Books too long

That is way too long for a typical PB. Some also have a classification for a "picture story book"--which is as much story as picture--but 1700 words is too long for that as well.

Could this be an "easy reader" instead?

Are you sure you can't edit it down to 1000 words? Have you let anyone else read the story and given their opinion?

Just be sure to save what you have now before chopping away. You might find a way to keep it as it is (and some stories just have to be a certain length and can't really be cut).

I'd be glad to take a look at it and offer an opinion if you'd like. I'm not a PB expert, but I have submitted a couple and have had to deal with word counts as well.

You can send it as a PM (formatting might screw up, but that's okay), or I'll give you my e-mail address, whichever you prefer.

I send my e-mail address.

Also consider posting it in SYW. I comment on everything there at least once.

Have you read a lot of recently published picture books that are similar to yours? I ask because I see a lot of people who usually write novels write shorter stories and then think they would be good picture books.

But a picture book isn't merely a shorter story. There is a necessary interplay between the text and pictures that mean they are often light on dialogue, light on descriptive detail, etc.

So, I'd second posting it in SYW for some critique. But I'd also suggest taking a few hours and going to a good library or bookstore and reading a whole bunch of recently published picture books (and not character or licensed series -- but trade published picture books) to see what the language and story telling is like.

~suki