Jr Storytellers - Children's Books & Education

What Jr Storytellers - Children's Books & Education does

Jr Storytellers is a privately held Canadian children's media and education company that publishes children's books and operates a network-based platform for live and virtual storytelling sessions. The company sells a small catalog of physical children's books (titles include 'My Mom, My Superhero,' 'The Backpack,' 'Jack and the Skygarden,' 'Nothing But...Yet!,' and 'Underwear Is Fun to Wear') priced at $15.99-$16.99 through a Wix-based e-commerce storefront, alongside keynote speaking engagements by founder Jason D'Rocha and educational content via 'The Reading Well' blog. Customers are predominantly parents and schools/libraries seeking literacy and character-building content for preschool through 5th grade audiences.

The company has built a layered business model with three revenue streams: one-time book sales, recurring subscriptions for aspiring storytellers ($5-$40/month tiers), and a marketplace of independent contractor storytellers who conduct live and virtual sessions at schools, libraries, and community events. The Certified and Mentor subscription tiers create a directory listing mechanic and a 10% affiliate commission program, effectively turning subscribers into a distributed sales and delivery force. Underlying technology is modest — a Wix storefront with integrated payments, Google Analytics, and Meta Pixel — with no proprietary platform or AI features disclosed. Content production is supported by a distributed team of authors, illustrators, and educators across Canada and the Philippines, with a recently hired AI Agent Developer signaling nascent interest in AI-assisted production.

Financially, Jr Storytellers is a small, self-funded operation with 1-10 employees, no disclosed funding rounds, no institutional investors, and no disclosed revenue. The company relies on low-friction DTC e-commerce, subscription dollars, and a contract-based storyteller network to operate, with growth contingent on the spread of its subscription tiers, the expansion of its storyteller directory, and the catalog of published titles.

Name

Jr Storytellers - Children's Books & Education

Legal name

Jr Storytellers

Website

https://jrstorytellers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Jr Storytellers is a Canadian children's education company that publishes children's books and operates a network of independent contractor storytellers delivering live and virtual sessions at schools, libraries, and community events, alongside a tiered subscription program for aspiring storytellers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Books & Educational Storytelling

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Nonfiction Publishing (MPAJAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Children’s & YA Writing Workshops (EDAMAMAF)

Keywords

• Children's book publishing
• Storytelling education services
• Children's literacy programs
• Youth character education
• Educational content publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Scarborough

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Children's Book Sales: Direct sales of published children's books through their online bookshop. Books are priced at $15.99-$16.99. Also offers custom digital stories.
2. Storyteller Subscriptions: Three-tier subscription model for aspiring and professional storytellers: Community ($5/month), Certified ($25/month), and Mentor ($40/month). Includes training, resources, directory listings, and background checks.
3. Storytelling Session Services: Live and virtual storytelling sessions at schools, libraries, and community events coordinated through the platform. Storytellers set their own rates (avg. ~$100+ per session) and get paid directly by schools.
4. Affiliate Book Sales: Storytellers earn 10% affiliate commission on book sales through their referral links, both in-person and online.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Jr Storytellers publishes and sells a portfolio of physical children's books with character-building and curriculum-aligned themes through its own e-commerce bookshop. The company also runs a subscription-based training program (Community, Certified, Mentor tiers) that supports a network of independent contractor storytellers who deliver live and virtual storytelling sessions at schools, libraries, and community events. Complementary offerings include keynote speaking services by the founder and custom digital stories.

Product overview

Jr Storytellers operates as a children's books and education company offering a portfolio of physical children's books (including My Mom My Superhero, The Backpack, Jack and the Skygarden, Nothing But...Yet!, and Underwear Is Fun to Wear) alongside live and virtual storytelling services through a network of certified storytellers. The company also runs a tiered membership program (Community, Certified, and Mentor levels) that trains storytellers, provides digital resources and storybooks, and connects members with paid storytelling opportunities. Keynote speaking services by founder Jason D'Rocha are available for schools, conferences, and professional development events. The Reading Well blog provides educational content on storytelling and leadership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• My Mom, My Superhero Physical children's book celebrating mothers as superheroes with an important message about instilling values in children; designed for parents and educators supporting character-building at home and in classroom read-alouds.
• The Backpack Physical children's book exploring mental health and well-being in the parent-child relationship; targeted at parents and educators supporting children's emotional health through storytelling.
• Jack and the Skygarden Physical children's book published through the Jr. Storytellers bookshop; sold to parents and families for at-home reading and storytelling purposes.
• Nothing But...Yet! Physical children's book that encourages children to practice new skills and reframe learning as an exciting challenge; suitable for purposeful read-alouds and text-to-self discovery in school and at home.
• Underwear Is Fun to Wear Physical children's book authored by Brad Fay featuring silly poems and playful content for children; designed for parent-child reading and family entertainment.
• Storyteller Visits Live or virtual storytelling sessions where certified independent contractor storytellers engage children at schools, libraries, and community events with curriculum-aligned, character-building content for preschool through 5th grade.
• Storyteller Membership Program Three-tier subscription membership that trains aspiring and professional children's storytellers using the JRS Storytelling Methodology, provides digital storybooks, training videos, and resources, lists Certified members in a directory for schools, includes background checks, and offers affiliate commissions on book sales plus team earning potential for Mentors.
• Keynote Speaking Services Keynote presentations and speaking engagements by Founder Jason D'Rocha for educators, coaches, parents, and caregivers on communication, storytelling, and interaction with children.
• Custom Digital Stories Custom digital stories sold by Jr. Storytellers as a personalized product for purchasers who require spelling and name verification before ordering.

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• WixcoreTechnology or IntegrationWix platform powers the company's e-commerce bookshop and website. Payment processing is handled securely through Wix's platform using the customer's selected payment method.
• Storytellers (Independent Contractors)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStorytellers are independent contractors who conduct live and virtual storytelling sessions at schools, libraries, and events. They are supported with tools and training through the subscription service but are not employees. Only background-checked Storytellers (Levels 2-5) appear in the Certified Directory for live events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Highlights for Children: Established children's media brand spanning magazines, books, and educational content — overlaps with Jr Storytellers on audience and content themes but operates at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Cricket Media: Children's magazine and book publisher serving schools, libraries, and families with character- and education-oriented content — comparable target market and channel orientation.
• Scholastic: Largest children's publisher and education distributor in North America with deep school-channel penetration — represents the scaled incumbent against which Jr Storytellers' curriculum-aligned books compete.

Direct peers

• Free Spirit Publishing: Publisher of character education and social-emotional learning titles for children and educators — closely aligned with Jr Storytellers' curriculum-aligned, character-building content positioning.
• Lee & Low Books: Independent children's publisher focused on diverse stories with educational value — comparable indie positioning and school-channel orientation.
• Magination Press: Children's book imprint of the American Psychological Association publishing titles on social-emotional learning and mental health — directly comparable to Jr Storytellers' book 'The Backpack' and similar themes.
• Barefoot Books: Independent children's book publisher with a strong focus on diverse, character-building stories and educational themes — closely comparable to Jr Storytellers' publishing approach and target audience.
• Albert Whitman & Company: Independent children's book publisher with a longstanding catalog of picture and middle-grade titles featuring social themes — comparable scale and category overlap.
• Dawn Publications: Small-press publisher of children's books emphasizing nature, character, and educational messaging — a strong comparable on indie scale and thematic focus.

Emerging players

• Outschool: Online marketplace for live virtual classes for kids, including storytelling and creative writing — overlaps with Jr Storytellers' virtual storytelling and subscription membership model for educators/enthusiasts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@JrStorytellers
• Facebookfacebook.com/jrstorytellers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jr-storytellers-childrens-books-education
• Instagraminstagram.com/jr.storytellers

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

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 Jr Storytellers - Children's Books & Education