What is "background of the book"?

I'm wondering too.

Maybe it means how it got started?

Unless the agency reps mostly fiction I'd guess it's an invitation to non-fiction writers to pitch their platform.

If it's about fiction they may mean the backgound as in have you submitted this book to any publishers? Gotten a bite from any editors? Has it been turned turned down, if so by whom?

It's such a vague statement it's hard to tell.

Either that or I'm in dumb mode today.

I believe that means your list of submissions.

If you're not sure what something means in an agency's guidelines, the best one to ask for clarification is the agency. We will always do our best to help out, but the only way you can be 100% sure is to go to the source, especially when it's something as vague as "the background of the book." All of the suggestions offered are good, but unfortunately I think we're as clueless as you are! Let us know what you find out? I'm dying to know what they had in mind with that one.

Kristen

My guess, and it is only a guess, would be is it Thomas the Tank Engine on steroids, Magical School, Aesop's Fables, See Spot Run...

What universe? Real-life, fairy tale, teaching tale?