Finding Your Audience -connecting with teachers, librarians, and parents

By Stephanie Bearce

As kidlit authors it can be a challenge to get our books into the hands of our intended readers. Most four-year-olds aren't browsing Amazon for the newest picture book and ten-year-olds aren't really supposed to drive themselves to the bookstore. We need brilliant parents, librarians, and teachers to love our stories and get them into the hands of our readers. 

There are many avenues for making these connections. book reviews, blog tours, speaking engagements, school and library visits, podcasts, and newsletters, to name just a few. Too many for just one blog post! (Hint, hint, we'll be giving away more promotional tips in the next few weeks.) Today we are going to concentrate on reviews.

Getting your book into the hands of reviewers is critical. Most publishers will make sure your book is sent to Horn Book, Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. But it's always a good idea to check with your editor and the publicity team. Nobody wants their book to be the one to "slip through the crack." YOU are the best champion of your work. So make sure you know it is getting out into the world.

There are a number of great blogs that review children's books and it is worth your time and effort to get a galley to them for review. In the waaay back olden days, you would have needed a copy of your book, but now with the miracle of the internet - you can send electronic galleys!! (with the blessing of your publisher, of course.)
Check out these blogs - and if you know of others - leave a comment! We'll add them to the list!!
The Children's Book Review
Imagination Soup
Happily Ever Elephants
Literacious
Nerdy Book Club
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Mr. Schu Reads
Here Wee Read
From the Mixed Up Files
Storywraps
Randomly Reading
Only Picture Books
Book Riot
Lisa's Reading
The Crimson Review
Shelf Awareness

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