How does OPB get books?
Most of the PBs that are reviewed here are sent directly to me from traditional commercial publishers. But if you have a PB that you think would be a great fit here, feel free to send it yourself or have your own small/indie/university press (or—gasp!—commercial press that isn’t regularly sending me PBs!) fire a review copy/galley/ARC my way.
Ryan G. Van Cleave
1673 Pinyon Pine Drive
Dept. OPB
Sarasota, FL 34240
How many books get reviewed?
Due to the volume of books OPB receives, many of them will not be chosen to be reviewed or included on the website.
At the moment, 24 new/forthcoming books per year—on average—will be mentioned/reviewed/used in OPB each year. This is a mere fraction of the prospective PBs that come my way.
What’s the criteria for being chosen?
Literary and visual merit.
Yeah. I know. “What does THAT mean?” you might be asking.
- Books that have heart.
- Books that resonate.
- Books that are skillfully done.
- Books that matter.
Does that mean a PB has to be perfect to be used at OPB? Not at all. But a book that doesn’t excite me—or my SCBWI PALS group, or my “Writing Picture Books” students, or my PB writing peers, or my own kids—is unlikely to be included here.
Do books have to be recent to appear in OPB?
Yes. OPB is only interested in seeing forthcoming or VERY recently published titles (out for 3 months or less).
We do have occasional special posts–like picture book lists–that will use both contemporary and classic/older books. But those lists are created entirely in house.
Can I pay to have you review my book?
No. Books are chosen purely off the criteria listed above.
The only money made on this site is via affiliate links and paid PB manuscript critiques, and that money goes right back into keeping this site up and running effectively (and free for people like you to enjoy).
Will you ever totally trash a book in a review?
I don’t see the value in a purely negative review.
If it’s not going to be a generally positive review, I’ll choose something else. There are other review sites and reviewers who’ll handle the mud slinging. Not at OPB, though.
My hope is that people come to OPB to find books, writers, and information worth sharing and talking about.
What do you do with books that aren’t chosen to be used in the pages of OPB?
They’re typically:
- donated to area schools, churches, and youth reading programs
- used in classes at Ringling College, such as “Writing Picture Books” or “Illustrating Children’s Literature”
- shared with/given to students
- share with/given to early-career PB writers
Are you SURE this isn’t a pay-to-play site?
Yes. I’m 100% sure.
The only money I make is via people who pay for PB critiques (a completely optional service) or through the affiliate links attached to the books/items listed in the posts.
Money, purchases, or bribes of any type will not increase your chances of getting your picture book included in OPB.