Dear Agent: My Kids Loved My Book!

Oh, to be this happy and contented in life

Of the many don'ts of query writing on children's books has to do with acknowledging that children have loved your book in the text of your query.  This makes sense.  After all, kids who read your book will likely be extremely biased, especially if you're reading it to them.  When it comes down to the dollars and cents marketability of your book, the opinion of a bunch of kids sadly doesn't mean much.

I believe, though, that there is still merit in having kids read your MG book.  (Or in having teens read your YA book)  I've made sure that two of my beta readers give my manuscripts over to their kids to read as part of the beta reading process.  After all, my books are for their childrens' age group and I need to know if what I'm writing is truly reaching them.

I'm not looking for, nor am I expecting, an in-depth critique from these MG readers.  (I do appreciate one of my beta reader-parents asking his son specific questions, probing for greater detail)  The writerly aspects of the story aside, I simply need to know my story is connecting with the kids, if it's holding their interest and if they're wanting to turn the pages to see what happens next.  If not, I know I've got some serious work to do.

So, I won't claim in a query that kids have liked my books (although they have, thankyouverymuch) but I can't see trying to get something published for their age group without knowing someone in that age group has liked it.


Do you have people in your target age group read your manuscripts?  Have they helped you at all?  Have you made any changes in your stories based on their feedback?  (I have -- it's posted in the comments section)


-- Tom