Children's Writing Acronyms and Abbreviations

Book Types

BB – Board (or Baby) Book
CB – Chapter Book
ER – Early (or Easy) Reader
EZ – Easy Reader
Hi-Lo – High-interest, low-vocabulary. Books designed for kids who are reading below their grade level.
MG – Middle Grade Book
PB – Picture Book
YA – Young Adult Book


Organizations and Websites

AAR – Association of Authors' Representatives
ABA – American Booksellers Association
ABC – Association of Booksellers for Children
ALA – American Library Association
AOI – Association of Illustrators
CANSCAIP – The Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers
CBC – Children’s Book Council
CLA – Children's Literature Assembly
CLCD – Children's Literature Comprehensive Database
CLN – Children’s Literature Network
CCBC – Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC – Canadian Children’s Book Centre
CWIM – Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market
IBBY – The International Board on Books for Young People
ICDL – The International Children's Digital Library
IRA – International Reading Association
P&E – Predators and Editors (List of agents and publishers; disreputable ones are noted, as are reccommended ones.)
NCCIL – National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature
NCTE – National Council of Teachers of English
NWU – The National Writers Union
PW – Publisher’s Weekly
SCBWI – Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
USBBY – The United States Board on Books for Young People (US Branch of IBBY)
USPS – United States Post Office


Other Terms

AD – Art Director
AR – Accelerated Reader (A computer-based reading program for kids.)
ASAP – As Soon As Possible
B&W – Black and White
BFYR - Books For Young Readers
ed – editor
ed ass't– editor's assistant
F&Gs – Folded and Gathered Sheets (book before binding)
FSG - Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (publisher)
IRC – International Reply Coupon (return postage for foreign nations)
ISBN – International Standard Book Number
OSI – Out of Stock Indefinitely
PP&B – Paper, Printing & Binding
mc – Main Character
ms – Manuscript
mss – manuscripts
nf – non-fiction
OP or OOP – Out Of Print
POV – Point Of View
rej – Rejection
SAE – Self-Addressed Envelope
SASE – Self Addressed Stamped Envelope
SASP – Self-Addressed Stamped Postcard
SQ - Status Query
SRO – School Rights Only
S&S - Simon & Schuster (publisher)
sub – Submission