Root & Star is a thoughtfully curated, high-quality literary magazine for children. Each gorgeously designed print volume provides children, parents, and authors with a space to honor the sacredness of childhood.
Root & Star is seeking beautifully crafted poetry, fiction, and nonfiction to nourish the whole child: “the wise, the wild, the strange, and the sweet.” They aren’t necessarily looking for writing produced for children; rather, they’re looking for outstanding literature that appeals to children and parents alike. You can get a sense of their style by browsing a sample issue here.
Root & Star is published six times a year in print, and they accept submissions year-round. They are looking for work that captures the attention of children, three to six years old.
Their issues are themed, and they provide a list of upcoming themes and corresponding submission deadlines on their website. Right now, they’re seeking submissions on the following themes: rainbows (deadline January 31), water (deadline March 31), home (deadline May 30), and circles (deadline July 31).
Although much of the work they publish connects with a theme, they also publish pieces on other topics and they always accept unthemed submissions. Overall, they don’t want to limit authors; rather, they want to inspire authors to play, create, and share the complexities of their work.
To that end, they also provide a list of frequent features to help authors generate imaginative new material. Some highlights include: illustrated quote, true story, fable, visual encyclopedia, and home portrait.
Root & Star accepts submissions online, not via email or by post.
If you would like to learn more or submit to Root & Star, please visit their website here.
Bio: Ella Peary is the pen name for an author, editor, creative writing mentor, and submission consultant who works for Authors Publish. Over the past five years she’s written hundreds of articles for Authors Publish, and she’s also served as a copy writer and copy editor for a wide range of organizations and individuals. You can contact her at ellapeary@gmail.com.
