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Ivan Taurisano

Macmillan, First Second Books

My Manuscript Wish List®

Hello!

Ivan is a bilingual (Italian/English) graphic novel associate editor at Macmillan, First Second Books, experienced in creator-owned and IP/licensed children’s titles. He holds an MA in Children’s Literature and an MFA in Writing for Children from Simmons University. Ivan brings passion, creativity, a love for bold visual storytelling, and a deep commitment to creators and readers to everything he works on.


What I’m Looking For


General

  • Children’s graphic novels across all genres and age categories
  • Strong commercial hooks, craveable concepts, compelling characters, and series potential
  • Creators with a deep understanding of the graphic novel format

Early Readers and Middle Grade

  • Kid-centric, laugh-out-loud, full of heart, high stakes, and high energy
  • Fast-paced adventures, mysteries, quests, and competitions
  • A dash of magic or mayhem
  • Quirky protagonists and playful, imaginative worlds
  • Breaking the fourth wall
  • Action-packed sequences & unforgettable dynamics

Comps: Pizza and Taco, Narwhal and Jelly, InvestiGators, Dog Man, Wings of Fire, Batcat


Young Adult

  • Strong commercial appeal, layered characters, propulsive and cinematic feel
  • Atmospheric fantasies with morally complex leads & unforgettable villains
  • High emotional stakes & immersive visual worldbuilding

Comps: Moth Keeper, Unfamiliar, Nimona


Across All Age Categories

  • Coming-of-age narratives
  • Powerful, conversation-sparking stories
  • Queer, BIPOC, bilingual, and immigrant representation

Comps: Flamer, Parachute Kids


Not For Me

  • Nonfiction
  • Historical Fiction
  • Biographies
  • Stories in verse

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to ivan.taurisano@firstsecondbooks.com

At this time, I do not accept unagented submissions.