Abstract: A method and apparatus for grouping of objects such as books or the like to stacking layers for loading onto pallets wherein stacks of equal height are formed from the individual objects, and are conveyed sequentially for forming a stacking row, the length of which corresponds to the transverse dimension of a pallet; at least one of the stacks in a given stacking row is rotated by 90.degree. with respect to the other stacks in the given stacking row, and a gap is produced between the thusly rotated stack and the remainder of the stacks in the stacking row, the stacking row then being pushed onto an intermediate storage table, with subsequently arriving similarly oriented stacking rows being pushed onto the first stacking row to form a tier, and subsequent tiers similarly formed but with differently oriented stacks to provide a staggered or overlapping bond and thus a stable pallet stack.