Kelly Dyksterhouse is a children's book specialist at The Tobias Literary Agency who hunts for high-concept, voice-driven middle grade and young adult fiction—especially genre-bending adventures, heists, and folklore-rooted fantasy—plus author-illustrator picture books and narrative nonfiction about overlooked history and the natural world.
In brief
Dyksterhouse is laser-focused on children's and YA; adult fiction and adult nonfiction are entirely outside their scope.
The stated wishlist is unusually specific about desired tropes—heist stories, competitive-subculture narratives, eerie thrillers, cosy YA fantasy—giving writers a rare roadmap for a pitch that will stand out.
Picture books come with a clear gate: only author-illustrators need apply, and a portfolio link is required in the query.
The agent explicitly notes they are not a fit for sci-fi, grief-centered stories, contemporary 'issue' books, or content dealing with sexual violence—make sure your book clears all four before querying.
As of late July 2025, Dyksterhouse was still working through a large query backlog and publicly stated they did not plan to reopen in August 2025—check the live submission form before querying.
Lately
Looking for books that bridge the gap between MG and YA? Readers ask me for these books more often than any other, so I thought I would recommend a few. Here are some for readers who love DRAGONS! #kidlit #booksky #MG #YA #MGtoYA
That’s a wrap! Thanks to those who submitted pages for this month’s live first pages session with @thetobiasagency.bsky.social !Our next will be on 3/25. To submit your first page, send to queryconuncdrum@gmail.com. #writers #firstpages #amquerying
Our first live Ask Agent is tomorrow! If you’re free during, hop on over to IG and join us! #amquerying #writers #kidlit #publishingindustry
In a public post, Dyksterhouse shared that they were actively working through May queries as of late July 2025, had responded to everything submitted before that month, and read and reply to every query personally. They noted a remaining backlog of several hundred queries and indicated they had no plans to reopen in August 2025. Writers were told nudges are acceptable.
What Kelly is looking for
Dyksterhouse wants high-concept, high-stakes adventures set in vivid, immersive worlds. Ensemble casts, unlikely heroes, underdog arcs, surprise friendships, and complicated-but-hopeful family dynamics all resonate strongly. Stories that balance genuine humor with emotional depth are especially welcome, as are narratives that center underrepresented voices while letting kids simply be kids. The hook must be strong, the plot must move, and the writing must do real work on the sentence level.
Layered stories with a distinct voice grounded in universal emotional experience. Dyksterhouse is drawn to books where the setting functions almost as a character—contained worlds, vivid atmospheres, immersive landscapes. Genre mash-ups are welcome. Specific desires include a smart, funny heist; an eerie thriller; a story built around a competitive subculture; a YA cosy fantasy rich with voice and humor; historical fiction that is impeccably paced with themes that feel contemporary; and fantasy that brings a genuinely fresh angle to folklore—familiar or obscure—or a sweeping, Megan Whalen Turner-scale world. A romantic thread is welcome (enemies-to-lovers is a favourite), but contemporary romance as a primary genre is not a fit.
Character-driven stories with a strong narrative arc. Dyksterhouse is particularly drawn to picture books with a surprising or subversive twist that earns a genuine laugh. IMPORTANT GATE: picture books are accepted only from author-illustrators. A link to a portfolio or website is required, and the full manuscript plus a dummy or artwork samples should accompany the query.
Projects that shed light on little-known historical periods or discoveries, books centered on the natural world, STEAM concepts, and social justice themes. Strong voice and beautiful writing are non-negotiable even in nonfiction. Picture-book nonfiction follows the same author-illustrator-only rule.
Not the right fit
On Kelly's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Kelly
Check the live submission form before doing anything else — Dyksterhouse stated in late July 2025 that they had no plans to reopen in August, and the form was confirmed closed in June 2025.
For novels (MG or YA), submit a query letter, a one-page synopsis, and the first ten pages of the manuscript. Do not exceed what is asked.
For picture books, you MUST be an author-illustrator. Include a link to your portfolio or website, the full manuscript, and a dummy or artwork samples alongside your query.
Lead your query with the concept hook and what makes the world or setting distinctive — Dyksterhouse repeatedly emphasizes immersive worlds and the setting functioning as a character.
Name the trope if it applies: if your book is a heist, an eerie thriller, a competitive-subculture story, or a cosy fantasy, say so early. These are explicitly on the wishlist.
If your book features underrepresented voices or perspectives, make that visible in the query — Dyksterhouse specifically calls this out as a priority for MG.
Do not query sci-fi, grief-centric narratives, contemporary issue books, or any content involving sexual violence — these are explicit exclusions, not soft preferences.
Nudges are acceptable per the agent's own public statement — if you have not heard back and an appropriate amount of time has passed, a polite follow-up is welcome.
Do not query picture books unless you are also the illustrator. A portfolio link is a required part of your submission packet.