Picture book fiction:

Irresistibly silly & subversive / ridiculous premise with repeat read potential

Memorable little troublemakers and misfits / flawed protagonists in ironic scenarios

Relatable everyday rituals gone wrong / mishaps at home or school

#mswl

And last but not least, gorgeous and profound voice-driven coming-of-age stories that are windows & mirrors, that make you laugh and cry and sometimes both at the same time, told in prose or verse. Kira-Kira

Last but not least, MG horror and/or comedy, because what’s more horrifying or hilarious than growing up? Illustrated funny MG like Captain Underpants, Dog Man, Last Kids on Earth, Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang. Layered spooky MG like Small Spaces, Bellwoods Game, Remember Me Daphne. 4/4

I adore survival stories & would love to see more BIPOC rep. I grew up reading Boxcar Kids, Hatchet, My Side of the Mountain, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Julie of the Wolves. I love the nature escapism & seeing how characters grow in tough external situations that mirror real-world stressors. 3/4

I’m captivated by gorgeous fantasies & coming of age that inspire wonder while exploring profound themes around friendship, family, and love like The Girl Who Drank the Moon, This Was Our Pact, Brown Girl Dreaming, Inside Out & Back Again, Nine Moons of Han Yu & Luli, When You Trap a Tiger 2/4

A thread about my favorite kinds of MG & #mswl - I love sff of all kinds, especially those about discovering the true nature of the world & overcoming authoritarian power structures. Books like A Wrinkle in Time, The Giver, The House of the Scorpion, The Last Cuentista, The One and Only Ivan. 1/4

Reminder to Authors: I acquire for an imprint at a publisher that does not accept unagented submissions, so if you’re interested in submitting to me, make sure to pass on the note to your agent or future agent!

Genres I’m open to: romance, fantasy/speculative, mystery/thrillers, horror, historical, lyrical contemporary (more so coming of age with a strong romance thread & a story that weaves in heart & humor - I’m typically not the best fit for contemporary rom-coms in general), novels in verse 2/3

Help me make my YA list more genderqueer! I’d especially love to see high-concept, layered novels from trans voices (especially intersectional) but am open to folks across the entire genderqueer umbrella. Some of my faves: The Honeys, Hell Followed With Us, Felix Ever After, Cemetery Boys #MSWL 1/3

Still can’t stop thinking about Obsession! Disregarding my cortisol levels, I’d love to see more layered, thought-provoking horror that will get young people talking about real-life horrors & themes beyond the jump-scares and gore like bodily autonomy, morality, consent, etc. YA #mswl

would love to see more YA thriller in my inbox! #mswl

Layered and/or simply silly stories that speak to kids at their level, that respect their intelligence & capacity for all kinds of emotion, a bit of darkness—or just plain wackiness! Give me high-concept funny read alouds; diverse perspectives and traditionally marginalized voices; kid appeal, & joy

It’s been a minute since I posted a picture book #MSWL ! My taste for PB runs from the quirky, imaginative, & funny like Stalactite & Stalagmite by Drew Beckmeyer to the gorgeously lyrical, emotional, and joyful like Where They Gather by Teresa Rodrigues, illus by Jamiel Law. The common thread? 1/2

#mswl more books that made me feel and think the way these did—books that stay with you long after you read them

MG: Last Cuentista, Girl Who Drank the Moon, Inside Out & Back Again
YA: Strange the Dreamer, Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Last Night at the Telegraph Club

Super specific #MSWL : survival stories (including post-apocalyptic) w/a fresh spin on the survival genre & BIPOC/queer rep. Emotional MG like Alone or Hatchet or humorous and fun like The Last Kids on Earth. YA like Wilder Girls, The 5th Wave, or a grounded ownvoices Island of the Blue Dolphins

I just finished Emma Donoghue's LEARNED BY HEART and I am once again asking for historical sapphic yearning YA manuscripts, agent friends!! #MSWL

#MSWL for nicolefrailbooks.bsky.social: short fiction (short stories or novellas), essays, collections (short story or essay), multi-POV novels. Previous pub experience not needed, but an active online platform is.

Find out more:
manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/nicole-frail/

What’s the Jewish version of DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS?
Or NARWHAL & JELLY?
Or THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT?
Or AFTER THE FALL?
Or PENGUIN PROBLEMS?
Or I WANT MY HAT BACK?
Or HAVE YOU SEEN GORDON?
I don’t know, but that’s what I’m looking to acquire for Kar-Ben.
#MSWL

Also open to light fantasy and horror if it’s under 208 pages! And fast-paced! With compelling stakes!

Always on the lookout for projects by disabled and chronically ill creators — think GOOD DIFFERENT, ELLEN OUTSIDE THE LINES, and CHRONICALLY DELORES (but for MG).