Fast Facts

Join Sourcebooks as a Summer Intern in Kids/YA Marketing and Publicity, where you'll gain hands-on experience in book publishing, working on real publicity campaigns and collaborating with passionate team members.

Responsibilities: Assist with social media, draft marketing materials, research influencers for outreach, pitch titles, organize events, and contribute ideas for audience engagement.

Skills: Strong communication skills, creativity, curiosity, and a passion for books are necessary for this internship.

Qualifications: Current college students or recent graduates, preferably sophomores, juniors, or seniors.

Location: Naperville, IL, with some remote work (1 day remote per week).

Compensation: $17 - $17 / Hourly

Kids/YA Marketing and Publicity internshipSummer Internship (Naperville, IL) 

Ready to launch your career in book publishing? Join Sourcebooks, the fastest growing publisher in the U.S., and the home of an unparalleled number of bestselling books where creativity, innovation, and storytelling collide. We’re a team of passionate book lovers who bring extraordinary authors to readers in bold, data-driven, and entrepreneurial ways. 

👉 This isn’t a coffee-run internship. You’ll contribute meaningfully to projects, collaborate with publishing professionals, and discover how your ideas can impact readers everywhere. 

This internship is ideal for a current college student or recent graduate eager to dive into the world of book publishing — especially the side that connects books with media, events, and promotion with the readers. You’ll get hands-on experience working on real publicity campaigns, collaborating with passionate team members, and you’ll learn how publicity helps stories reach new audiences.

About the Program 

• When: June 9 – August 13, 2026
• Where: Naperville, IL ($17.00/hourly)
• Schedule: 24 hours/week (2 days in-person, 1 day remote) 
• Who: Current college sophomores, juniors, seniors, or recent grads 

During the Kids/YA Marketing and Publicity internship, you will learn all about kids and young adult marketing, including creating campaigns, book publicity, working with influencers, developing authors, the role of social media, identifying a book’s audience and key selling points, measuring ROI, and more.

Summer Kids/YA Marketing and Publicity Internship Responsibilities:

• Assist in the creation, scheduling and tracking of social media posts for the Kids and YA teams.
• Draft marketing materials, including newsletters, press releases, and promotional copy, under the guidance of the marketing team.
• Research and compile lists of relevant influencers, bloggers, and educators for outreach and book promotion campaigns.
• Assist in pitching fall titles to influencers and media.
• Help organize events such as book launches or school visits.
• Contribute ideas for enhancing engagement with target audiences.

Your Cover Letter Matters — A Lot! 

We want to know why you want to intern at Sourcebooks. Your cover letter is your chance to tell us: 

• Why publishing — and why Sourcebooks — excites you 
• What you hope to learn and contribute 
• How your creativity, curiosity, or love of books shines through 

*Applications without a cover letter won’t be considered, so take the time to tell your story! 

Why Sourcebooks? 

• Named #2 Most Loved Workplace by Newsweek (2024) 
• Recognized by Fast Company as one of the Most Innovative Companies (2024) 
• Over 300 million lives changed through books — and counting 
• A culture built on creativity, innovation, and impact 

Application Deadline: January 20, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT - Applications will be reviewed after the deadline.  

Sourcebooks values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.