Anyone familiar with shopping for Children's/Youth Publishers?

I'm thinking to start looking for titles and books that might be "like" mine. Though on first and a few searches and looking at some submission guidelines, I'm pretty sure I've got an angle that's "new".

What's really interesting too, is how I thought I was writing for a younger audience than I actually AM. My vocabulary seems to put my stories in the 4th-5th grade range, and yet when I have told the story to kids orally, even the Kinders and 2nd graders "get" it...easily. Maybe it is personal, I was probably reading a couple grades ahead of peers in school, and I think all kids are that verbally mature?
I work with kids, so at least I have had a chance to play/read with a sample audience, which I will no doubt include in my query letter

Funny thing is I wrote the first story when I was 21, before a big life turning...when it resurfaced, it was like a sign to my self from my self to pursue the idea of writing more creatively (I had been a journalist for years before this) Now the story has evolved into an entire series, and they just keep writing themselves...I have to scribble down ideas before they can be typed sort of stuff...which is part of the joy of writing in the first place. If these stories can be shared and do something more, that is icing on the cake!

Anyway, just thought I'd see who has any thoughts on the children's book arena...
like, what about Illustrators too? e-book vs. print? etc...