Eve Adler is a literary agent at Red Fox Literary.

I’m an agent at Red Fox Literary, where I represent board books, picture books, early readers, and chapter books. Prior to joining Red Fox, I held editorial positions at Macmillan, Penguin, and Union Square Kids. I’ve worked on a variety of formats, series, and publishing programs, including bestsellers and award-winning titles such as Girls Who Code: The Friendship Code by Stacia Deutsch, the Hello, World board book series by Ashley Evanson, and The Ninth Night of Hanukkah by Erica S. Perl.

“I’m actively building my list, and welcome submissions in the 0-12 age range, especially from author-illustrators. I’m drawn to stories that make kids feel comforted, loved, and understood; to diverse voices; to ideas that break the mold; to projects that meet kids where they are developmentally; and to books that expand kids’ worlds while helping them understand their own.

What I’m looking for: I’m seeking projects for ages 0-12 that elicit strong emotions—I love manuscripts and dummies that give me goosebumps.

Please note that I do not represent YA or adult books, and I’m not interested in fantasy, horror, or sci-fi.

Here are more specifics for my wish list:

Board books: I’d love to find board books on the artsy side, whether they explore simple concepts or more involved topics (while still being appropriate for the audience, of course). I’m particularly eager to find artists who might not have considered children’s books before. The board book space keeps evolving, and there’s always room for innovation! I’m also interested in character and story themed board books. Some examples are The Hair Book and the Bear & Penguin series.

Picture books:

–Kid-friendly mental health themes: I’m always on the lookout for stories that tackle issues kids deal with, like anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, feeling shy, scared, nervous, etc., and help them deal with these feelings. For example: What If, Pig? about anxiety, and Trying, about self-doubt.

–Cultural themes: I love books that address kids’ experiences with their cultural heritage, like Where Three Oceans Meet and Ten Ways to Hear Snow.

–Biographies: I can’t get enough of picture book biographies! I love learning about inspiring people who have impacted our world. Some favorites are Before John Was a Jazz Giant, The Tree Lady, Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando, and Shark Lady.

–Humor: there’s always a need for humor-filled picture books! I like stories that have substance, and offer something in addition to a good laugh. Some favorites are the Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast series and the Elephant & Piggy books.

–Holiday books: I’m interested in books that broach holidays in original and/or sweet ways, such as The Tooth Fairy vs. Santa and Bunny with a Big Heart. I’m also looking for books about lesser-known holidays.

–Jewish-themed books: I’m eager to find Jewish-themed books that are fun and relatable to kids, and have universal themes like The Ninth Night of Hanukkah. I’m interested in books that explore tougher topics, too, as long as they’re done in an innovative, striking ways. –Nonfiction: I enjoy nonfiction that’s approached in a relatable, kid-friendly way like If You Had Your Birthday on the Moon and The Great Water Cycle Adventure.

Chapter books: I’m interested in simple, short stories aimed at ages 5-8, and longer, and more involved stories aimed at ages 7-10. I’d love to see graphic novels for this age range, too! Here are some themes I’m interested in:

–Funny/Silly: the wackier the better! Some favorites are Kung-Pow Chicken and Pea, Bee, & Jay. –Adventure/Mystery: I love stories that push adventure and/or mystery to the brink, like CatStronauts.

–Friendship or books based on one character: these resonate when done well. Some examples are Fox & Chick, Boris, and Yasmin.

Middle grade:

–Historical fiction: I have a sweet spot for books that make a historical time period come to life for kids. Some favorites are Letters from Rifka and How to Find What You’re Not Looking For.

–Powerful family/friendship stories like the Alice books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, and graphic novels like Roller Girl.