Read, read and read more children's literature, both classic and current. Find out what kids are reading today by talking to librarians and visiting libraries and bookstores. See which publishers are publishing what kind of books.

Read all the Caldecott Medal winners. The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually for the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the United States. Caldecott winners serve as fine examples of the best children's writing.

Read books which have been awarded the Newbery Medal. Each year the Newbery Medal recognizes the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

If you attend SCBWI conferences you will hear editors from publishing houses talk about trends in the industry and what kind of work they would like to consider. Experienced authors also conduct sessions on the craft and business of writing, for both beginner and seasoned writers.

Some conferences allow you to submit work in advance (for a small additional fee) to be read by an editor or author who will provide a brief one-on-one critique. Other conferences or retreats may focus intensively on one genre, such as picture books or novels.

The Institute for Children's Literature offers correspondence courses. The Highlights Foundation offers workshops and courses. You may wish to take graduate degree courses or obtain a degree in children's literature.

Some publishers focus on work for a particular age group. Some publish only fiction, others non-fiction. Some publish only for educational markets, others just for the bookstore market. Get familiar with what a publishing house specializes in and the kind of work they want to consider.

In addition to researching library and bookstore shelves, you can study publishers' “identities” and needs by visiting their web sites where current catalogs are posted. The Children's Book Council can link you to the web sites of member publishers. You can look at what each publisher offers and search by topic to see if the publisher already has a book on the subject of your work. You can also search any of the major on-line book sellers.

Meeting editors at conferences will give you insight into preferences and needs in a way no other research will, since a published book does not identify the editor who acquired and guided the book to publication.

Publishers' requirements, interests and submission guidelines can also be found via the web sites and publications of The Children's Book Council and the SCBWI. Additionally, there are several annual publications that list such information, including Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market (Writers' Digest); Children's Book Market (Institute of Children's Literature); Writer's and Illustrator's Guide to Children's Book Publishers (Ellen R. Shapiro).

Connecting with other authors is a wonderful way to develop needed support. You should consider forming or joining a critique group, or participating in on-line critique groups and/or chat rooms on writing for children.