Back in August I wrote about sending my new children’s books, Uleyli-The Princess & Pirate: Based on the true story of Florida’s Pocahontas, to several different organizations for potentional review in their publications. This resulted in one “highly recommended” review in the October 2019 edition of Children’s Bookwatch, a publication of the Midwest Book Review.
I’m submitting my books for review at two more organizations, TheChildren’sBookReview.com and Kirkus Indie Reviews. Kirkus has been the trickier organization to deal with. I submitted my 94-page illustrated chapter book to their children’s book review and it was rejected for being too long and thus they wanted me to upgrade to the “standard review” which is, of course, pricier. I chose the refund option. Next I submitted the 34-page, 1,500-word junior graphic novel version of my book. They responded that this was “too text heavy.” I asked what their word count was for the children’s book review option and they responded that they “don’t have a required word count” but my book was nonetheless “too text heavy.”
Say what?
So now I will be forced to pay for the upgraded “standard review.” This is the same review that 60,000-word novels have to pay for. Does it really make sense to have a 1,500-word children’s picture book be reviewed by the same folks who review full-blown novels?
But I need at least two professional reviews before most libraries will consider purchasing my book. Since they are my primary market right now, I will do what I have to do.