members February 16-28. Rachel’s profile appears first, followed by Jennie’s. Please read BOTH and then decide who would be the best fit for your work.

GOLD members: Be sure to the Submission Station section of the forum for additional instructions from each agent. 

Rachel Orr

Get to know Rachel: 

“Rachel Orr is celebrating her eleventh year with Prospect Agency, where she represents both authors and illustrators in projects ranging from picture books through YA. She previously worked for eight rewarding years at HarperCollins Children’s Books, and uses those editorial skills to help prepare her clients’ work for submission.

Her clients include Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen (The United States v. Jackie Robinson / HarperCollins), Cori Doerrfeld (The Rabbit Listened / Dial), Rebecca Minhsuan Huang (Bobo and the New Baby / HMH), and Todd Tarpley (Three Grumpy Trucks / Little, Brown). Rachel lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, with her husband and two young children. She has no spare time—but, if she did, she would spend it dancing, running, and reading, of course. You can follow her on Twitter @rachelprospect.”

When asked what she’s looking for in picture books, here’s what Rachel had to say:

“I’m really craving stories right now that are for kids, not for adults. Humor is great, and character-based is even better. Rhyming stories are fine, particularly if there’s some element of repetition/chorus (as opposed to a series of couplets with no refrain). I also love nonfiction, specifically historical.”

Here are a few resources for Rachel Orr:

• Check out this in-depth interview with Rachel on The Wardrobe
• Fellow 12 x 12 member Carrie Charley Brown interview Rachel’s client Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen who talked about Rachel’s editoral style here
• Follow Rachel on Twitter
• Why Rachel loves picture books on Tara Lazar’s blog
• Rachel has been on faculty at Highlights Foundation
• Rachel did critiques on Kathy Temean’s blog (Note: These are mostly novels, but this will give you an idea of her editorial style.)
• How Rachel came to represent Cori Doerrfeld in this How I Got My Agent post
• Coffee and Conversation with Rachel Orr
• Here’s a recap of a talk Rachel gave on characters and conflict

Jennie Dunham

A little bit about Jennie from the Dunham Literary website:

“Jennie Dunham has been a literary agent in New York, New York since May 1992. In August 2000 she founded Dunham Literary, Inc.

She represents literary fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Her clients have had both critical and commercial success. Books she has represented have appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers in adult hardcover fiction, children’s books, and children’s book series. Her clients have won numerous awards including: New York Times Best Illustrated Book, The Schneider Family Award, Boston Globe Horn Book Honor, and Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist.

She has been a member of AAR (Association of Authors Representatives) since 1993. She served on the Program Committee and was Program Committee Director for several years. She was also a member of the Electronic Committee.”

Here is what Jennie had to say when asked what she is looking for in picture books today:

“I like picture books with characters who are individual and often quirky. A strong sense of story that is age-appropriate is a must. Perhaps most important, I look for a strong, distinct voice. I like creative non-fiction that sheds new light on a topic or shows a different perspective than readers have seen before. In both fiction and non-fiction I like diverse characters from less-represented cultures and heritages and stories that are unique to them.”

Jennie has been a 12 x 12 Featured Agent previously. Please check out our previous profiles on Jennie here, here, and here. Here some recent references for Jennie:

• Jennie did a three part interview and critique session on Kathy Temean’s blog HERE, HERE, and HERE
• Follow Jennie on Twitter

Please note Little GOLDen Book Members may only submit to ONE of these agents. Please choose the agent/agency who is the best fit for you and your manuscript.