2026 Summer Internship - Children's Books Editorial Internship (NYC)
About The Position
Join Harper’s Picture Books and Programs team, I Can Read!, and Versify, which publishes in all genres with a focus on classic brands and beloved characters like Pete the Cat, Frog and Toad, Biscuit, and The Food Group. Under the leadership of Vice President/Publisher Nancy Inteli, the imprint publishes commercial and literary works, with clever characters that invite readers of diverse backgrounds to laugh and think. The imprint works with acclaimed picture book creators including Beth Ferry, Susan Hood, Sophie Blackall, Oge Mora, Jerry Pinkney, Loren Long, Ruth Chan, and The Fan Brothers, and award-winning middle grade and teen authors Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech, We Need Diverse Books cofounder Ellen Oh, and National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi and long listee K. Ancrum. Recent titles include New York Times bestsellers The Humble Pie and The Big Cheese by Jory John and Pete Oswald, Hansel and Gretel by Stephen King and Maurice Sendak, I Promise by LeBron James, Harlem Honey by Tamron Hall, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. Additionally, the team continues to publish an evergreen backlist of books from beloved authors Margaret Wise Brown, C.S. Lewis, Maurice Sendak, Shel Silverstein, Arnold Lobel, and Zora Neale Hurston. Interns will not only have a great opportunity to learn about the book publishing process, but they will also learn alongside a team of passionate editors who are committed to bringing many different stories and voices to life.
Requirements
- Candidates who are available to work in a full-time capacity in 2026 or 2027 are eligible for this internship; open to rising seniors, recent graduates, master’s students, or entry level candidates with up to two years of work experience.
- Candidates must be available to work 28 hours per week, Monday through Thursday, from June 8 to August 13, 2026, at our New York City office.
- Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.
- A resume and cover letter are required; applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
- Computer proficiency essential, with working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point, Teams, Outlook) and Adobe programs
- Candidate must have attention to detail (proofreading, keeping on top of deadlines when necessary, and task prioritization)
- Must have excellent communication, time-management, and organizational skills.
- Interest in learning the ins and outs of the publishing world is a must, as is a love of books, particularly children’s books.
Nice To Haves
- Ideal candidates are either currently enrolled in or have recently graduated from an undergraduate or master’s program.
- A passion for books is highly valued!
Responsibilities
- Reading and evaluating manuscript submissions
- Writing reader’s reports
- Learning to write cover copy, title sheets, backmatter/frontmatter content, etc.
- Additional research and administrative projects (i.e., author research, market research for a particular genre/book, compiling sales data, reports, etc.)
Benefits
- This internship is compensated at a rate of $18 per hour.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Associate degree
Number of Employees
501-1,000 employees
