Kayla Cichello is a Los Angeles–based agent at Upstart Crow Literary with a focused specialty in picture books, making them a go-to contact for children's publishing creators.
In brief
Kayla Cichello operates out of Upstart Crow Literary, an agency with deep roots in children's and middle-grade publishing — a strong institutional fit for their picture book focus.
The query status snapshot indicates Cichello is open to picture book submissions, last observed in April 2026 — but writers should confirm the live form status before querying, as windows can shift.
Given the agency's established children's book relationships, Cichello is well-positioned to place picture books with major children's imprints.
The available data on Cichello is limited; writers should treat this profile as a starting point and verify current preferences directly through the agency's submission portal.
Upstart Crow Literary's broader roster signals a house culture that values commercial children's content with heart — pitches that blend concept clarity with emotional resonance are likely to land best.
Lately
Query status observed as open with picture books listed as the active submission category.
What Kayla is looking for
Cichello's confirmed active category is picture books. Given Upstart Crow Literary's strong children's publishing identity, expect an interest in concept-driven, emotionally resonant stories for the youngest readers. Writers with a distinctive voice, a tight narrative arc, and a clear sense of audience are well-suited to query here.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Kayla
Confirm the submission form is still active before querying — the open status was observed in April 2026 and may have changed.
Specify that your project is a picture book clearly in the subject line or opening field; this is the confirmed active category.
Given Upstart Crow Literary's children's publishing culture, frame your pitch around both the emotional hook and the commercial concept — what feeling does the book leave a child with, and what makes it stand out on a shelf.
Keep your query concise and focused: picture book agents process high volumes and respond to clarity and brevity over lengthy descriptions.
If you are an author-illustrator, say so explicitly — dummy books or sample spreads may be appropriate to mention, as this distinction matters in picture book submissions.