For kids aged 7–13, and the grown-ups who love them
Turn your family into storybook characters.Then write their adventure.
Add a photo of anyone you love, or invent brand-new characters. Your child plans the plot and writes the words, and every page comes back illustrated.
- Star your family in the story with a face photo, or invent your own heroes
- Guided story writing for ages 7–13: design characters, build a world, plan the plot
- Or pick a ready-made story and just add your faces
Your first story is free. No card needed.
Give your grandchild stories to create
Peek inside a story
Three kids uploaded one face photo each. Here’s a page from the adventure they starred in.
The lantern flickered as the three explorers pushed through the ferns. At the end of the tunnel, something golden was glowing. “Look closer,” whispered the youngest. “I think it’s a door.”
They held hands and jumped. The golden threads caught them, and all three went flying over the sea.
Who will you put in your story?
Anyone with a photo can get a part. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Grandpa as the dragon tamer
- Mum as the brave sea captain
- Your little brother as the tiny wizard
- Your best friend as the space detective
- The dog as king of the castle
- Nana as the world’s fastest baker
- Your teacher as the pirate queen
- You as the one who saves the day
Write your own adventure, or grab one from our shelf
Write your own, step by step
A guided story writer made for ages 7–13. Story Helper asks questions and gives ideas when you’re stuck, but the story stays yours.
- 1Design your charactersLooks, personality, and what they want most
- 2Build the worldA castle, a spaceship, or your own street
- 3Plan the plotA beginning, a big problem, and an ending
- 4Write itStory Helper drafts it from your plan, then you edit
Pick a ready-made story
Birthdays, bedtime, grandparents, pets, space and more. Choose who plays each part and we tell the story with your family in it.
See the whole shelf
From photo to story
- 1
Snap a photo
Add a picture of you, your family, friends or pet.
- 2
Meet your characters
We draw every face, or invent new characters from scratch.
- 3
Write it together
Story Helper writes a first draft. You’re the editor.
- 4
Turn the pages
Every scene becomes a picture with your faces in it.
Free writing tips for young authors
Short guides with examples and things to try, from planning a plot to writing an ending people remember. Great for school and home.
- The Story Sandwich: Beginning, Middle and EndEvery great story is built like a yummy sandwich. Here's how to stack yours.
- Creating Characters Readers LoveGive your hero a want, a worry and a weird little habit, and readers will cheer for them.
- Show, Don't Tell: Be a Story DetectiveInstead of telling readers how a character feels, leave clues so they can work it out.
Two ways to give a little magic
Make a story just for them, or give them the chance to create their own.
Make a gift story
Toys get forgotten. A story where the birthday girl is the hero, or Grandpa saves the day, gets read again and again. Make one for:
Give them stories to create
For grandparents who want to give more than a present: a grandchild’s next big adventure, dreamt up by them. Give Story Tokens so they can make their own illustrated books with a grown-up.
1 token = 1 illustrated storybook
Choose 1, 5 or 10 tokens, from $2.99. Add a personal message, then email the gift to their grown-up or print a card to give in person.
Give Story TokensNo account needed to buy. Redeem through an adult’s account.
- Print a gift card with your own message
- A QR code and gift code make it easy to claim
- Email the gift to their grown-up, or to yourself
Your first story is free
Every new account gets one Story Token. One token makes one whole illustrated story. Planning is always free; the token is used when the first draft is written.
- Help planning characters, world and plot
- The written story, ready for your child to edit
- Every illustration and the cover
- A printable PDF, a gift card and a link to share
One story
$2.99
1 Story Token
5 stories
$9.99
5 Story Tokens, save $4.96
Tokens never expire. No subscription. How tokens work
Your family’s photos are safe with us
Photos stay private
A photo is only used to draw that person as a character. Shared stories show the drawing, never the photo.
Stories are private until you share
A shared story must pass a safety check first, and you can stop sharing whenever you like.
Delete it all
Delete your account and your photos, pictures and stories are deleted with it.
Who makes the pictures
Pictures and words are made by AI from OpenAI and Google. CreateStories.app does not train AI on your photos or stories.
Only add a photo of someone who is happy to be in the story. For other people’s children, ask their parent first. Read our privacy policy
Questions from parents
Is it safe for my child?
Story Helper is made for ages 7–13. It is gentle, age-appropriate and always asks for your child’s ideas first. Stories are private, and before a story can be shared it has to pass a safety check.
What happens to the photos we upload?
A photo is only used to draw that person as a storybook character. The photo itself is never shown to anyone else; only the drawn character appears in stories. Delete your account and the photos go with it.
Who can read our stories?
Only you, unless you choose to share one. Sharing gives you a link to send to family. You can stop sharing whenever you like.
Does the AI write the whole thing?
No. Your child designs the characters, builds the world and plans the plot. Story Helper turns that plan into a first draft, and your child edits it until it sounds like them. Or pick a ready-made story and just choose who plays each part.
Can we print it?
Yes. Download the finished story as a PDF to print at home or at a print shop, or make a gift card with a QR code that opens the story.
What ages is it for?
Kids aged 7–13 can do it on their own. Younger children love it too, with a grown-up helping them type.
Who’s starring in your first story?
Stories stay private unless you choose to share them, and the photos you upload are never shown to anyone else.
Start my story