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Picture Books
Middle Grade & Teen

our story

Founded in 2016, Salaam Reads is an imprint that celebrates joy, vibrancy, and variety in stories of Muslim life. We publish books that explore a diverse panoply of experiences lived by characters who are united under a shared umbrella of Muslim identity. Our books span a wide range of genres, from contemporary to fantastical, science fiction, and more. Salaam Reads is a home for literature that widens the lens of what it means to be Muslim, offering readers a way to see themselves reflected in the pages of the imprint’s books and to discover the wide variety and many intersections of what the Muslim experience can be.

The imprint, which takes its name from the Arabic word for “peace,” publishes books for young readers of all ages, including picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and young adult.

In addition to publishing works acquired through literary agents, Salaam Reads also considers unagented and/or unsolicited manuscripts for publication.

meet the team

Deeba Zargarpur,
Editor

Deeba Zargarpur enthusiastically joined Simon & Schuster in March 2020. A graduate of Drexel University, Deeba began her editorial career at Disney-Hyperion and Freeform, imprints at Disney Publishing Worldwide, where she worked on both middle grade and young adult titles, including a few New York Times bestsellers. Then, she took a detour into book packaging, where she created and edited a wide range of children's and adult literature. Her aim is to acquire commercial books that empower young people from diverse backgrounds. Deeba is also the founder of Writers of Afghan Heritage, an initiative that advocates, supports and mentors diverse Afghan voices in mainstream publishing, due to launch in May 2020. Follow Deeba on Twitter and Instagram at @deebazargarpur.

Kendra Levin,
Editorial Director

Kendra Levin joined Simon & Schuster in 2019. She began her career at Scholastic, then spent fourteen years at Viking Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, where she edited a wide range of children’s literature including several New York Times bestsellers. Her books have received such awards as the Printz Honor, the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, the Society of Illustrators Gold Medal, and more. Her mission is to edit books that empower young people. Kendra is also a certified life coach and author of the self-help book The Hero Is You.

Justin Chanda,
Vice President & Publisher

Justin Chanda joined the editorial staff at Simon & Schuster in 2005 after an eight-year stint at HarperCollins. A graduate of New York University, Justin was named publisher of the S&S Books for Young Readers imprint in 2007, McElderry Books and Atheneum Books for Young Readers in 2009, and Salaam Reads in 2016. He oversees the publication of 250 titles per year ranging from the youngest picture book to the edgiest YA. He is keenly interested in publishing books that are equal parts commercial and literary, books that make a contribution to the tradition, while truly entertaining kids.

Dainese Santos,
Editorial Assistant

Dainese joined Simon & Schuster in the spring of 2019. As an alumna of NYU’s publishing program and child of immigrants herself, she’s thrilled to be part of the Salaam Reads team and eager to bring more diverse voices to the forefront. She loves talking about her huge immigrant family, but loves hearing about other people’s own families even more. Follow Dainese on Twitter @chanceofdain.

Submission Guidelines

Salaam Reads is actively seeking to publish books that center on positive and joyous portrayals of the Muslim experience across all genres. Our goal is to highlight well-rounded portrayals of Muslim children and families in mainstream children’s media. We want to share stories that center Muslim characters without depicting their religious identity as a major source of conflict.

Submissions can be works of fiction or non-fiction, from picture book (for readers aged 4+) to middle grade (for readers aged 8+) to young adult (featuring protagonists 18 or younger).

Currently, we are especially interested in work that widens the lens on what a Muslim story looks like and/or stories that highlight myths, folklore, and fairytales from Muslim authors from underrepresented backgrounds.

We receive many picture book submissions, and we would be delighted to consider more middle grade and young adult novels!

Please note: we are NOT looking for short stories, memoirs, or books about Islamic theology or history.

Projects that do not follow our guidelines will not be considered. If we are interested in your submission, we will contact you within six months of submission. It’s not necessary for you to send a follow-up email checking on the status of your submission and such emails will not receive replies.

If you have a project that fits this description, please consider submitting. Our guidelines are below:

  • Submissions can be sent to SalaamReads@SimonandSchuster.com
  • In the subject line of your email, please include the title and the age level (i.e. picture book, middle grade, teen).
  • In the body of the email, please include:
  • An opening paragraph leading with the format (i.e. picture book, novel), word count, and a one-sentence pitch, for example: “I have written an approximately 40,000-word middle grade novel titled, Amina’s Voice.”
  • A short (one paragraph) synopsis with plot and character descriptions. Essentially your book’s sales pitch.
  • A final paragraph that lists any publishing credits, or any experience relevant to writing for children. If you have a special degree, or a skill that makes you the perfect author for the subject of your book, include that. If you have a literary agent, please share their information here.
  • Attach your manuscript as a Word document, preferably in 12-point Times New Roman font, double spaced.

Please note: only submit your work when your manuscript is complete and polished. Please ensure your submission fits within the guidelines for format and content, as well as length. As a general guide, we recommend submissions fall within the following word count parameters:

  • Picture books: 1,200 words max
  • Chapter books: 4,000 – 12,000 words
  • Middle Grade: 25,000 – 65,000
  • Young Adult: 50,000 +

Press Coverage

NPR
“Simon & Schuster Launches Imprint for Muslim Children’s Books”

Time
“New Children’s Book Imprint to Feature Muslim Characters”

Newsweek
“Simon & Schuster to Launch Muslim Children’s Book Imprint Called Salaam Reads”

The New York Times
“Simon & Schuster Creates Imprint for Muslim-Themed Children’s Books”

Elle
“Why Muslim Kids Need to See Themselves in Books, Too”

Teen Vogue
“Salaam Reads Aims to Publish Muslim YA Stories”

Mashable
“New Children’s Book Imprint Focuses on Muslim Experiences”

Bustle
“Salaam Reads to Publish Books Specially for Muslim Children”

New York Post
“Simon & Schuster to Launch Muslim Children’s Book Division”

The Guardian
“Simon & Schuster Launches Imprint for Younger Readers on Muslim Stories”

The Christian Science Monitor
“Can Simon & Schuster’s New Muslim Imprint Ease Publishing’s Diversity Problem?”

Publishers Weekly
“Simon and Schuster Launches Muslim Imprint for Children’s Books”

School Library Journal
“Simon & Schuster’s Muslim Children’s Book Imprint to Launch in 2017”

Shelf Awareness
“Simon & Schuster Creates Muslim Children’s Imprint”

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