While I appreciate what you are saying in the above, and it is very gratifying for you as an author to have your book used as a book report in elementary school, first time readers, or learn to read books are a separate category. The general parameters for picture books are 500-1,000 words, with most publishers/editors trying to keep them at the 500 word level and beginning readers books are to contain short sentences and limited vocabulary with a length of 500-1,500 words. Pumpkin Bunch is over 5,000 words which puts it more into the read-to-me category of story. You also have over 700 distinct words which are used in the story, which is an incredibly high number of distinct words for a first reader/learn to read book.

Yes, after reading it with a parent or grandparent many times, often times children will use a book they love to have read to them to learn reading on their own because they know the story well, and can use this knowledge to help them understand the sequence of letters which form the words. Writing for children, however, is a very specific market and within that market you have picture books, beginning readers, chapter books, middle grade novels, and upper middle grade novels, all of which have their own specific parameters and guidelines associated with them.

With the number and size of the pictures, and the use of anthropomorphic characters, this puts Pumpkin Bunch into the Picture Book/Beginning Reader categories vs. the Chapter Books category, despite the chaptering within the book.

I’m glad that you have received such positive feedback on your book and wish you the best success in your future endeavors.