Next Level Books Fund for Independent Publishers

About the Next Level Books Fund

PJ Library recognizes the financial investment and risk that small publishers take on when acquiring new titles. This initiative is designed to help independent presses develop compelling Jewish stories for young readers and families. Publishers are invited to apply for funding to support specific projects. Applications may be submitted either pre-acquisition or during early post-acquisition development. Funded titles are expected to be slated for inclusion in PJ Library or PJ Our Way distribution upon publication, though this is not guaranteed. The initiative offers between $5,000 and $20,000 per book to support the creation of impactful Jewish children’s literature. 

Eligibility Rules & Guidelines

1. Applicants must be an independent publishing house (for-profit or nonprofit) that is not owned or controlled by a large corporate publishing group. Self-published projects and vanity presses are not eligible. Further eligibility at PJ Library’s discretion.
2. This funding opportunity is ideal for both established and early-stage Jewish publishers, as well as publishers expanding into Jewish children’s content.  
3. Publishers must have a portfolio of high-quality work, an established publishing operation, and a clear plan for production.  
4. Publishers must uphold inclusive and culturally sensitive storytelling standards, with attention to accurate Jewish representation. 

We welcome submissions in the following categories

Board books, picture books, early reader chapter books, graphic novels (early and middle grade), middle grade fiction and middle grade nonfiction.

We are seeking Jewish stories that are emotionally resonant, thoughtfully crafted, and relevant to today’s young readers and families. Please review PJ Library’s Framework to better understand the content that excites us.  

Application Timeline

Publishers can submit projects pre- or post-acquisition (for pre-acquisition projects, the publisher first needs to get the author's permission to submit). Within the open submission period, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis to allow publishers to make acquisition decisions quickly. Once an application is submitted, publishers will typically hear back with a decision in 6 weeks, though it could take up to 8 weeks.   

The first open submission period is April 1 - August 31, 2026.

Publishers may submit no more than one application during each open period. 

Use of Funds

Funds are intended to directly support the development and production of high-quality Jewish children’s books. Publishers who receive and accept funds for a specific project will need to continue to share that project with PJ Library at key stages to ensure it continues to be a good fit for the PJ Library/PJ Our Way line-ups.

This funding is intended for books that (1) add in a meaningful way to the breadth of Jewish children’s literature, but may otherwise not make it onto the publisher’s list due to financial risk, or (2) have the potential to be unique in some specific aspect, for which the publisher has a vision that requires a larger budget.

We are particularly excited to support publishers with the following needs (this is not an exhaustive list):

• Securing a higher caliber illustrator than a small publisher could typically afford
• Enhancing the artistic quality, visual storytelling, and overall design of the book – including adding special elements (for example, lift-the-flaps, pop-ups, and other interactive elements)
• Developing Jewish-themed graphic novels for middle grade readers, including scriptwriting, storyboarding, and sequential art, and covering other production costs that often make graphic novels cost-prohibitive for small publishers
• Translating Jewish children’s books (including middle grade fiction and non-fiction) from their original language into English, and supporting rights acquisition, editing, and adaptation for an English-speaking audience, as well as general production costs for a translated work

Please visit our website for more information, including a full FAQ.

For inquiries, reach out to the PJ Library team at nextlevelbooksfund@pjlibrary.org.

All application materials will be treated as confidential and will be reviewed solely by the Next Level Books Fund selection committee. PJ Library will not share, distribute, or disclose submitted proposals or supporting documents to any individuals or organizations outside of this review process without the applicant’s prior consent.