A custom children's book,written just for them.
Tell our storyteller what is happening in your child's world: a new baby, a first day of school, a dinosaur phase. She shapes it into an original story, and we paint every page with your child as the hero, alongside the people, pets and toys they love.
Free to start. See your cover and first three pages painted before you pay.
A REAL CUSTOM BOOK
It started with one line
A parent told Emma: “Virginia loves robots.” Out came a robot cat that goes haywire, and a five-year-old who learns it only listens to curiosity, with her toy cats Ginny and Sparks along for the ride. Every line and painting below is from the finished book.
Page 1
Under an oak in brick-lined town, A secret lab was nestled down. Virginia cleared her tinker tray To build a brand-new friend today. With faithful Ginny tucked nearby, And friendly Sparks with watchful eye.
Page 10
Virginia gasped—then understood! No strict command would do it good! For metal cats, though made with skill, Possess a real cat's stubborn will: You cannot rule them with a word, They only chase what seems absurd!
Page 11
She dropped the lever, laughed out loud, And stepped before the racing crowd. She shook a tin of shiny screws And waved a trail of golden clues— A bright tinfoil ball that spun and gleamed, The finest toy a cat ever dreamed!
Not a template with their name dropped in
Most personalized books are the same story for every child, with a name swapped in. A custom story starts from your child's actual life, at a fraction of the cost of hiring an author and an illustrator.
Story written new, about your child's real life
- Enchantably
- Name-swap
- Commission
Characters look like your child and family
- Enchantably
- Name-swap
- Sometimes
- Commission
Siblings, grandparents, pets and toys included
- Enchantably
- Up to 6
- Name-swap
- Limited
- Commission
Edit every line before printing
- Enchantably
- Name-swap
- Commission
- With revisions
See finished pages before you pay
- Enchantably
- Name-swap
- Some
- Commission
Typical cost
- Enchantably
- $12.99-$74.99
- Name-swap
- $20-$60
- Commission
- $1,500+
| Feature | Name-swap books | Enchantably custom story | Hiring an author and illustrator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Story written new, about your child's real life | |||
| Characters look like your child and family | Sometimes | ||
| Siblings, grandparents, pets and toys included | Limited | Up to 6 | |
| Edit every line before printing | With revisions | ||
| See finished pages before you pay | Some | ||
| Typical cost | $20-$60 | $12.99-$74.99 | $1,500+ |
Typical figures. Professional illustration alone for a 24-page picture book has averaged $1,540 to $4,950 on Reedsy, before writing or printing.
How a custom story is made
About ten minutes of your time, and you approve every step.
1.Add your cast
Your child first, then up to five more: a sibling, a grandparent, the family dog, the bunny they sleep with. Upload a photo and we paint each one to look like themselves on every page.
2.Chat with Emma
Our storyteller asks four questions, one at a time. Type as much or as little as you like. Not sure? She offers two ideas to choose from.
3.Say yes to your story
Emma comes back with a title and a short synopsis. Love it, change something, or ask for a different angle, before a single verse is written.
4.Shape every line
Read the finished story in rhyme or prose. Edit any line yourself, or ask for a verse to be rewritten ("make it funnier", "add Grandpa here").
5.See it painted, free
Pick an art style and a square or landscape book. We paint your cover and first three pages for free. Love them? Order, and we paint the rest.
Four questions. One story no one else has.
Emma asks about your child the way a friend would. Here is how one family might answer.
Question 1: The moment
What is going on in your child's world right now?
Question 2: The adventure
What happens in the story?
Question 3: Where and when
Where does it take place?
Question 4: The tone
Funny, heartwarming or a big adventure? Anything to sneak in?
YOUR STORY, SO FAR
Then Emma pitches a title and a short synopsis. Say yes, change something, or ask for a different angle. Nothing is written until you love the idea.
A story for whatever they are going through
Seeing themselves in the story can make a big change feel a little smaller. Start with the moment, and the story grows from there.
A new baby on the way
A story where they get to be the big brother or sister, and the hero.
Starting school
Walk through the first day before it happens, with a friendly face beside them.
A big fear
The dark, the doctor, swimming lessons: brave on the page first.
Moving to a new home
Say goodbye to the old room and find the magic in the new one.
A new pet
The puppy or kitten joins the family, and the adventure.
A birthday
Their age, their friends, their favorite things, all in one story.
Missing someone far away
A grandparent across the ocean, or a parent away for work, close again in a book.
Their current obsession
Dinosaurs, space, horses, trains. Whatever they talk about at dinner.
Made around your family
Rhyme or prose
A read-aloud poem with real rhythm, or a flowing story. You choose before it is written.
From toddlers to grown-ups
Language tuned to the reader, from ages 0 to 3 up to teens, and a dry, grown-up humor for adults.
17 languages
Written in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Bengali, Arabic, Urdu or Vietnamese.
Your real places
Add up to five photos of places that matter, like your kitchen, their school or a favorite park, and we paint them into the story.
A dedication page
Write your own message, or let us help you find the words. Add a photo if you like.
Four art styles, two shapes
Classic Storybook, Magical Adventure, Soft Watercolor or Whimsical & Playful, as an 8.5" square or a 10" x 8" landscape book.
Photos are used only to make your book and are never used to train AI. How we handle photos
Free to start. Pay only when you love it.
Your story, your cover and your first three pages are free. Then choose your book.
Digital PDF
$12.99
Instant download to read on any screen or print at home.
Printed Hardcover
$46.99
A real hardcover picture book, with the PDF included free.
Premium Layflat
$74.99
Opens completely flat so every illustration spans both pages. PDF included.
If the finished book is not what you hoped, ask for a full refund any time before you approve it. Any page you don't love, we repaint free.
Printed to order in 3-5 business days. Shipping from $6.99, free on 2 or more books. See full pricing
Questions about custom children's books
Can I get a children's book written about my child?
Yes. Tell our storyteller, Emma, what is happening in your child's life and what you would like the story to be about. We write an original story from your answers, in rhyme or prose, and paint every page with your child as the hero.
Is the story really custom, or a template with my child's name?
It is written new for every book. Emma's four questions (the moment in your child's life, the adventure, the place and time, and the tone) shape a story no one else has. You approve the idea before anything is written and can edit every line afterward.
Who can be in the book?
Up to six characters: your child, siblings, up to two grown-ups such as parents or grandparents, pets and favorite toys. Upload a photo of each and we paint them to look like themselves on every page.
Can I change the story after it is written?
Yes. Edit any line directly, or ask for a verse to be rewritten with a note like "make it rhyme better" or "add Grandpa here". After the pictures are painted you can still repaint any page, and edit words until you approve the book for printing.
How long is the book?
You choose 22 to 32 pages, with a full illustration across every pair of pages.
What languages can my book be written in?
Seventeen: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Bengali, Arabic, Urdu and Vietnamese. The story is written in your language from the first line, not translated from English, so the rhymes work the way they should. Same price in every language.
How much does a custom children's book cost?
Creating the story and seeing your cover and first three pages painted is free, with no credit card needed. Then choose a Digital PDF ($12.99), a Printed Hardcover ($46.99) or a Premium Layflat ($74.99). Printed books include the PDF free and ship from $6.99.
How long does it take?
Your cover and first pages are usually painted within a few minutes. After you order, the rest of the book usually takes 10 to 45 minutes. Printed books are made to order in 3 to 5 business days, then shipped: standard delivery takes 5 to 10 business days, priority 1 to 3.
What if I am not happy with it?
Ask for a full refund any time before you approve the finished book. Any page you do not love, we repaint free.
Is AI involved?
Yes, as a tool. AI helps draft the story from your answers and paint the pictures from your photos. You choose the idea, shape every line and approve every page, so the book is yours.
What happens to my photos?
They are used only to make your book. Photos stored with your story are deleted when you delete the story or your account. We never use your photos or information about your children to train AI models, and we never sell personal information.
Tell us about them. We'll write the rest.
The inside jokes, the favorite places, the thing they are brave about this year. A book only your family could have.
Start My Custom StoryFree to start, no credit card needed.