In the enchanting realm of children’s literature, creating a captivating book is just the first step. The next crucial phase involves marketing — a process that requires creativity, strategy, and a keen understanding of the youthful audience. This is where the expertise of skilled children’s book marketers becomes invaluable. They bridge the gap between your magical stories and their intended young readers, turning your book into not just a story, but an experience. If you’re an author seeking to make a splash in this vibrant literary world, you’re in the right place. In this blog post, we bring you the top 5 children’s book marketers in the United States, each capable of transforming your book into a childhood favorite.

1. Tara Lewis

Tara is a seasoned children’s book marketer, boasting over twenty years in the industry, with leadership roles at Disney Publishing Worldwide and Scholastic Inc. Her broad experience spans picture books, middle-grade, and young adult categories, including successful campaigns for iconic series like Harry Potter and Disney Princess. Her skills extend to writing press releases, author bios, book blurbs, and conducting market research. Tara specializes in picture books, middle-grade, and YA sci-fi/fantasy, providing invaluable guidance to both self-published authors and seasoned publishing veterans. With a record of success at top publishing houses, Tara is dedicated to elevating your children’s book and ensuring it receives the exposure it deserves.

2. Martyn Beeny

Martyn, the Marketing and Sales Director at Cornell University Press, is an innovator in book marketing with over 17 years of experience. He is the author of valuable resources for independent authors and excels at big idea marketing strategies. Martyn is dedicated to transforming how books are marketed, and his experience spans from children’s to academic books. He offers strategic services including email and website campaigns, social media, publicity, and metadata optimization. Having worked with around 300 authors through Reedsy since 2020, Martyn brings a wealth of experience and a drive for innovation to help your children’s book reach its maximum potential.

3. Rodney Hatfield

Rodney is a highly accomplished marketing professional with a successful career spanning the publishing, film, and music industries. His tenure includes 20 years as an entertainment executive in Nashville, leading the development of New York Times bestsellers and managing 50 brands at one of the top US publishers. Known for his custom marketing strategies, Rodney has a proven track record in building category-dominating brands that disrupt the status quo. His expertise covers marketing strategy, email campaigns, website development, keyword research, and social media campaigns, among others. With a firm belief that there’s no substitute for experience, Rodney offers bespoke marketing services that are designed to meet your children’s book’s specific goals and help it get into the hands of little readers.

4. Kristen Iaffaldano

Kristen is a seasoned marketing professional with a unique focus on email marketing. With 17 years of experience, including seven years at a Christian publisher, she understands the power of building and monetizing an email list, offering a staggering 3,600% ROI. Kristen specializes in assisting authors to get ahead of the game, marketing their book even before it’s published. Her services include personalized strategies for email list growth, insightful suggestions for online monetization, and custom website recommendations. With her coaching sessions and support, Kristen offers a transformative experience that positions your book for remarkable success.

5. Louise Newlands

Louise is a seasoned children’s book marketer with over 15 years of experience at prestigious publishers like Macmillan and Penguin Random House. Passionate and creative, she brings a wealth of expertise to your book project, making it easier to find online and connect with its audience. She offers a range of services including bespoke marketing strategies, blurb and metadata optimization, and website optimization. Specializing in children’s books, particularly picture books, Louise has previously worked with renowned author Julia Donaldson, known for ‘The Gruffalo’ and ‘The Room on the Broom.’ With Louise, you can fall in love with your book marketing and reach kids who will adore your book.

Whether you’ve got a traditional book deal or are self-publishing your children’s book, a professional will always bring years of learned skills and insights to the table, as well as a nuanced understanding of the children’s book market. So read through the profiles of the children’s book marketers we listed, knowing you can reach out to them directly and see if you make a good work pair. Sometimes, just hearing them talk about your project can show you whether they’re the right collaborator.