IRA publishes a limited number of books, with a particular focus on classroom practice. IRA publishes professional development books that support the growth and advancement of classroom teachers, reading specialists, and other literacy professionals throughout their careers. Our priority is for projects that successfully translate literacy research into practice through concrete strategies and techniques relevant to literacy professionals. We are especially interested in manuscripts connected to the Common Core State Standards, research-based best practice, and assessment.

IRA is currently accepting and reviewing proposals on a quarterly basis. The submission deadlines for each quarter are: October 15th, January 15th (January 18th, 2012), April 15th, and July 15th.

IRA welcomes submissions from new and previously published authors. Please prepare your proposal by following the submission guidelines outlined below.

Thank you for your interest in writing a book for the International Reading Association. We are always looking for well-written, engaging manuscripts focused on research-based, practical strategies and techniques that support the professional development of literacy professionals.  Please submit your book proposal to our online manuscript submission site (Manuscript Central site ). If we think your book might fit our program, we will ask for sample chapters and additional information. Please do not send complete manuscripts unless requested.

Please include the following information in your book proposal:

Part I: Book Prospectus

Basic Information:

• Cover letter, including your name and affiliation (as you would have them published) and your mailing and e-mail addresses. Any coauthors should be listed in preferred order with name, affiliation, and contact information.

Proposed title:


• Intended audience: Who do you see as the key readers of this book? In what type of educational settings do you anticipate that it will be used? Is there a secondary audience for the book? Please be as specific as possible when suggesting target audiences, including occupation, grade level assignment, areas of interest, and years of experience (if applicable).
• Introduce the book: Provide an overview of your book. What type of book is this? Research-based practical strategies for classroom use? Professional reference guide? Professional development book for professional learning communities or private study? Book summarizing the research base for current educational issues? What is the primary goal of the book?
• Research base: What are the primary research studies that support and influence your book? Give a clear description of this research and how it provides a foundation for your book.
• Anticipated schedule for completion: When do you anticipate being able to deliver a first draft? What is your timeline for completing the book?

Need for this book:


• Competition: What do see as the competition for this book? Please provide the titles of three similar books and explain how your proposed book would differ and provide new information.
• Why is this book cutting edge? What makes your book stand out? How is this book unique relative to other books on this topic? Does it address necessary/notable current issues that were not covered in competing titles? Do you provide a unique perspective or approach to a well-covered topic?
• Why have you chosen IRA as a potential publisher?

Book details:
Please include the following information on your book:


• Synopsis: An overview of what your book is about and why you think it will be a valuable resource for our audience.
• Table of Contents: Please provide a detailed table of contents for your book.
• Chapter-by-Chapter Outline: The chapter-by-chapter outline should include a one or two paragraph description of each chapter. From this outline, you should convey how you will handle the individual chapter material and how the individual chapters contribute to a well-planned, overall organization for the book.
• Features and formatting: Include any information you have on anticipated text features or special formatting (e.g., photographs, tables) you think the book might require.
• Professional development extensions: Do you plan to develop supplementary, in-book, or companion professional development materials with the book? These might include PD study guides, video demonstration clips, podcasts, companion webinars, online learning tools, or in-school PD presentations based on the book.
• Other supplementary materials: Please include any anticipated appendices, reproducibles, or other supplemental materials included in the book.

Part II: Author Information

• About the Author: A brief overview of your professional background including your teaching history and your work in this topic area. IRA is interested in developing new voices in the field and welcomes proposals from first-time authors. Please include any experience in publishing, such books, articles, blogs, etc.
• Condensed/Short Curriculum Vitae for yourself and any co-authors or editors.

Style and format. All submissions must be prepared as electronic files for uploading to Manuscript Central, our online manuscript tracking system. Submissions must follow “APA style,” as outlined in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Book proposals should be double-spaced throughout in a 12-point font, including quotations and references. Headings and subheadings should be liberally and correctly used to indicate the organization of the manuscript.

Prepare the book proposal files in accordance with these guidelines:

• Abstract of no more than 250 words. The abstract should be written as clearly as possible in adherence to APA style and should avoid long, complicated sentences and jargon.
• One blinded copy of the book proposal in Word format, to be uploaded as the primary “Manuscript File.” To prepare this version, remove all author names and affiliations from the bylines, and replace references to your own and to coauthors’ published works simply with “Author(s), (year)” both in text and in reference list.
• One unblinded copy of the manuscript in Word format, to be uploaded as a “Supplementary File.”
• We are in the process of revising the online system. When you see a request for various information (e.g., separate submission for Table of Contents), you only need to submit ONE Word document that addresses all of the information categories listed in the book proposal guidelines.
• You will also need to submit a condensed/short curriculum vitae for each author.

Manuscript Central

All book proposals must be submitted online through IRA’s Manuscript Central tracking system.

1. Go to the Manuscript Central site
2. Create an account (if you haven’t done so already)
3. Log in to your account with your username and password, and select “IRA books” from the drop-down menu
4. Click the Author Center link
5. Click on the blue star and follow the instructions provided
6. A confirmation e-mail will acknowledge our receipt of your manuscript

You can follow the progress of your book proposal by accessing your Author Center.