Bushel & Peck Books

What Bushel & Peck Books does

Bushel & Peck Books is a privately held, family-run children's book publisher founded in 2018 by David and Stephanie Miles in Fresno, California. The company publishes 140+ titles spanning board books, picture books, chapter books, illustrated nonfiction, activity books, interactive books (pop-ups, flaps), and language-learning books, organized by age band (1-3, 4-6, 7-10, 11-13) and topic (STEM, poetry, biography, history, classics, languages, art, nature, faith). Its catalog features notable authors Jane Yolen, Nancy Kerrigan, Chris Singleton, David Archuleta, Keyshawn Johnson, Suzanne Slade, and Rob Sanders, supported by an Editorial Director (Ryan G. Van Cleave, joined 2022) and a Managing Editor (Dean Burrell) with prior experience at Harper San Francisco and Chronicle Books. The Penny Lane sub-brand offers an economy paperback line for price-sensitive families and classrooms.

The company operates three distinct revenue streams. The primary direct-to-consumer channel runs on a Shopify storefront with global shipping, an educator discount (20% off via VerifyPass), a Story Coins loyalty program ($1 back for every $5 spent), and periodic BOGO promotions. The publishing division offers two author paths: a Traditional Program (agent-required, 3% acceptance, advances plus 5-15% royalties) and a Jumpshot hybrid program ($6,500 author fee, 75% initial royalties, 5-8% acceptance). The third stream, Acquired Academy, is an online author-education course ($99) plus publisher consultations ($199-$499) with semi-annual Pitch Day events that feed the Traditional Program pipeline. Social impact is a stated brand pillar through the Book-for-Book Promise (one book donated per book sold, 548,950 cumulative pledge) and carbon-neutral shipping via Carbon Direct-vetted partners.

Customer-facing technology is intentionally lean: Shopify commerce, Shopify-managed loyalty, and third-party verification. There are no AI/ML features, no native apps, no proprietary data assets, and no disclosed SDK, MCP, or API. The company is bootstrapped, founder-owned, and employs approximately 12 named staff distributed across California, Texas, and Florida, with no venture capital, no parent company, and no disclosed funding rounds.

Name

Bushel & Peck Books

Legal name

Bushel & Peck Books

Website

https://bushelandpeckbooks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bushel & Peck Books is a family-run, Fresno-based children's book publisher founded in 2018, selling 140+ titles directly to parents, educators, and gift buyers via Shopify while also offering hybrid publishing programs and author education through Acquired Academy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Readers & Chapter Books Publishing (MPAJAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s Activity & Practice Books (Workbooks, Puzzles, Handwriting) (EDAGAIAE), Children’s Nonfiction Educational (Science, History, Nature) (EDAGAIAC), Children’s Subscription & Book Club Publishing (MPAJAFAO), Author Business Tools & Analytics (Royalty Tracking, Pricing, Keyword/Market Research) (MPAJAJAO)

Keywords

• Children's book publishing
• Picture books
• Board books
• Hybrid publishing services
• Author education courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Fresno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct Book Sales: Direct consumer sales of children's books through e-commerce storefront. Books sold at various price points from economy ($9.99-$14.99) to premium ($15-$45). Includes Board Books, Picture Books, Chapter Books, and Illustrated Nonfiction.
2. Publishing Services - Traditional: Traditional publishing program for agented authors with advances and standard royalties (5-15%). Authors include Jane Yolen, Suzanne Slade, Rob Sanders, Keyshawn Johnson.
3. Jumpshot Hybrid Publishing: Author-supported publishing program with $6,500 upfront fee. Authors earn 75% royalties initially, switching to more traditional structure after recouping costs.
4. Acquired Academy Education: Online courses teaching aspiring authors about children's publishing. $99 course, plus publisher consultations at $199-$499 for 20-60 minute sessions. Provides $500 discount on Jumpshot program for graduates.
5. Story Coins Loyalty Program: Customers earn $1 Story Coins for every $5 spent, redeemable for $1 off coupons per 100 coins.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bushel & Peck Books is an award-winning children's book publisher that creates and sells 140+ books across formats (board books, picture books, chapter books, illustrated nonfiction, activity books, interactive books, and language learning books) for ages 1-13 through a direct-to-consumer Shopify storefront. The company also operates two publishing programs (Traditional for agented authors offering advances and 5-15% royalties, and Jumpshot hybrid for author-supported publication at $6,500 with 75% royalties) and offers Acquired Academy author training courses and publisher consultations.

Product overview

Bushel & Peck Books is a family-run children's book publisher founded in 2018, offering a diverse portfolio of over 140 books across multiple formats and categories. The core product lineup includes Board Books, Picture Books, Chapter Books, Illustrated Nonfiction, Activity Books (including the popular Draw With Mom/Dad/Grandma/Grandpa series), Interactive Books (with pop-ups and flaps), and Language Learning Books. Notable product lines include the Good Guys Agency series (time-traveling chapter books), Decide & Survive series (choose-your-own-adventure history books), Read-With-Me Editions of classics (The Secret Garden, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland), Interactive Reference books (The Interactive Human Body, The Interactive Constitution), and the Penny Lane economy imprint. Beyond publishing, the company offers educational services including Acquired Academy (author training and mentorship), Traditional and Jumpshot publishing programs for authors, publisher consultations, free author visits, and the Book-for-Book Promise social impact initiative. The company also provides a Story Coins loyalty program, educator discounts, and carbon-neutral shipping.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Penny Lane: Economy imprint dedicated to creating affordable books for families and classrooms, printed as paperbacks on lighter paper with high-quality design and engaging content.

Products and services

• Board Books Sturdy board books designed for young children ages 1-3, featuring durable pages that can withstand rough handling. Available through the Bushel & Peck Shopify storefront.
• Picture Books Illustrated picture books for young readers featuring vibrant artwork and engaging stories suitable for ages 4-6 and beyond. Available through the Bushel & Peck Shopify storefront.
• Chapter Books Chapter books for developing readers ages 7-13, including the Good Guys Agency series and Read-With-Me Editions of classics. Available through the Bushel & Peck Shopify storefront.
• Illustrated Nonfiction Nonfiction books with extensive illustrations covering topics including STEM, history, biography, languages, art, nature, and faith. Available through the Bushel & Peck Shopify storefront.
• Activity Books Interactive activity books including the popular Draw With Mom/Dad/Grandma/Grandpa series and Draw With Auntie/Uncle/Brother/Sister titles. Available through the Bushel & Peck Shopify storefront.
• Interactive Books Innovative books with interactive elements such as pop-ups, flaps, and hands-on components, including The Sun and the Planets 3-D Solar System with Pop-Ups. Available through the Bushel & Peck Shopify storefront.
• Language Learning Books Language study books including My First Book of French, My First Book of Mandarin, and the My First 400 series in multiple languages (Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Greek, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Japanese). Available through the Bushel & Peck Shopify storefront.
• Decide & Survive Series Choose-your-own-adventure style chapter books covering historical events such as Gladiators of Rome, The Oregon Trail, The Attack on Pearl Harbor, The Battle of Gettysburg, and The Destruction of Pompeii. Available through the Bushel & Peck Shopify storefront.
• Good Guys Agency Series Chapter book series featuring time-traveling friends Lucky, Rudy, and Red who meet historic heroes including Fred Rogers, Jackie Robinson, Milton Hershey, and Ludwig van Beethoven. Available through the Bushel & Peck Shopify storefront.
• Read-With-Me Editions Adapted classic literature for young readers including The Secret Garden, A Christmas Carol, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Wind in the Willows, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Available through the Bushel & Peck Shopify storefront.
• Interactive Reference Books Interactive nonfiction featuring flaps, tabs, and pop-up elements including The Interactive Human Body, The Interactive Constitution, The Interactive New Testament, and Art: An Interactive Guide. Available through the Bushel & Peck Shopify storefront.
• Penny Lane (Economy Imprint) Economy imprint offering affordable paperback books printed on lightweight paper, designed for families and classrooms with high-quality content at lower price points ($9.99-$16.99). Available through the Bushel & Peck Shopify storefront.
• Traditional Publishing Program Traditional publishing path for agented children's authors offering advance payments and standard royalties (5-15%), with a 3% acceptance rate and 2-3 year timeline from acquisition to publication. Featured authors include Jane Yolen, Suzanne Slade, Rob Sanders, and Keyshawn Johnson.
• Jumpshot Publishing Program Author-supported hybrid publishing program where authors cover part of publishing costs upfront ($6,500), initially earning 75% royalties before switching to a more traditional royalty structure, with 5-8% acceptance rate and 12-18 month timeline.
• Acquired Academy Online course and mentorship program teaching aspiring authors what children's publishers want, including video lessons, exercises, and access to semi-annual Pitch Day competitions for traditional publishing contracts with Bushel & Peck. Priced at $99.
• Publisher Consultation Services One-on-one consultation sessions with publisher David Miles offering feedback on manuscripts, market insights, and personalized suggestions for submissions, available in 20-minute ($199), 40-minute ($399), and 60-minute ($499) formats.

Quantifiable outcome

• 548,950 books pledged to children in need through Book-for-Book Promise
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jane YolencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Award-winning children's author with over 400 books published. Published through Bushel & Peck's Traditional Program as a featured author.
• Nancy KerrigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer professional figure skater and U.S. Ladies' champion. Author of 'Stronger Than She Thinks' published by Bushel & Peck.
• Chris SingletoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInspirational speaker and former professional baseball player. Published author with Bushel & Peck.
• David ArchuletacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPop star and singer who became known at age 16. Published author with Bushel & Peck.
• Keyshawn JohnsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer NFL player and ESPN analyst. Published through Bushel & Peck's Traditional Program.
• Irene LathamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthor of many books for children including novels, published with Bushel & Peck.
• Ryan G. Van CleavecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning children's author, Creative Writing major at Ringling College of Art and Design, and Editorial Director at Bushel & Peck.
• Suzanne SladecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished through Bushel & Peck's Traditional Program as a featured author.
• Rob SanderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished through Bushel & Peck's Traditional Program as a featured author.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform powering bushelandpeckbooks.com online storefront and checkout.
• Carbon Removal Companies (Carbon Direct vetted)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbon removal companies vetted by Carbon Direct scientists that receive a portion of Bushel & Peck revenue to offset shipping emissions for carbon-neutral shipping.
• Grassroots CarbonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in carbon removal, helping ranchers modify land management practices to improve soil and ecological health, capturing and storing more carbon in soil.
• DroneSeedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in carbon removal, using drones to reforest land affected by wildfires and mitigate forest loss due to climate change.
• Ringling College of Art and DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRyan G. Van Cleave runs the Creative Writing major at Ringling College. Glenn Schudel teaches Creative Writing there. Partnership for talent and educational collaboration.
• Brigham Young University (BYU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarol Lynch Williams is a professor of creative writing at BYU. David Miles was named General Management Outstanding Graduate of his BYU Marriott School class.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Barefoot Books: Independent children's publisher with strong social-impact branding and direct-to-consumer catalog. Comparable in values-led positioning and global/multilingual reach, though smaller and more curated.
• The Innovation Press: Small independent children's publisher focused on STEM, diversity, and illustrated nonfiction picture books. Comparable in niche content positioning and direct-to-consumer sales model, though more curated catalog.

Direct peers

• Workman Publishing: Independent publisher with a deep children's, activity book, and illustrated nonfiction list (including Brain Quest). Comparable in producing gift-oriented, high-design children's titles for the parent/educator buyer.
• Albert Whitman & Company: Independent children's publisher focused on picture books and middle-grade with a strong social-emotional learning catalog. Comparable in scale, mission-driven positioning, and target audience of parents and educators.
• Familius: Independent family-oriented publisher where David Miles previously served as publishing director. Direct comparable in children's and family trade publishing with similar gift-focused positioning and DTC channel mix.
• Page Street Publishing: Independent trade publisher with strong children's and illustrated nonfiction list, known for high-production-value titles and direct-to-consumer marketing — closely aligned with B&P's indie-press + premium art book model.
• Candlewick Press: Mid-sized independent children's publisher known for premium picture books and middle-grade titles. Comparable in editorial ambition and award-recognition profile, though larger and more retail-distribution-heavy.
• Quarto Group: Independent illustrated book publisher with a meaningful children's imprint (Walter Foster Jr., Happy Fox Books). Comparable in producing illustrated nonfiction, activity books, and children's craft/STEM titles for the gift and education channels.

Broad incumbents

• Chronicle Books: Where Managing Editor Dean Burrell previously worked. Larger independent publisher with a strong illustrated children's and gift book list; broader portfolio but overlapping aesthetic and category positioning.
• Scholastic: Dominant children's publisher with deep educator and school-channel penetration. Comparable in targeting parents, teachers, and libraries, though vastly larger and reliant on institutional distribution rather than DTC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bushelandpeckbooks
• Instagraminstagram.com/bushelandpeckbooks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bushel & Peck Books