Naomi Jones - Editor
Naomi has over eight years’ experience working in children’s publishing. She began her career at Puffin (Penguin Random House) before moving to Orion and then Hachette Children’s Group. Her previous experience as a Rights Manager brings invaluable insight into maximising a book’s sales potential and she has worked closely with both UK and international editors to develop a good knowledge of global publishing markets and trends. Naomi has a BA (Hons) in English Studies from the University of Nottingham and is a keen reader and writer. She was the children’s book reviewer for award winning family travel blog Mini Travellers for over three years. Naomi has been working as a freelance editor and mentor helping other children’s writers to develop their manuscripts and craft for over four years. Her debut picture book The Perfect Fit (OUP) was published in March 2021 and was long-listed for the Klaus Flugge award. Naomi is also the author of One More Try (OUP), The Odd Fish (Farshore), How to Catch a Rainbow (OUP), How to Make a Story and Thunderboots (OUP). Naomi’s picture books have now been translated into 19 languages.
Find Naomi on Twitter here: @NaomiJones_1
WHY WE LOVE NAOMI
Naomi’s breadth of experience across children’s publishing and astute industry knowledge, combined with her own authorial talent, make her an an editor with a keen sense of both what works creatively and what sells.
WHAT NAOMI SAYS ABOUT EDITING
I really love working with children’s writers to help them develop both their craft and their manuscripts. I enjoy working collaboratively with authors and find it immensely satisfying to see another person’s work and writing style evolve as a result of my suggestions. I’ve personally found that my own writing has improved immeasurably based on feedback from my writing group, agent and all of the editors I’ve worked with, so I know how invaluable this experience can be.
I’ve always been passionate about children’s literature whether it’s picture books, middle grade or teen fiction. I have a wide range of experience within the Children’s Publishing industry – I am a published author, avid reader, book reviewer, editor and have a background working in house for some of the biggest publishers in the UK. I will draw on this diverse background when helping you work on your manuscript. It has always been my dream to write children’s books, and I would be delighted to work with you if this is your dream too.
What Naomi works on
Manuscript assessment
Agent Submission Pack assessment
Post-editorial guidance
Genres Naomi specialises in
Naomi's published books
The Perfect Fit
No matter how hard she tries, Triangle doesn’t roll like the circles, or stack like the squares…so she sets off to find friends that look exactly like her. But when she finds the other triangles, playtime isn’t as fun. She misses the shapes that roll and stack; she misses being different. So she starts a new quest, one that gets all of the different shapes playing and having fun together!
One More Try
A follow-up to The Perfect Fit with themes of perseverance.
In One More Try, a determined circle goes on a journey of self-discovery, refusing to give up on his dream of making a tower, just because he’s not the right shape.
The Odd Fish
A warm and funny eco-adventure with a clever message about looking after our blue planet, perfect for budding David Attenboroughs!
When Little Fish and her family encounter an odd new fish bobbing along on its own, they embark on an exciting journey to reunite it with its family. But Odd Fish isn’t the only creature who needs Little Fish’s help. Turtle has a tummy ache and Octopus’s tentacles are tangled. Clever readers will spot the one thing that links them all . . . plastic. Maybe Odd Fish doesn’t belong in the sea after all?
Eight million tonnes of plastic find their way into our oceans and rivers every year. That’s equal to dumping one rubbish truck every minute into the sea! This urgent problem is highlighted for the youngest readers with gentle humour and engaging characters, and offers practical ways we we can all make a real difference to protect our oceans and the creatures that live in them, and opens up key discussions about the environment and the topical issues highlighted in David Attenborough’s Blue Planet.
Thunderboots
Trixie is the smallest person in Primrose Tower, but also the loudest and the building’s residents have given her an affectionate nickname: THUNDERBOOTS.
When it’s time for Trixie to start school, she is very excited. Sometimes it’s hard to concentrate in class, though. And it’s really hard to read letters. Maybe what Trixie needs is a superpowered plan.
An empowering story about starting school with dyslexia that celebrates everyone’s differences.
How To Make A Story
When Milo decides he’s going to tell a story, it seems like a great idea. A story of his very own, made up by him! The only problem is that he’s not sure how to start … or what to put in the middle … or how to end it.
With a little help from his family and a lot of real-life inspiration, Milo’s story is soon off to a flying start. If only his little brother and sister weren’t getting in the way. But then Milo learns the most important lesson of all about stories – that they are made to be shared.
How To Catch A Rainbow
Freya loves rainbows. She loves their bright colours and their curvy shape. More than anything, she wishes she has one of her very own. One that she can keep forever. So she decides to become a Rainbow Hunter!
She searches high and low, but no rainbows are to be found, so she decides to make her own, collecting items in every colour of the rainbow from the garden. But when things don’t go quite to plan, Freya has to use her imagination and creativity to come up with a way to make her wish come true.
A vibrant story from the author of the bestselling The Perfect Fit with technicolour illustrations by Ana Gomez.
