About Blogging for Reviews
By Ashleigh Meikle

As an active book blogger and children’s book advocate, I work hard to promote Australian children’s and young adult books, from picture books to novels. The reason for this is that there is a lack of reviews in mainstream media for children’s books, and most coverage is in specialist publications like Magpies, Reading Time, Books and Publishing or Good Reading Magazine. I also write for Good Reading Magazine from time to time.

There are other reviewers like Joy Lawn, Romi Sharp, Thuy On, and Karys McEwen who review children’s books for Books and Publishing. Some of us run our own blogs or Substacks to discuss reviews and other aspects of children’s books as well. There are amazing podcasts like Totally Lit by Ky Garvey, Words and Nerds by Dani Vee and Your Kid’s Next Read with Megan Daley and Alison Tait. Other bloggers I follow include Melissa Gijsbers, Veronica Joy, and Sue Warren. This is just a small cross-section of reviewers with an avenue to promote children’s books.

But the reason I focus on children’s and young adult books on my blog is that there is rarely, if ever, any mainstream media coverage. Specialist publications require a subscription though. Or there’s social media. Social media and any mainstream media often focus on the big names or celebrity authors. On what ‘should’ be read rather than what might be interesting from my quick scans. It’s disheartening to see these avenues show the same authors all the time.

I get to promote and highlight the authors and books that might be overlooked. However, there is still a sense that a lot of media puts adult books on a pedestal as capital B books, and leaves children’s books languishing at the kid’s table.

Everyone mentioned does things differently, and we follow style guides for professional reviews. On blogs, we have freedom to write what we need to write, to go as in-depth as we want, and to review what suits our audience.

As someone who is contacted at least weekly, I have found that publicists and publishers will usually either send me information or links. This makes reviewing easier.

With requests from self-published authors, I have asked for information a few times. Chasing up can get the information, repetition of the request or no response at all. I need more than a genre and audience to be able make a reviewing decision.

This is a challenge, because it makes getting the review done harder. I don’t have time to chase things because I run my blog on my own. I read and review everything I say yes to. To cope, I have had to set limits.

Some of these requests come right as I’ve just received several packages of books I’ve committed to.  I have to turn many requests down at these times to fit things in and focus on what I already have.

So, where to next with my reviewing? Whatever is next on my pile and fitting in other reading where I can.

Ashleigh Meikle is a book reviewer at The Book Muse, Sisters in Crime and Good Reading Magazine. She is also a Guide Dogs volunteer, and advocate for disability and children’s books. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Threads @thebookmuse1.

Posted by: NCACL | Published: 01 Mar 2026