Kinder Books is proud to support children’s literature, independent creators, and meaningful connections between authors and young readers. Over the past few years, we’ve welcomed many self-published children’s authors into our bookstore for events and pop-ups. These experiences have been both rewarding and instructive.
To ensure we can continue offering high-quality, sustainable programming, we are introducing a new event structure for self-published authors, effective June 2026.
Until then, Kinder Books will primarily focus on our own in-house programming and partnerships with traditional publishing houses.
Supporting Self-Published Authors—Sustainably
As an independent children’s bookstore, we receive daily inquiries from self-published authors across Canada and beyond. While we deeply appreciate this interest, the volume has made it necessary to create a clearer and more structured process—one that supports authors while also respecting the capacity of our small team.
This new approach allows us to continue offering opportunities to self-published authors in a way that is thoughtful, fair, and sustainable.
New Format: Pop-Up Author Tables at Kinder Books
Beginning in June 2026, Kinder Books will offer pop-up table opportunities for self-published authors once or twice a month on weekends.
How it works:
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Authors book a table in-store to promote their children’s book(s).
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All book sales are handled on a consignment basis.
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Instead of a table fee, Kinder Books receives 42% of total book sales.
This model allows authors to connect directly with families while helping support the operational costs of running an independent bookstore.
Optional Children’s Activities
Authors may also choose to offer a drop-in children’s activity during their scheduled time in the store. If requested, Kinder Books can provide a table and basic craft materials. Activities should be simple, age-appropriate, and aligned with our focus on children’s literacy and creativity.
Promotion & Marketing Responsibilities
Event promotion—including posters, social media graphics, and other marketing materials—is the responsibility of the author. Kinder Books is happy to share approved promotional content on our social media channels, but authors are expected to lead their own outreach.
Author Intake Period & Submission Guidelines
All self-published author participation is subject to approval.
Our intake period for new self-published authors runs from March 1–15 each year. During this time, authors may email information about their book(s) to:
Due to the high number of submissions, only approved authors will be contacted.
Thank You to the Self-Publishing Community
We are grateful to the many self-published children’s authors who reach out to Kinder Books and who contribute to a vibrant literary ecosystem. This updated structure allows us to continue welcoming independent voices while ensuring Kinder Books remains a thriving, community-focused children’s bookstore.
Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support.
—
Anne
Kinder Books