AMERICAN GIRL

AMERICAN GIRL
8400 Fairway Place
Middleton, WI 53562
EMail: readermail@ag.pleasantco.com
Website: www.pleasantco.com

Thanks for your interest in writing for American Girl.

American Girl is a bimonthly, four-color magazine for girls ages 8 and up. Our mission is to celebrate girls, yesterday and today. American Girl readers are girls in the formative years, girls who dream big dreams. We hope to encourage that dreaming and to reinforce each reader's self-confidence, curiosity, and self-esteem as she prepares to navigate adolescence in the years ahead. Our lead time is approximately six months.

Fiction
We're looking for contemporary and historical fiction up to 2,300 words. The protagonist should be a girl between 8 and 12. No science fiction, fantasy, or first-romance stories. We want good children's literature with thoughtfully developed characters and plots.

Historical Nonfiction
Almost every issue includes a historical nonfiction feature that explores some aspect or interest of real girls in American history. Many of our nonfiction pieces pick up on themes from the fiction, but if your idea really grabs us, we'll find a way to use it. Famous adult women in history have their place in American Girl, but what we're really looking for are the little-known stories about girls in history. Past historical nonfiction pieces have featured girls and dancing lessons, girls affected by the blizzard of 1888, and beloved dolls owned by girls through history. The format of most historical pieces is not running text, but copy blocks that work with photos. As such, any photo research leads you can offer when you query will give us a better idea of the feasibility of the story. A key: Think visually when you propose your historical piece.

Contemporary Nonfiction
We're looking for individual girls or groups who are doing something other girls would love to read and learn about. The first step is finding a topic about which girls are passionate. Past contemporary nonfiction pieces featured girl mushers from Alaska, rhythmic gymnasts from Illinois, ballerinas from California, and summer campers from across the country. Some of our most successful contemporary nonfiction pieces are sports-related, but that doesn't mean we won't consider other contemporary topics or profiles. A key: Look for new twists on familiar topics. We prefer to receive contemporary nonfiction ideas in query form rather than finished manuscripts.

Girls Express
This section offers the most opportunities for freelance writers. We're looking for short profiles of girls who are into sports, the arts, interesting hobbies, cultural activities, and other areas. A key: The girl must be the "star" and the story must be from her point of view. Be sure to include the age of the girls you're pitching to us. If you have any photo leads, please send those, too. We also welcome how-to stories – how to send away for free things, hot ideas for a cool day, how to write the President and get a response. In addition, we're looking for easy crafts that can be explained in five simple steps. Stories in Girls Express have to be told in no more than 175 words. We prefer to receive ideas in query form rather than finished manuscripts.

Giggle Gang
We're looking for visual puzzles, mazes, math puzzles, word games, simple crosswords, cartoons, and other ideas. Seasonal ideas are especially welcome.

Sample issues
American Girl costs $3.95 per issue and is available in many children's bookstores. To get a sample copy, send a check for $3.95 made out to American Girl, plus a self-addressed stamped 9x12 envelope with $1.93 in postage on it.

Address
All queries and requests for sample magazines should be addressed to: Magazine Department Assistant, American Girl, P.O. Box 620986, Middleton, WI 53562-0986.

Please Note American Girl cannot reply or return a manuscript unless you enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. Please allow 12 weeks for a reply.

BOYS QUEST
103 N. Main, P.O. Box 227
Bluffton, OH 45817
(419)358-4610

A Word At The Outset
Every BOYS' Quest contributor must remember we publish only six issues a year, which means our editorial needs are extremely limited.

It is obvious that we must reject far more contributions that we accept, no matter how outstanding they may seem to you or to us.

With that said, we would point out that BOYS' Quest is a magazine created for boys from 6 to 13 years, with youngsters 8, 9, and 10 the specific target age.

Our point of view is that every young boy deserves the right to be a young boy for a number of years before he becomes a young adult.

As a result, BOYS' Quest looks for articles, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that deal with timeless topics, such as pets, nature, hobbies, science, games, sports, careers, simple cooking, and anything else likely to interest a young boy.

Writers
We are looking for lively writing, most of it from a young boy's point of view – with the boy or boys directly involved in an activity that is both wholesome and unusual. We need nonfiction with photos and fiction stories – around 500 words – puzzle, poems, cooking, carpentry prospects, jokes, and riddles.

Nonfiction pieces that are accompanied by black and white photos are far more likely to be accepted than those that need illustrations.

The ideal length of a BOYS' Quest piece – nonfiction or fiction – is 500 words.

We will entertain simultaneous submissions as long as that fact is noted on the manuscript. Computer printouts are welcome if they are (as all submissions should be) double-spaced.

BOYS’ Quest refers to receive complete manuscripts with cover letters, although we do not rule out query letters. We do not answer submissions sent in by fax.

All submissions must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope, with sufficient postage.

We will pay a minimum of five cents a word for both fiction and nonfiction, with additional payment given if the piece is accompanied by appropriate photos or art. We will pay a minimum of $10 per poem or puzzle, with variable rates offered for games, carpentry projects, etc.

BOYS' Quest buys first American serial rights and pays upon publication. It welcomes the contributions of both published and unpublished writers.

Sample copies are available for $3.00 within the US and $4.00 outside the US. All payment must be in US funds. A complimentary copy will be sent to each writer who has contributed to a given issue.

Photographers
We use a number of black and white photos inside the magazine, most in support of articles used. Payment is $5-10 per photo used, depending on the quality and $5 for color slides.

Artists
Most art will he by assignment, in support of features used. The magazine is anxious to find artists capable of illustrating stories and features and welcomes copies of sample work, which will remain on file. Our work inside is pen and ink. We pay $35 for a full page and $25 for a partial page.

There's one more thing

BOYS' Quest, as a new publication, is aware that its rates of payment are modest at this time. But we pledge to increase those rewards in direct. proportion to our success. Meanwhile, we will strive to treat our contributors and their work with respect and fairness. That treatment, incidentally, will include quick decisions on all submissions.

PLEASE DIRECT ALL SUBMISSIONS AND INQUIRIES TO:
The Editor
BOYS' Quest
P.O. Box 227
Bluffton, OH 45817-0227
(419) 358-4610

CALLIOPE
7 School St.
Peterborough, NH 03458-1454
(603)924-7209 fax: (603)999-4217
EMail: editorial@cobblestone.mv.com
Website: www.cobblestonepub.com

General Information: Historical accuracy – CALLIOPE covers world history (East/West) – and lively, original approaches to the subject are the primary concerns of the editors in choosing material. Writers are encouraged to study recent back issues for content and style. (Sample issue is available at $4.50. Send 7 1/2" x 10 1/2" (or larger) self-addressed stamped ($1.24) envelope.) ALL MATERIAL MUST RELATE TO THE THEME OF A SPECIFIC UPCOMING ISSUE IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED (themes and deadlines given on reverse side). CALLIOPE purchases all rights to material.

Procedure: A query must consist of all of the following to be considered (please use nonerasable paper): a brief cover letter stating the subject and word length of the proposed article; a detailed one-page outline explaining the information to be presented in the article; an extensive bibliography of materials the author intends to use in preparing the article; a self-addressed stamped envelope. (Authors are urged to use primary resources and up-to-date scholarly resources in their bibliography.) Writers new to CALLIOPE should send a writing sample with the query. If you would like to know if your query has been received, please also include a stamped postcard that requests acknowledgment of receipt. In all correspondence, please include your complete address as well as a telephone number where you can be reached.

A writer may send as many queries for one issue as he or she wishes, but each query must have a separate cover letter, outline, bibliography, and SASE. Telephone queries are not accepted. Handwritten queries will not be considered.

Articles must be submitted on disk using a word processing program (preferably Microsoft Word-MAC). Text should be saved as ASCII text (in MS Word as "text only"). Disks should be either MAC- (preferred) or DOS-compatible 3 1/2".

Guidelines
Feature articles, 700-800 words. Includes in-depth nonfiction, plays, and biographies. Pays $.20-$.25 per printed word.

Supplemental nonfiction, 300-600 words. Includes subjects directly and indirectly related to the theme. Editors like little-known information but encourage writers not to overlook the obvious. Pays $.20-$.25 per printed word.

Fiction, up to 800 words. Authentic historical and biographical fiction, adventure, retold legends, etc., relating to the theme. Pays $.20 – $.25 per printed word.

Activities, up to 700 words. Includes crafts, recipes, woodworking projects, etc., that can be done either by children alone or with adult supervision. Query should be accompanied by sketches and description of how activity relates to theme. Pays on an individual basis.

Poetry, up to 100 lines. Clear, objective imagery. Serious and light verse considered. Pays on an individual basis. Must relate to theme.

Puzzles and Games (no word finds). Crossword and other word puzzles using the vocabulary of the issue's theme. Mazes and picture puzzles that relate to the theme. Pays on an individual basis.

PHOTO GUIDELINES
To be considered for publication, photographs must relate to a specific theme. Writers are encouraged to submit available photos with their query or article. We buy one-time use.

Our suggested fee range for professional quality photographs: 1/4 page-full page; b/w $15-$100, color $25-$100

*Please note that fees for non-professional quality photographs are negotiated.

Cover fees are set on an individual basis for one-time use, plus promotional use. All cover images are color.

Color transparencies, slides, and color prints can be submitted for inside black/white use since they can be scanned at the printer.

Prices set by museums, societies, stock photography houses, etc., are paid or negotiated. Photographs that are promotional in nature (e.g.. from tourist agencies, organizations, special events. etc.) are usually submitted at no charge.

If you have photographs pertaining to any upcoming theme, please contact the editor by mail or fax, or send them with your query. You may also send images on speculation.

Note: Queries may be submitted at any time, but queries sent well in advance of deadline MAY NOT BE ANSWERED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. Go-aheads requesting material proposed in queries are usually sent five months prior to publication date. Unused queries will be returned approximately three to four months prior to publication date.

Revised 12/4/96

CHILD LIFE
P.O. Box 567
Indianapolis, IN 46206-0567
(317)636-8881 fax: (317)684-8094

Turtle Magazine for Preschool Kids
Humpty Dumpty’s Magazine
Children’s Playmate Magazine
Jack and Jill (ages 7-10)
Child Life (ages 9-11)
Children’s Digest (preteen)

Editorial Guidelines
We at the Children’s Better Health Institute have a constant need for high-quality stories, articles, and activities with health-related themes. "Health" is a broad topic that includes exercise, nutrition, safety, hygiene, and drug education.

Health information can be presented in a variety of formats: fiction, nonfiction, poems, and puzzles. Fiction stories with a health message need not have health as the primary subject, but they should include it in some way in the course of events. Characters in fiction should adhere to good health practices, unless failure to do so is necessary to a story’s plot.

Remember that characters in realistic stories should be up-to-date. Many of our readers have working mothers and/or come from single-parent homes. We need more stories that reflect these changing times but at the same time communicate good, wholesome values.

We are especially interested in material concerning sports and fitness, including profiles of famous amateur and professional athletes; "average" athletes (especially children) who have overcome obstacles to excel in their areas; and new or unusual sports, particularly those in which children can participate.

Manuscript Format
Manuscripts must be typewritten and double-or triple-spaced. The author's name, address, telephone number, date of submission, and the approximate word count of the material should appear on the first page of the manuscript. Title pages are not necessary. Keep a copy of your work. We will handle your manuscript with care, but we cannot assume responsibility for its return. Please submit a specific magazine, not just to CBHI.

Please send the entire manuscript. All work is on speculation only; queries are not accepted, nor are stories assigned. The editors cannot criticize, offer suggestions, or enter into correspondence with an author concerning manuscripts that are not accepted nor can they suggest other markets for material that is not published. Material cannot be returned unless it is accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope and sufficient return postage.

Photos and Illustrations
We do not purchase single photographs. We purchase short photo features (up to 6 or 8 pictures or photos that accompany articles and help illustrate editorial material. (Please include captions and model releases.) Suggestions for illustrations are not necessary but are permissible. Please do not send drawings or other artwork. We prefer to work with professional illustrators of our own choosing.

Review Time
About three months are required to review manuscripts properly. Please wait three months before sending status inquiries. If a manuscript is returned, it should not be resubmitted to a different youth publication at this address. Each manuscript is carefully considered for possible use in all magazines, not only the one to which it was originally addressed.

Rates and Payment Policies
Turtle and Humpty Dumpty: up to 22 cents a word. Fiction/nonfiction – up to 500 words.
Children's Playmate: up to 17 cents a word. Fiction/nonfiction – 300 to 700 words.
Jack And Jill: up to 17 cents word. Fiction/nonfiction – 500 to 800 words.
Child Life: minimum 12 cents a word. Fiction/nonfiction – 500 to 800 words.
Children's Digest: minimum 12 cents a word. Fiction – 500 to 1500 words. Nonfiction – 500 to 1000 words

Poetry – $15.00 minimum
Photos – $15.00 minimum
Puzzles and games – no fixed rates (Send SASE to receive separate guidelines for activities.}

Payment is made upon publication. Each author receives ten complimentary copies of the issue which his or her material is published.
Rights
We purchase all rights to manuscripts. We buy one-time rights to photos. Simultaneous submissions are discouraged. One-time book rights may be returned when the author has four an interested publisher and can provide us with an approximate date of publication.

Children’s Contributions
Except for items that are used in children columns, the editors do not encourage submissions from children. Even highly talented young people are not usually experienced enough to compete on a professional level with adult authors. There is no payment for children's contributions.

CBHI also publishes U.S. Kids,
A Weekly Reader Magazine, for readers 5-10. Although unsolicited manuscripts are welcome, editorials content is largely assigned. For more information, send for separate U.S. Kids guidelines free with SASE – it the same address. Sample copies are $2.50 each.

Nonfiction articles dealing with health subjects should be fresh and creative. Avoid an encyclopedic or "preachy" approach. We try to present our health material in a positive manner, incorporating humor and a light approach wherever possible without minimizing the seriousness of what we are saying.

Word and math puzzles, games, and other activities can also successfully convey healthy messages if they are enjoyable to young people and are age-appropriate.

We also welcome recipes that children can make on their own with minimal adult supervision. Ingredients should be healthful, so avoid using fats, sugar, salt, chocolate, and red meat. In all material submitted, please avoid reference to eating sugary foods, such as candy, cakes, cookies, and soft drinks.

Although our emphasis is on health, we certainly use material with more general themes. We would especially like to see more holiday stories, articles, and activities. Please send seasonal material at least eight months in advance.

Caution: Reading our editorial guidelines is not enough! Careful study of current issues will acquaint writers with each title's "personality," various departments, and regular features, nearly all of which are open to freelancers. Sample copies are $1.25 each (U.S. currency) from the Children's Better Health Institute, P.O. Box 567, Indianapolis, IN 46206.

Turtle Magazine for Preschool Kids (ages 2-5)
Humpty Dumpty’s Magazine (ages 4-6)
Turtle and Humpty Dumpty use stories and poems, as well as some creative nonfiction. Because these two magazines are designed to be read to children who are not yet reading independently, the editors look for submissions with a good "read-aloud" quality.

Games and crafts should require a minimum of adult guidance. They should also have clear, brief instructions, and use readily available materials. Turtle uses simple science experiments; Humpty Dumpty features healthful recipes requiring little or no use of kitchen appliances. Nonfiction, which editors always have a need for, must be narrow and specific in focus.

Children’s Playmate (ages 6-8)
Jack And Jill (ages 7-10)
Children's Playmate uses easy-to-read fiction for beginning readers, as well as poems, rhyming stories, and nonfiction. Jack And Jill is edited for somewhat more accomplished readers; stories and articles are written at about a second- or third-grade reading level.

Both titles are heavy on fiction, using realistic, adventure, mystery, and fantasy. Humorous stories are especially needed. Nonfiction material may deal with sports, science, nature – even historical and biographical articles. Most nonfiction features touch in some way on health and fitness.

Child Life (ages 9-11)
Children’s Digest (preteen)
Child Life is not accepting manuscripts for publication at this time. After reprinting nostalgic stories during the 75th anniversary, the publishers have decided to make nostalgia the permanent format. Health articles will be handled in-house or assigned. All unsolicited material. will be returned.

Children's Digest readers want stories that are a little longer and "meatier." Fiction is especially needed: adventure, mystery, science fiction, and humorous stories. Some fiction may have a subtle health message, but this magazine, too, uses factual feature to educate about good health. Games, puzzles, crafts, and hobbies are also welcome, as are nonfiction articles about sports, nature, and the environment.

COBBLESTONE
7 School St.
Peterborough, NH 03458-1457
(603)924-7209 fax: (603)924-7380

"Wherever possible, events should be seen through the eyes of participants such as explorers, American Indians, colonists, free blacks and slaves, children, or pioneers."
– California U.S. History Curriculum, Grade 5

General Information: Historical accuracy and lively, original approaches to the subject are the primary concerns of the editors in choosing material. Writers are encouraged to study recent back issues for content and style. (Sample issue is available at $4.50. Send 7 1/2" x 10 1/2" (or larger) self-addressed stamped ($1.24) envelope.) ALL MATERIAL MUST RELATE TO THE THEME OF A SPECIFIC UPCOMING ISSUE IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED (themes and deadlines given on reverse side). To avoid repetition, it is a good idea to review COBBLESTONE's index (available at $9.95 plus $3.00 shipping) for a listing of subjects covered in back issues. COBBLESTONE purchases all rights to material.

Procedure: A query must consist of all of the following to be considered (please use nonerasable paper): a brief cover letter stating the subject and word length of the proposed article; a detailed one-page outline explaining the information to be presented in the article; an extensive bibliography of materials the author intends to use in preparing the article; a self-addressed stamped envelope. (Authors are urged to use primary resources and up-to-date scholarly resources in their bibliography.) Writers new to COBBLESTONE should send a writing sample with the query. If you would like to know if your query has been received, please also include a stamped postcard that requests acknowledgment of receipt. In all correspondence, please include your complete address as well as a telephone number where you can be reached.

A writer may send as many queries for one issue as he or she wishes, but each query must have a separate cover letter, outline, bibliography, and SASE. Telephone queries are not accepted. Handwritten queries will not be considered.

Articles must be submitted on disk using a word processing program (preferably Microsoft Word-MAC). Text should be saved as ASCII text (in MS Word as "text only"). Disks should be either MAC- (preferred) or DOS-compatible 3 1/2".

Guidelines
Feature articles, 700 – 800 words. Includes in-depth nonfiction, plays, first-person accounts, and biographies. Pays $.20 – $.25 per printed word.

Supplemental nonfiction, 300 – 600 words. Includes subjects directly and indirectly related to the theme. Editors like little-known information but encourage writers not to overlook the obvious. Pays $.20 – $.25 per printed word.

Fiction, up to 800 words. Authentic historical and biographical fiction, adventure, retold legends, etc., relating to the theme. Pays $.20 – $.25 per printed word.

Activities, up to 700 words. Includes crafts, recipes, woodworking projects, etc., that can be done either by children alone or with adult supervision. Query should be accompanied by sketches and description of how activity relates to theme. Pays on an individual basis.

Poetry, up to 100 lines. Clear, objective imagery. Serious and light verse considered. Pays on an individual basis. Must relate to theme.

Puzzles and Games (no word finds). Crossword and other word puzzles using the vocabulary of the issue's theme. Mazes and picture puzzles that relate to the theme. Pays on an individual basis.

PHOTO GUIDELINES
To be considered for publication, photographs must relate to a specific theme, Writers are encouraged to submit available photos with their query or article. We buy one-time use.

Our suggested fee range for professional quality photographs* follows: 1/4 page-full page; b/w $15-$100, color $25-$100

*Please note that fees for non-professional quality photographs are negotiated.

Cover fees are set on an individual basis for one-time use, plus promotional use. All cover images are color. Text images are primarily 4/color.

Color transparencies, slides, and color prints can be submitted for inside black/white use since they can be scanned at the printer.

Prices set by museums, societies, stock photography houses, etc., are paid or negotiated. Photographs that are promotional in nature (e.g., from tourist agencies, organizations, special events, etc.) are usually submitted at no charge.

If you have photographs pertaining to any upcoming theme, please contact the editor by mail or fax, or send them with your query. You may also send images on speculation.

Note: Queries may be submitted at any time, but queries sent well in advance of deadline MAY NOT BE ANSWERED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. Go-aheads requesting material proposed in queries are usually sent five months prior to publication date. Unused queries will be returned approximately four to five months prior to publication date.

Revised 1/6/97

CRAYOLA KIDS MAGAZINE
1912 Grand Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50309-3379
(515)284-2390 fax: (515)284-2064

For a sample copy, please send $2.95 to:
Crayola Kids Sample Copy,
Meredith Publishing Services,
1912 Grand Avenue,
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3379.

In April 1994, Meredith Publishing Services and Binney & Smith, the makers of Crayola, launched Crayola Kids, a magazine for 3-to-8-year-olds. The mission of Crayola Kids magazine is to excite young children about the magic of reading and the joy of creativity – and, in so doing, help parents encourage successful learning.
Crayola Kids is a brightly colored, fun-filled magazine that presents top-quality children's literature and related coloring, drawing, crafting and fact-based activities as a creative and intellectual springboard for prereaders and early readers.
Each bimonthly issue focuses on a single theme and features a full-length reprint of a previously published picture book (trade book) and related puzzles, crafts, and activities. Issue themes are carefully selected for how vitally linked they are to the needs and interests of all children in the audience. Activities must be fresh, exciting, and challenging to children in the magazine's target age range (3 to 8 years).
In addition to the material aimed directly at young children, Crayola Kids offers a Family section with activities that involve a small degree of parental involvement, such as food preparation or a craft requiring minimal adult assistance. Our family section also will occasionally feature material that is better suited for small groups than for an individual reader.

How to query:
We do not publish theme lists for upcoming issues. However, we are interested in highly creative multicultural, nonsexist activities, visual puzzles, games, and craft ideas. We also publish brief interviews with children's book authors and illustrators. Tell us your story or activity idea and what's unique and fun about it. Convince us that kids will love reading it, doing it, or making it. Please include a resume and sample copies of your work and a self-addressed stamped envelope. At this time we do not accept original, unpublished fiction or poetry (unless you are between the ages of 3 and 8). Please allow four weeks to receive a reply.

Articles/Activities:
Please be accurate. Double-check all of your facts and send photocopies of documentary source material you might have used. Please provide the names, addresses, and phone numbers of sources you talked to or used. If you are providing an activity or craft idea, please kid-test the project with a child in our magazine's target age range and share his/her comments with us. Include clear step-by-step directions for every craft activity. Provide simple sketches or Polaroid shots (not to be used for publication but to assist the editors in understanding the steps involved).

Length
Features: 150-250 words
Crafts/Activities: one to four pages
Rates: 550-$250 (may vary)

Crayola Kids normally purchases the following rights:

1. For stories and activities previously unpublished, Meredith Corporation purchases the material outright. The work becomes the property of Meredith Corporation, and it is copyrighted in the name of Meredith Corporation. Payment is made upon acceptance.

2. For material previously published, Meredith Corporation purchases non-exclusive, second-serial publication rights. Fees vary. Payment is made upon acceptance. With the exception of our feature books, we have a strong preference for material that has not been previously published. At the present time we are purchasing rights for our feature books only from established publishers of children's books.

Format for submission:
Crayola Kids is on a Macintosh system that uses WordPerfect. You can send your story on a disk. If you use other software on your Macintosh, or if you use an IBM computer, you can also send your material by disk, and we can convert it. Of course, we'll take your work the old-fashioned way – printed on paper, too! Use double spacing, please.

If you'd like to fax your submission, our fax number is 515/284-2064.

Please address all editorial submissions to: Editor, Crayola Kids, Meredith Publishing Services, 1912 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3379.

CRUSADER MAGAZINE
P.O. Box 7259
Grand Rapids, MI 49510-7259
fax: (616)241-5558
EMail: cadets@aol.com
Website: www.gospelcom.net/cadets/

1998-1999 Themes List
September/October: Let Your Light Shine
November: Responsibility
December: Christmas
January: Courage
February: Integrity
March: Rich and Poor
April/May: Friends

What is Crusader looking for?
Let Your Light Shine. This is the Cadet theme for the year, and is based on Ephesians 5:8. We are encouraged, in fact commanded, to live as children of light. We would like to see stories that clearly contrast that type of living with the lives of those still in darkness.

Responsibility. We’re dealing with boys who are still growing up. One of the character qualities they need to develop is responsibility. They need to begin to take on duties and be responsible enough to fulfill them.

Christmas. Crusader doesn’t specifically deal with Christmas every year, but this year we want to remind readers for the reason we celebrate Christ’s birth ... and proper ways to celebrate.

Courage. What is real courage? Is it being brave enough to do foolish things? Putting your body in harm’s way for a thrill? Or is it something else? Boys need to learn that it can be as simple (and difficult) as standing up for your beliefs in a group of scoffers.

Integrity. Integrity is a moral or ethical strength. It’s defined as a state of being undivided or complete. It’s important that a person’s life be characterized by integrity, where all the parts fit together. He’s not one way on Sunday and another way the rest of the week.

Rich and Poor. This issue will focus primarily, but not exclusively, on fiscal matters. Do we realize that we’re only stewards of God’s money? God is very interested in how we use what He gives us, and we will be held accountable.

Friends. The April/May issue is for input from the kids who subscribe to Crusader. Only their material will be used here.

GUIDEPOSTS FOR KIDS
P.O. Box 638
Chesterton, IN 46304
fax: (219)926-3839
Website: www.guideposts.org

We're looking for the good stuff. Fast-paced, well-crafted stories aimed at kids 8-12 years of age. Stories should reflect strong traditional values and run between 700 and 1,300 words. Each fiction piece gets a two or four-page, four-color spread, supported by strong, memorable graphics and eye-catching tease lines. And since we publish between six and eight stories per year, we only buy the best.

The following information is intended to help you, the writer, structure your fiction to the specific needs of our market. These guidelines are not a substitute for studying our magazine. Never read our fiction? Then write for sample copies of our magazine. Send $3.25 for each issue requested to Guideposts; 39 Seminary Hill Road; Carmel, NY 10512 Attn: Special Handling.

Here's how to write the GUIDEPOSTS FOR KIDS story:

Don't preach. This is not a Sunday School handout, but a good solid piece of fiction that reflects traditional values and morality. Build your story around a solid principle and let the reader gain insight by inference.

Don't let adults solve problems. While adults can appear in stories, they can’t give the characters life's answers. Don't make your kid protagonist grateful and awed by sage, adult advice. (How many of you did what adults told you to do when you were growing up?)

Be original. We want a good mix of fiction – contemporary, historical, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery – centered around things that interest and concern kids. A kid reader should be able to identify with the characters strongly enough to think, "I know just how he feels!"

Create a plot with believable characters. Here’s how it works: the story must tell what happens when someone the reader likes (character) reaches an important goal (climax) by overcoming obstacles (conflict). Let kids be kids. Your dialogue (and use plenty of it!) should reflect how the kids sound, think and feel. Avoid slang, but listen to how real kids talk before you try and write for them. Give your characters feelings and actions suitable for the 4th to 6th grader.

Make tension work for you. Is the character's goal worth fighting for? Is there doubt that the character will get what he wants? What might happen if he doesn't get what he wants? Have a satisfying ending. Kids are astute, and if a problem is solved too easily then it's not enough of a problem to sustain a story. Give predictable endings a new twist by using unexpected or surprising details.

Be professional. All the rules of short story writing, grammar, spelling and punctuation apply. Keep verbs active, not passive. Show your reader what's happening, don't tell him. Keep a tight time frame. You can't follow a character through an entire year of school in 1,300 words. Focus on a single event to make a single strong impact on the reader. If you want your story returned, please include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope)

Arnold Madison, in his article "Writing Religious Short Stories for Young People," (The Writer; January 1990) says it well.

A religious short story differs from other short fiction only in that worship and spiritual tenets are depicted through the characters' actions, thoughts and dialogue. The story people are well-rounded, with weaknesses and strengths. They speak like people we know, and in a crowd of their peers, they would not be conspicuous. Too often in the stories religious magazine editors receive, young characters are portrayed as too saintly to seem real. Such stories are usually rejected because the editors are looking for fiction that helps young people incorporate religious beliefs into their lives in a realistic way.
Convictions and deep feelings are a must for writing religious stories for young readers. Combine these beliefs with solid storytelling techniques.

Finally, about the money. There is some. We pay competitive rates ($175-$350) upon acceptance. Well-written stories get more $$$. So do your homework and give us a try. We're bright and bold and eager to acquire innovative (creative, imaginative, ingenious, inventive, original, resourceful, untraditional) writers.

Send all correspondence to:
Guideposts for Kids
P.O. Box 638
Chesterton, IN 46304
Attn: Fiction Editor

HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN
803 Church St.
Honesdale, PA 18431-1824

We appreciate your interest in Highlights for Children. Highlights is published monthly for children 2 to 12. Circulation is nearly 3 million.

Please note:
--We do not pay persons under age 15 for contributions.
--We buy all rights, including copyright, and do not consider material previously published.
--We prefer to see a manuscript rather than a query.
--All material is paid for on acceptance.
--We accept material year round, including seasonal material
--Submissions must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for possible return.

FICTION should have an engaging plot, strong characterization, and lively language. Stories for younger readers (ages 3-7) should be 400 words or less. Stories for older readers (8-12) should be 900 words or less and be appealing to younger readers if read aloud.
--We prefer stories that teach by positive example, rather than by preaching.
--Suggestions of crime and violence are taboo.
--Frequent needs include humor, mystery, sports, and adventure stories; retellings of traditional tales; stories in urban settings; and stories that feature world cultures.
--We seldom buy rhyming stories.
--Payment: $100 and up.

REBUS STORIES are a monthly feature for beginning readers, featuring a variety of familiar words that can easily be shown as pictures. Rebuses should be 125 words or less.
Payment: $75 and up.

NONFICTION includes biography, autobiography and various approaches to the arts, science, history, sports, and world cultures. All articles should be 800 words or less.
--Focused articles are more successful than broad factual surveys.
--We prefer research based on consultation with experts or firsthand experience.
--Writers with an extensive background in a particular field are encouraged to share their experiences and personal research.
--Articles about cultural traditions and ways of life should reflect a deep understanding of the subject
--Biographies of individuals who have made significant artistic, scientific, or humanitarian contributions are strengthened by the inclusion of formative childhood experiences. We prefer biographies that are rich in anecdotes and place the subject in a historical and cultural context.
--Nonfiction articles geared to our younger readers (ages 3-7) are especially welcome. These should not exceed 400 words.
--References or sources of information must included with submissions.
--Color 35mm slides, photos, or art reference materials are helpful and sometimes crucial in evaluating submissions.
Payment: $100 and up.

CRAFTS should appeal to a wide age range, with clear, numbered directions, typically not more than five steps.
--A well-made sample should be submitted with each craft idea.
--Projects must require only common household items or inexpensive, easy-to-obtain materials.
--Projects should result in attractive, useful gift items, decorations, toys, and games.
--Crafts that celebrate holidays or religious traditions are welcome. Crafts from world cultures are a current need.
Payment: $25 and up.

FINGER PLAYS/ACTION RHYMES should have plenty of action and minimal text. They must be easy for very young children to act out, step-by-step, with hands, fingers, and body movements.
Payment: $25 and up.

PARTY PLANS should give clever, original party ideas organized around a single theme, clearly described in 300 to 700 words. Plans should include invitations, favors, decorations, refreshments, and a mix of quiet and active games. Materials used should be inexpensive. Include drawings or samples of items.
Payment: $50 and up.

VERSE is purchased sparingly. It is rarely longer than 16 lines and should be meaningful for young readers.
Payment: $25 and up.

HOPSCOTCH
P.O. Box 164
Bluffton, OH 45817-0164
(419)358-4610 fax: (419)358-5027

A Word At The Outset
Every HOPSCOTCH contributor must remember we publish only six issues a year, which means our editorial needs are extremely limited. An annual total, for instance, will include some 30 to 36 nonfiction pieces, 9 or 10 short stories, 18 or so poems, six cover illustrations, and a smattering of puzzles, crafts, and the like.

It is obvious that we must reject far more contributions than we accept, no matter how outstanding they may seem to you or to us.

With that said, we would point out that HOPSCOTCH is a magazine created for girls from 6 to 12 years, with youngsters 8, 9, and 10 the specific target age.

Our point of view is that every young girl deserves the right to be a young girl for a number of years before she becomes a young adult.

As a result, HOPSCOTCH looks for articles, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that deal with timeless topics, such as pets, nature, hobbies, science, games, sports, careers, simple cooking, and anything else likely to interest a young girl. We leave dating, romance, human sexuality, cosmetics, fashion, and the like to other publications.

Writers
We are looking for lively writing, most of it from a young girl's point of view – with the girl or girls directly involved in an activity that is both wholesome and unusual. Examples have included girls in a sheep to shawl contest, girls raising puppies that are destined to guide the blind, and girls who take summer ballet lessons from members of the New York City Ballet.

While on the subject of nonfiction – remembering that we use it 3 to 1 over fiction – those pieces that are accompanied by black and white photos are far more likely to be accepted that those that need illustrations.

The ideal length of a HOPSCOTCH nonfiction piece is 500 words or less, although we are not about to turn down a truly exceptional piece if it is slightly longer than the ideal. We prefer fiction to not run over 1,000 words.

We will entertain simultaneous submissions as long as that fact is noted on the manuscript. Computer printouts are welcome if they are (as all submissions should be) double-spaced.

HOPSCOTCH prefers to receive complete manuscripts with cover letters, although we do not rule out query letters. We do not answer submissions sent in by fax.

All submissions must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope, with sufficient postage.

We will pay a minimum of 5 cents a word for both fiction and nonfiction, with additional payment given if the piece is accompanied by appropriate photos or art. We will pay a minimum of $10 per poem or puzzle, with variable rates offered for games, crafts, cartoons, and the like.

HOPSCOTCH buys first American serial rights and pays upon publication. It welcomes the contributions of both published and unpublished writers.

Sample copies are available for $3.00 within the US & $4.00 outside the US. All payment must be in US funds. A complimentary copy will be sent each writer who has contributed to a given issue.

Photographers
We use a number of black and white photos inside the magazine, most in support of articles used. Payment is $5-10 per photo, depending on the quality and $5 for color slides.

Artists
Most art will be by assignment, in support of features used. The magazine is anxious to find artists capable of illustrating stories and features and welcomes copies of sample work, which will remain on file. Payment is $25 for partial illustrations and $35 for full-page illustrations.

Incidentally
Although we are working far into the future, we occasionally have room for one or two pages.

One More Thing
We are always in need of cute and clever recipes, well-written and illustrated crafts, riddles. and jokes.

PLEASE DIRECT ALL SUBMISSIONS AND INQUIRIES TO:
The Editor
HOPSCOTCH
P.O. Box 164
Bluffton, OH 45817-0164
(419) 358-4610

JACK AND JILL
P.O. Box 567
Indianapolis, IN 46206-0567
(317)636-8881 fax: (317)684-8094

Turtle Magazine for Preschool Kids
Humpty Dumpty’s Magazine
Children’s Playmate Magazine
Jack and Jill (ages 7-10)
Child Life (ages 9-11)
Children’s Digest (preteen)

Editorial Guidelines
We at the Children’s Better Health Institute have a constant need for high-quality stories, articles, and activities with health-related themes. "Health" is a broad topic that includes exercise, nutrition, safety, hygiene, and drug education.

Health information can be presented in a variety of formats: fiction, nonfiction, poems, and puzzles. Fiction stories with a health message need not have health as the primary subject, but they should include it in some way in the course of events. Characters in fiction should adhere to good health practices, unless failure to do so is necessary to a story’s plot.

Remember that characters in realistic stories should be up-to-date. Many of our readers have working mothers and/or come from single-parent homes. We need more stories that reflect these changing times but at the same time communicate good, wholesome values.

We are especially interested in material concerning sports and fitness, including profiles of famous amateur and professional athletes; "average" athletes (especially children) who have overcome obstacles to excel in their areas; and new or unusual sports, particularly those in which children can participate.

Manuscript Format
Manuscripts must be typewritten and double-or triple-spaced. The author's name, address, telephone number, date of submission, and the approximate word count of the material should appear on the first page of the manuscript. Title pages are not necessary. Keep a copy of your work. We will handle your manuscript with care, but we cannot assume responsibility for its return. Please submit a specific magazine, not just to CBHI.

Please send the entire manuscript. All work is on speculation only; queries are not accepted, nor are stories assigned. The editors cannot criticize, offer suggestions, or enter into correspondence with an author concerning manuscripts that are not accepted nor can they suggest other markets for material that is not published. Material cannot be returned unless it is accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope and sufficient return postage.

Photos and Illustrations
We do not purchase single photographs. We purchase short photo features (up to 6 or 8 pictures or photos that accompany articles and help illustrate editorial material. (Please include captions and model releases.) Suggestions for illustrations are not necessary but are permissible. Please do not send drawings or other artwork. We prefer to work with professional illustrators of our own choosing.

Review Time
About three months are required to review manuscripts properly. Please wait three months before sending status inquiries. If a manuscript is returned, it should not be resubmitted to a different youth publication at this address. Each manuscript is carefully considered for possible use in all magazines, not only the one to which it was originally addressed.

Rates and Payment Policies
Turtle and Humpty Dumpty: up to 22 cents a word. Fiction/nonfiction – up to 500 words.
Children's Playmate: up to 17 cents a word. Fiction/nonfiction – 300 to 700 words.
Jack And Jill: up to 17 cents word. Fiction/nonfiction – 500 to 800 words.
Child Life: minimum 12 cents a word. Fiction/nonfiction – 500 to 800 words.
Children's Digest: minimum 12 cents a word. Fiction – 500 to 1500 words. Nonfiction – 500 to 1000 words

Poetry – $15.00 minimum
Photos – $15.00 minimum
Puzzles and games – no fixed rates (Send SASE to receive separate guidelines for activities.}

Payment is made upon publication. Each author receives ten complimentary copies of the issue which his or her material is published.

Rights
We purchase all rights to manuscripts. We buy one-time rights to photos. Simultaneous submissions are discouraged. One-time book rights may be returned when the author has four an interested publisher and can provide us with an approximate date of publication.

Children’s Contributions
Except for items that are used in children columns, the editors do not encourage submissions from children. Even highly talented young people are not usually experienced enough to compete on a professional level with adult authors. There is no payment for children's contributions.

CBHI also publishes U.S. Kids,
A Weekly Reader Magazine, for readers 5-10. Although unsolicited manuscripts are welcome, editorials content is largely assigned. For more information, send for separate U.S. Kids guidelines free with SASE – it the same address. Sample copies are $2.50 each.

Nonfiction articles dealing with health subjects should be fresh and creative. Avoid an encyclopedic or "preachy" approach. We try to present our health material in a positive manner, incorporating humor and a light approach wherever possible without minimizing the seriousness of what we are saying.

Word and math puzzles, games, and other activities can also successfully convey healthy messages if they are enjoyable to young people and are age-appropriate.

We also welcome recipes that children can make on their own with minimal adult supervision. Ingredients should be healthful, so avoid using fats, sugar, salt, chocolate, and red meat. In all material submitted, please avoid reference to eating sugary foods, such as candy, cakes, cookies, and soft drinks.

Although our emphasis is on health, we certainly use material with more general themes. We would especially like to see more holiday stories, articles, and activities. Please send seasonal material at least eight months in advance.

Caution: Reading our editorial guidelines is not enough! Careful study of current issues will acquaint writers with each title's "personality," various departments, and regular features, nearly all of which are open to freelancers. Sample copies are $1.25 each (U.S. currency) from the Children's Better Health Institute, P.O. Box 567, Indianapolis, IN 46206.

Turtle Magazine for Preschool Kids (ages 2-5)
Humpty Dumpty’s Magazine (ages 4-6)
Turtle and Humpty Dumpty use stories and poems, as well as some creative nonfiction. Because these two magazines are designed to be read to children who are not yet reading independently, the editors look for submissions with a good "read-aloud" quality.

Games and crafts should require a minimum of adult guidance. They should also have clear, brief instructions, and use readily available materials. Turtle uses simple science experiments; Humpty Dumpty features healthful recipes requiring little or no use of kitchen appliances. Nonfiction, which editors always have a need for, must be narrow and specific in focus.

Children’s Playmate (ages 6-8)
Jack And Jill (ages 7-10)
Children's Playmate uses easy-to-read fiction for beginning readers, as well as poems, rhyming stories, and nonfiction. Jack And Jill is edited for somewhat more accomplished readers; stories and articles are written at about a second- or third-grade reading level.

Both titles are heavy on fiction, using realistic, adventure, mystery, and fantasy. Humorous stories are especially needed. Nonfiction material may deal with sports, science, nature – even historical and biographical articles. Most nonfiction features touch in some way on health and fitness.

Child Life (ages 9-11)
Children’s Digest (preteen)
Child Life is not accepting manuscripts for publication at this time. After reprinting nostalgic stories during the 75th anniversary, the publishers have decided to make nostalgia the permanent format. Health articles will be handled in-house or assigned. All unsolicited material. will be returned.

Children's Digest readers want stories that are a little longer and "meatier." Fiction is especially needed: adventure, mystery, science fiction, and humorous stories. Some fiction may have a subtle health message, but this magazine, too, uses factual feature to educate about good health. Games, puzzles, crafts, and hobbies are also welcome, as are nonfiction articles about sports, nature, and the environment.

LADYBUG
P.O. Box 300
Peru, IL 61354-0300
(815)224-6656

For a sample issue of LADYBUG, please send $4.00 to:
LADYBUG Sample Copy * P.O. Box 300 * Peru, IL 61354

NOTE: Sample copy requests from foreign countries must be accompanied by International Postal Reply Coupons (IRCs) valued at US $4.00. Please do NOT send a check or money order.

In September 1990, the Magazine Division of Carus Publishing Company launched LADYBUG, a magazine for young children ages 2 to 6.

LADYBUG publishes original stories and poems written by the world's best children's authors. In some cases, LADYBUG purchases rights for excerpts from books yet to be published. Each issue also includes several reprints of high-quality selections.

LADYBUG measures 8" x 10", is full-color, contains 36 pages and a 4-page activity pullout, and is staple-bound.

We hope that the following information will be useful to prospective contributors:

Editor-in-Chief: Marianne Carus
Editor: Paula Morrow
Senior Art Director: Ron McCutchan
Art Director: Suzanne Beck
Published:12 months a year
Price: $32.97 for 1-year subscription (12 issues)

Categories
Fiction: fantasy, read-aloud stories, picture stories, folk and fairy tales
Poetry: serious, humorous, rhymes, lullabies
Other: crafts, learning activities for 2-3 and 4-6 year olds, games, songs, and finger games

Length
Stories: 300 to 850 words
Poems: not longer than 20 lines
Crafts/Activities/Games: one to four pages

An exact word count should be noted on each manuscript submitted. Word count includes every word, hut does not include the title of the manuscript or the author's name.

Rates
Stories and articles: up to 25 cents/word (850 words maximum)
Poems: up to $3.00 per line
Payment upon publication.

Art
Any review samples of artwork will be considered. If you are sending an original art portfolio, package it carefully and insure the package. Make sure to include return packing materials and postage.

Comments
LADYBUG would like to reach as many children's authors and artists as possible for original contributions, but our standards are very high and we will accept only top-quality material. PLEASE DO NOT QUERY FIRST. LADYBUG will consider any manuscripts or art samples sent on speculation and accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Although LADYBUG prefers to see tearsheets or photo prints/photocopies of art, if you are sending original art as part of a portfolio, package it carefully and insure the package. Please allow 12 weeks to receive a reply.

We do not distribute theme lists for upcoming issues.

LADYBUG purchases material with the understanding that the work will appear in both the regular and the classroom edition of the magazine. LADYBUG normally purchases the following rights:

1. For stories and poems previously unpublished, LADYBUG purchases first publication rights in the English language. Payment is made upon publication. LADYBUG also requests the right to reprint the work in any volume or anthology published by Carus Publishing Company upon payment of half the original fee.

2. For stories and poems previously published, LADYBUG purchases second North American publication rights. Fees vary, but are generally less than fees for first serial rights. Payment is made upon publication. Same applies to accompanying art.

3. For recurring features, LADYBUG purchases the material outright. The work becomes the property of LADYBUG, and it is copyrighted in the name of Carus Publishing Company. A flat fee per feature is usually negotiated. Payment is made upon publication.

4. For commissioned art assigned by LADYBUG's art director, LADYBUG normally purchases first publication rights subject to the terms outlined below:
(a) physical art remains the property of the illustrator
(b) payment is made within 45 days of acceptance

Please address all manuscript submissions to:
Marianne Carus
Submissions Editor
LADYBUG Magazine
P.O. Box 300
Peru, IL 61354

Address any inquiries regarding rights and permissions to:
Mary Ann Hocking
Permissions Coordinator
(same address as above)

Please address all art samples to:
Suzanne Beck, Art Director (same address as above)

MUSE
332 S. Michigan, #2000
Chicago, IL 60604
(312)939-1500 fax: (312)939-8150
EMail: caruspub@aol.com

In October 1996, the Cricket Magazine Group, in conjunction with Smithsonian magazine, launched a new publication entitled Muse, a nonfiction magazine for children aged 6 – 14. Muse is published six times a year for a subscription price of $22.00. It is 48 pages long.

Mission
The goal of Muse is to give as many children as possible access to the most important ideas and concepts underlying the principal areas of human knowledge. It will take children seriously as developing intellects by assuming that, if explained clearly, the ideas and concepts of an article will be of interest to them. Articles should meet the highest possible standard of clarity and transparency aided, wherever possible, by a tone of skepticism, humor, and irreverence.

Criteria for an acceptable article
Each article must be about a problem (or issue or question) that children can understand. The problem must be a "large" one that somehow connects with a fundamental problem of some discipline or area of practical knowledge. The problem and its presentation in the article must lead to further questioning and exploration; it must be open-ended rather than closed. The treatment of the problem must be of the competence one would expect of an expert in the field in which the problem resides. It must be interesting and hold the reader's attention, not because of the way it is written, but because of the compelling presentation of the ideas it describes.

Queries
Articles for Muse are commissioned. Authors interested in being considered for commissioned work should send a query including a resume, writing samples, and a list of possible topics. It is also important to describe any relevant areas of expertise. Please allow 12 weeks for a reply. All queries must include a SASE and should be sent to:

Muse Magazine
Department G
332 S. Michigan Ave.
Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60604

Queries may also be sent e-mail to caruspub@aol.com.

Terms
For commissioned article, Muse pays 50 cents/word for first-publication rights in English. Payment is made within 60 days of acceptance. There is a 50% kill fee. Muse retains the option to buy non-exclusive reprint and reproduction rights for both print and electronic media at half the original fee. Authors will receive three free copies of the issue in which their article appears. For features articles, Muse buys all rights. The work and its copyright become the property of Muse. Features are paid at fixed rates, and payment is made upon acceptance.

Commissioning Procedures
Once commissioned, authors are required to submit a detailed outline, Followed by as many drafts as are necessary. Articles will be assigned at between 1,000 and 2,500 words and drafts should be sent on a Mac-compatible disk or by e-mail. Authors are also required to provide Muse with a bibliography that lists all resource material (including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of key persons interviewed for an article), and a printed, annotated copy of the manuscript indicating sources and references for salient points. With their contract, authors will be provided with more detailed guidelines for such documentation. Please note that because of the unique mission of Muse, extensive rewrites are often necessary.

Sample Copies
For a sample issue of Muse, send $5.00 to the address above. Please note: Sample copy requests from foreign countries must be accompanied by International Postal Reply Coupons (IRCs) valued at US $5.00; checks and money orders cannot be accepted.

A Note About Unsolicited Manuscripts
Muse may on occasion publish unsolicited manuscripts, but the easiest way to be printed in Muse is to send a query. However, manuscripts may be submitted to the Cricket Magazine Group for review, and any that are considered suitable for Muse will be forwarded. Such manuscripts will also be considered for publication in Cricket, Spider or Ladybug. Payment for unsolicited manuscripts is 25 cents/word. The address for such submissions is:
Muse Submissions Editor
The Cricket Magazine Group
P.O. Box 300
Peru, IL 61354

U.S. KIDS
P.O. Box 567
Indianapolis, IN 46206-0567
(317)636-8881

U.S. Kids features a variety of reading and interactive opportunities for children ages 5-10. The magazine is designed to help children understand the world around them; to excite interest in learning; to develop imagination and creativity; and to develop reading and thinking skills as well as good health habits.

U.S. Kids is published eight times a year and includes full-color photography and illustration.

Manuscript Requirements
Manuscripts should be typewritten and double-spaced. The following should appear on the first page of all material: author's name, address, telephone number, Social Security number, and an approximate word count of the material
Do not query for fiction or poetry; send complete manuscript only. For nonfiction, send query or complete manuscript. Please allow 8-10 weeks for consideration of the manuscript. The publisher reserves the right to make changes in all manuscripts selected for publication so that the manuscripts conform to editorial policy and space limitations.
Sample copies are available for $2.50 (U.S. currency). Make check payable to CBHI and send to U.S. Kids, P. O. Box 567, Indpls., IN 46206.
Material cannot be returned unless it is accompanied by a self-addressed envelope with adequate return postage.

Send material to:
U.S. Kids
Manuscript Editor
P.O. Box 567
Indianapolis, IN 46206

Subject Requirements
Material submitted will be judged on the author's ability to appeal to and write for children. Any subject of interest to children will be considered. However, we do have a need for high-quality stories, articles, and activities with health-related themes. "Health" is a broad topic that includes exercise, nutrition, safety, hygiene, and drug education.
Editors look for intriguing titles, quick beginnings, fast-moving prose, clear explanations of subject matter, humor, and emphasis on active response from readers (activities, questions, or problems to solve).
Manuscripts should be written at a grade 3-4 reading level. Nonfiction pieces should include bibliography.

Fiction Requirements
U.S. Kids is interested in compelling stories with good plots and well-developed characters. Authors should avoid preachiness, moralizing, or talking down to kids. Keep in mind that each page includes art, so a story must lend itself to illustration. Rhyming stories, poetry, and rebuses are sometimes used. Fact-based fiction (legends, historical, nature) should be well-researched and true-to-life.
U.S. Kids does not use material in which animals or inanimate objects are personified or anthropomorphized.

Word length:
Rebus – 200 words
Poem – Maximum 32 lines
Nonfiction – 500 words
Short Story – 400-600 words

Photos and Illustrations
All photographs accompanying manuscripts must be full color. If possible, please include photo sources. Photos should include children as often as possible and be clear and reproducible. Include captions and model releases. We prefer slides or transparencies.
Manuscripts submitted without photos should include suggestions for photos or illustrations. Please do not send drawings or other artwork. We prefer to work with professional artists of our own choosing.

Rates and Payment Policies
Fiction/Nonfiction – Up to 20 cents/word
Poetry – Minimum $15
Activities – Payment varies
Photographs – Fees negotiated separately
Payment is made on publication. Each author is sent two complimentary copies of the issue in which his or her material is published. Additional copies may be purchased.
NOTE: Reimbursement for reasonable expenses related to articles must be preapproved by editor.

Rights
We purchase ALL RIGHTS to manuscripts. We buy ONE-TIME rights to photos. Simultaneous submissions are discouraged. One-time book rights may be returned when the author has found an interested publisher and can provide an approximate date of publication.

Magazine Departments
Real Kids – Focusing on kids doing something a bit out of the ordinary that other kids would like to read about. This category is also for kids who have done something heroic or exemplary – true-life adventure. For example: hobbies; music; science and math; art and entertainment; kids in sports; etc.

Real World – Featuring articles that explore the wonders of the world – animals, nature, space, technology, other cultures, communications, safety, careers, hobbies, current affairs, etc.

How It Works – Seeking articles that explain how things work, from the familiar to the unusual. Past examples include: how popcorn pops, how a blimp floats, how a piano makes music, etc.

Fit Kids – Exploring health and fitness through articles on exercise, nutrition, sports, latest medical information, etc.

Poster Pages – Featuring a poster of a different animal each issue. This is done in-house or assigned to a specific writer or artist.

Activities – Including "Adventures of the Puzzle Squad" and the game on the back page, which are assigned or done in-house. Puzzles, games, and crafts are always welcome. Activities may stand alone or be story-related. All interactives should reinforce in a fun way skills that children learn in school. Byline is given for activity.

The Children's Better Health Institute also publishes these award-winning magazines:

Turtle Magazine for Preschool Kids (ages 2-5)
Humpty Dumpty's Magazine (ages 4-6)
Children's Playmate (ages 6-8)
Jack And Jill (ages 7-10)
Child Life (ages 9-11)
Children's Digest (preteen)

Sample copies are $2.50 each (U.S. currency). Editorial guidelines free with #10 SASE by writing to: Writer's Guidelines, CBHI, P.O. Box 567, Indianapolis, IN 46206

TURTLE MAGAZINE FOR PRESCHOOL KIDS
P.O. Box 567
Indianapolis, IN 46206-0567
(317)636-8881 fax: (317)684-8094

Turtle Magazine for Preschool Kids
Humpty Dumpty’s Magazine
Children’s Playmate Magazine
Jack and Jill (ages 7-10)
Child Life (ages 9-11)
Children’s Digest (preteen)

Editorial Guidelines
We at the Children’s Better Health Institute have a constant need for high-quality stories, articles, and activities with health-related themes. "Health" is a broad topic that includes exercise, nutrition, safety, hygiene, and drug education.

Health information can be presented in a variety of formats: fiction, nonfiction, poems, and puzzles. Fiction stories with a health message need not have health as the primary subject, but they should include it in some way in the course of events. Characters in fiction should adhere to good health practices, unless failure to do so is necessary to a story’s plot.

Remember that characters in realistic stories should be up-to-date. Many of our readers have working mothers and/or come from single-parent homes. We need more stories that reflect these changing times but at the same time communicate good, wholesome values.

We are especially interested in material concerning sports and fitness, including profiles of famous amateur and professional athletes; "average" athletes (especially children) who have overcome obstacles to excel in their areas; and new or unusual sports, particularly those in which children can participate.

Manuscript Format
Manuscripts must be typewritten and double-or triple-spaced. The author's name, address, telephone number, date of submission, and the approximate word count of the material should appear on the first page of the manuscript. Title pages are not necessary. Keep a copy of your work. We will handle your manuscript with care, but we cannot assume responsibility for its return. Please submit a specific magazine, not just to CBHI.

Please send the entire manuscript. All work is on speculation only; queries are not accepted, nor are stories assigned. The editors cannot criticize, offer suggestions, or enter into correspondence with an author concerning manuscripts that are not accepted nor can they suggest other markets for material that is not published. Material cannot be returned unless it is accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope and sufficient return postage.

Photos and Illustrations
We do not purchase single photographs. We purchase short photo features (up to 6 or 8 pictures or photos that accompany articles and help illustrate editorial material. (Please include captions and model releases.) Suggestions for illustrations are not necessary but are permissible. Please do not send drawings or other artwork. We prefer to work with professional illustrators of our own choosing.

Review Time
About three months are required to review manuscripts properly. Please wait three months before sending status inquiries. If a manuscript is returned, it should not be resubmitted to a different youth publication at this address. Each manuscript is carefully considered for possible use in all magazines, not only the one to which it was originally addressed.

Rates and Payment Policies
Turtle and Humpty Dumpty: up to 22 cents a word. Fiction/nonfiction – up to 500 words.
Children's Playmate: up to 17 cents a word. Fiction/nonfiction – 300 to 700 words.
Jack And Jill: up to 17 cents word. Fiction/nonfiction – 500 to 800 words.
Child Life: minimum 12 cents a word. Fiction/nonfiction – 500 to 800 words.
Children's Digest: minimum 12 cents a word. Fiction – 500 to 1500 words. Nonfiction – 500 to 1000 words

Poetry – $15.00 minimum
Photos – $15.00 minimum
Puzzles and games – no fixed rates (Send SASE to receive separate guidelines for activities.}

Payment is made upon publication. Each author receives ten complimentary copies of the issue which his or her material is published.

Rights
We purchase all rights to manuscripts. We buy one-time rights to photos. Simultaneous submissions are discouraged. One-time book rights may be returned when the author has four an interested publisher and can provide us with an approximate date of publication.

Children’s Contributions
Except for items that are used in children columns, the editors do not encourage submissions from children. Even highly talented young people are not usually experienced enough to compete on a professional level with adult authors. There is no payment for children's contributions.

CBHI also publishes U.S. Kids,
A Weekly Reader Magazine, for readers 5-10. Although unsolicited manuscripts are welcome, editorials content is largely assigned. For more information, send for separate U.S. Kids guidelines free with SASE – it the same address. Sample copies are $2.50 each.

Nonfiction articles dealing with health subjects should be fresh and creative. Avoid an encyclopedic or "preachy" approach. We try to present our health material in a positive manner, incorporating humor and a light approach wherever possible without minimizing the seriousness of what we are saying.

Word and math puzzles, games, and other activities can also successfully convey healthy messages if they are enjoyable to young people and are age-appropriate.

We also welcome recipes that children can make on their own with minimal adult supervision. Ingredients should be healthful, so avoid using fats, sugar, salt, chocolate, and red meat. In all material submitted, please avoid reference to eating sugary foods, such as candy, cakes, cookies, and soft drinks.

Although our emphasis is on health, we certainly use material with more general themes. We would especially like to see more holiday stories, articles, and activities. Please send seasonal material at least eight months in advance.

Caution: Reading our editorial guidelines is not enough! Careful study of current issues will acquaint writers with each title's "personality," various departments, and regular features, nearly all of which are open to freelancers. Sample copies are $1.25 each (U.S. currency) from the Children's Better Health Institute, P.O. Box 567, Indianapolis, IN 46206.

Turtle Magazine for Preschool Kids (ages 2-5)
Humpty Dumpty’s Magazine (ages 4-6)
Turtle and Humpty Dumpty use stories and poems, as well as some creative nonfiction. Because these two magazines are designed to be read to children who are not yet reading independently, the editors look for submissions with a good "read-aloud" quality.

Games and crafts should require a minimum of adult guidance. They should also have clear, brief instructions, and use readily available materials. Turtle uses simple science experiments; Humpty Dumpty features healthful recipes requiring little or no use of kitchen appliances. Nonfiction, which editors always have a need for, must be narrow and specific in focus.

Children’s Playmate (ages 6-8)
Jack And Jill (ages 7-10)
Children's Playmate uses easy-to-read fiction for beginning readers, as well as poems, rhyming stories, and nonfiction. Jack And Jill is edited for somewhat more accomplished readers; stories and articles are written at about a second- or third-grade reading level.

Both titles are heavy on fiction, using realistic, adventure, mystery, and fantasy. Humorous stories are especially needed. Nonfiction material may deal with sports, science, nature – even historical and biographical articles. Most nonfiction features touch in some way on health and fitness.

Child Life (ages 9-11)
Children’s Digest (preteen)
Child Life is not accepting manuscripts for publication at this time. After reprinting nostalgic stories during the 75th anniversary, the publishers have decided to make nostalgia the permanent format. Health articles will be handled in-house or assigned. All unsolicited material. will be returned.

Children's Digest readers want stories that are a little longer and "meatier." Fiction is especially needed: adventure, mystery, science fiction, and humorous stories. Some fiction may have a subtle health message, but this magazine, too, uses factual feature to educate about good health. Games, puzzles, crafts, and hobbies are also welcome, as are nonfiction articles about sports, nature, and the environment.

STONE SOUP
P.O. Box 83
Santa Cruz, CA 95063-0083
(408)426-5557 fax: (408)426-1161
EMail: editor@stonesoup.com
Website: www.stonesoup.com

Strict Requirement: All submissions must be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope large enough and with sufficient postage for the return of the submission. (Foreign contributors need not include return postage.) Unfortunately, we cannot send any response at all to contributors whose work is not accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope.

How to Submit Your Work: Mail your submission to Ms. Gerry Mandel, Editor, Stone Soup, P.O. Box 83, Santa Cruz, CA 95063. Include your name, age, home address, phone number, and your self-addressed stamped envelope.

Reporting Time: If you have enclosed an S.A.S.E., you will hear from us within four weeks of the date we receive your submission. We usually publish work three months to a year after notification of acceptance.

General Information: Stone Soup is made up of stories, poems, book reviews, and art by children through age 13. We encourage you to send us your work! To get an idea of the kind of work we like, the best thing you can do is to read a couple of issues of Stone Soup. If it's not in your library, you can order a sample copy for $4.

Send us writing and art about the things you feel most strongly about! Whether your work is about imaginary situations or real ones, use your own experiences and observations to give your work depth and a sense of reality.

Writing need not be typed or copied over. We are happy to consider writing in languages other than English. Include a translation if possible. Art work may be any size, in color or black and white. Please don’t send us work that you are also sending to other magazines. Send your work to one magazine at a time.

Illustrators: If you would like to illustrate for us, send us some samples of your art work, along with a letter saying what kind of story you would like to illustrate.

Book Reviewers: If you are interested in reviewing books for Stone Soup, write and tell us a little about yourself and what kinds of books you like to read. We'll write back with more information.

Payment: All contributors whose work is accepted for publication receive a certificate, two complimentary copies, and discounts on other purchases. In addition, contributors of stories, poems, and art work are paid $10 each, book reviewers are paid $15, illustrators are paid $8 per illustration, and the cover artist is paid $25.

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