How long is an illustrated children's book

How long is an illustrated children's book?  I asked the question at a recent weekend gathering where the parents of children aged 2-7 took turns watching an impromptu game of wiffleball that started in the front yard.

"Twenty minutes or less" remarked one of my friends.

"Anything my kid can read on her own" said another.

The children's literature experts have metrics galore, based on print costs and attention spans, but here are the facts: books today are getting shorter and it is a disservice to our children.

When I wrote Escape From the Crooked Tree, I just wrote.   As we prepared to self-publish, I began to doubt the wisdom of my "devil may care" attitude.  Yes, children love Escape From the Crooked Tree, and it is the perfect bridge book between a picture book and an early reader at 2,500 words and 36 illustrations over 46 pages - but I needed back-up.

Hello, Olive!  On Kickstarter, where I am raising funds for the second book in the Tales From the Tacklebox series, I received a donation from Kirk Werner, author of the Olive the Woolly Bugger.  Kirk and I share an interest and approach to children's writing, and I was thrilled to read that we also agree on the length of children's books.

The fact is there is no template.  A good book is a good book.  So, don't keep yourself constrained by large publishers and their formulaic approach to children.  Venture into the independents (and the outdoors, while you are at it).