Thoughtfully designed vending machines bringing curated children’s books to cafes, shopping centres, and family-friendly locations nationwide.
Early traction with authors and growing conversations with venues across the UK
Authors Onboarded
Venue Conversationss
First Pilots Launch
Author Royalties
Supporting venues, families, and authors with quality children’s literature
Add value for families at your location with curated children’s books
Discover unique children’s books in convenient locations near you
Get your book into family venues with industry-leading royalties
We’re not a bookstore, publisher, or online platform – we’re a focused distribution and placement network.
Real vending machines in real locations where families already spend time – cafes, shopping centres, and holiday parks
We track every sale to identify franchise-worthy stories. Top performers may get consdieration for future media opportunities
Just £50 to get started, then you earn 70% of every sale. We focus on curating your book, placing it in selected venues, and increasing discovery, while you retain the majority of the profits.
Every book is hand-selected by our team. We ensure families discover only the best independent children’s literature
A simple, revolutionary approach to getting quality children’s books into families’ hands
Independent authors submit their manuscripts through our simple online application process
Our team reviews submissions and selects books that meet our quality standards for storytelling and illustrations
We focus on placing books within our network of vending machines across the UK and driving discovery in high-traffic locations.
Parents and children browse touchscreen displays and purchase books at convenient locations they already visit
Authors receive transparent monthly royalty payments as their books sell across our network
High-performing titles may be explored for future media opportunities
Our vending machines are strategically placed in family-friendly venues across the UK
We are building a UK-wide network of family-friendly venues, our machines are bringing quality children’s books to communities everywhere
Perfect for browsing during family outings
Convenient access while you shop
Entertainment for family vacations
Play centres, museums, and attractions
Paediatric clinics and family centres
Family-friendly accommodations
Finding quality children’s books has never been easier or more convenient
Discover books at Stepping Stone locations
View covers, descriptions, and choose the perfect book for your child’s age
Card or contactless – all major cards and digital wallets accepted
Take home a brand-new book and support independent authors
Picture books (0-5 years)
Early readers (5-7 years)
Middle grade (7-12 years)
All clearly labeled on each book
Typically £5-£12 depending on book size and format. All prices displayed clearly on the machine.
Every book carefully curated for quality storytelling and illustrations. All books are brand new and never-read.
Everything you need to know about Stepping Stone Books
There’s a one-time £50 onboarding fee upon acceptance. This covers your author dashboard setup and placement preparation. After that, you earn 70% from every book sold, with monthly payments and clear reporting.
Authors receive 70% of the retail price. Payments are made monthly, with detailed sales reports so you can track performance.
Visit our Reader page and use the location finder. Enter your postcode to explore nearby venues as new pilot locations go live.
We accept children’s books suitable for family venues, including:
• Picture Books (0–5 years) – 50–1,000 words, illustration-led, emotional intelligence and early learning themes
• Early Readers (5–7 years) – 200–1,500 words, simple language, strong illustrations
• Chapter Books (7–9 years) – 4,000–15,000 words
• Middle Grade (8–12 years) – 20,000–40,000 words
Most authors hear back within 2–3 weeks. If accepted, we begin preparing your book for placement in selected venues as pilot locations are confirmed.
Real feedback from authors, venues, and families already part of our journey
Interested in hosting a pilot? Have questions? We’d love to hear from you.
Join other authors, readers, and illustrators in our community
Choose your path and join the Stepping Stone Books revolution today
Join our creative network and collaborate on curated children’s book projects.