ok,
you need to know what it is you are looking for,
get out winnie the poo ,roald dahl and any other classics,
then get out all the books that are in the same ilk as yours,
then get all the books out your children love to look at,
run a thread, asking which illustrations children like,
this will help get your eye in, simple is often better, if you have some sort of idea in your head what kind of style will suit your work, it will jump out at you more,
when you look through the shows, build a file,
keep short listing, until you have half a dozen,
make a panel of friends(who have art experience)
then approach the last three, see which one you think you might be able to work with.
good luck, one of my neighbours is an illustrator, nearly every child will have seen her work,very popular books she got picked up from her degree show, by someone doing what you are doing, now works for quite a few writers and companies,
don't be afraid to ask to be sent images.