Picture to StoryMake a book

A personalised book from grandma and the whole family

A personalised book from grandma can give your child a story that feels close to home, whether Gran lives nearby, across the country or is part of everyday routines. Picture to Story turns one photo of your child into a 32-page picture book with 15 illustrated story spreads. You choose the adventure, art style and the little details that make the story feel right for your family. It can also be shaped around mums, dads, aunties, uncles, cousins, adoption, blended families and the people your child calls family. Answer a few questions, then see the cover free before paying. Choose from storybook watercolour, animated film, bold cartoon or coloured pencil artwork. The book is available digitally or in printed paperback and hardcover editions.

See 20 story ideas
Cover of “Ava and the Missing Rainbow”, a personalised picture book starring Ava

Grandparents and family book ideas

Pick one to see the story, how the first page could read and who it suits. Each one starts with your child’s photo.

Ages 2-5Your child Visits Nan and PopYour child packs a small overnight bag and heads through their hometown for a stay at Nan and Pop’s. After familiar evening routines, your child settles down with a bedtime tale and a goodnight cuddle.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 3-6Your child's Grandad Train DayYour child joins Grandad for a busy morning at the station, using his notebook to spot bright lights, rolling wheels and the sounds each train makes. When one final train arrives, your child shares a keen observation that earns a proud place in Grandad’s favourite list.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 4-7Your child's Video Call Treasure HuntWhen a far-away grandparent calls with a set of playful clues, your child turns an ordinary morning at home into a treasure hunt. Each discovery brings a new part of the picture until your child finds a homemade treasure that can be shared across the screen.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-4Your child and Grandma's GardenYour child spends a gentle day in Grandma’s garden, choosing seeds and helping care for the pots. By afternoon, your child spots the small changes that have appeared among the leaves and soil.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 4-8Your child and the Cousins' CampoutYour child joins their cousins in the back garden to build a cosy den for an evening campout. With snacks to share and unfamiliar sounds beyond the torchlight, your child helps the group turn a slightly wobbly plan into a brilliant night together.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-5Your child Meets the New BabyYour child arrives at a busy family home to meet a new baby and learns that a big cousin can help in small, kind ways. With a grown-up nearby, your child chooses a welcome card, shares a quiet hello and finds their own place in the gathering.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-6Your child and Mum's SaturdayYour child and Mum have a Saturday set aside for the small things they enjoy together, from choosing what to pack to picking their next stop. As they wander through their hometown, your child discovers that a day does not need a big event to feel full.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 3-6Your child and Dad's Fix-It BoxWhen a string of small problems pops up around the house, your child opens Dad’s Fix-It Box and gets ready to help. Together, they use ordinary objects, careful thinking and plenty of teamwork to put things right.Their own home town · Coloured pencilAges 4-7Your child and the Family RecipeWhen Grandma and Grandad bring out a flour-speckled recipe card, your child joins the family cooks to prepare a much-loved meal in their hometown kitchen. From measuring and stirring to laying the table, your child discovers that every small job helps bring everyone together.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-6Your child's Big Family PicnicAt a busy park picnic, your child helps make space on the blanket as parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins arrive with games and treats. When the wind lifts the picnic map away, your child leads the family around the park to gather everyone for one big shared lunch.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 4-8Your child and the Blended Family MapYour child decides to draw a big family map, adding the homes, people and small everyday details that belong to their blended family. As the map fills the page, your child finds room for every connection, from familiar routines to the routes between places.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 3-7Your child's New Family DayOn New Family Day, your child shares a cosy day at home, discovering each family member's favourite snack, game and way of spending time together. As small traditions take shape, your child adds their own choices to a day that belongs to everyone.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 3-6Your child and Auntie's Art TableOn a rainy afternoon, your child joins Auntie at the kitchen art table, where scraps of paper and bright colours spark a big idea. Together, they make a picture that holds their favourite little moments from the day.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 4-7Your child's Stepdad Sports DayYour child practises simple races with Stepdad before school Sports Day, from balancing a beanbag to running between cones. At the event, Stepdad cheers from the sideline as your child takes part, enjoys the team spirit and shares a proud end-of-day snack.Their own home town · Animated filmAges 3-6Your child and Uncle's Beach WalkYour child sets off along the shore with Uncle, a little bucket and plenty of time to look closely at the beach. Together, they spot rock-pool creatures, compare shells and talk about the small things they notice along the way.Under the Sea · Storybook watercolourAges 4-8Your child's Family Language DayYour child hosts Family Language Day at home, collecting favourite words, greetings, sayings and food names shared by the people in their family. As each relative adds a page, your child discovers a lively little book of the voices that belong around their table, on calls and in everyday life.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 3-8Your child's Festival with FamilyIn their bustling hometown, your child helps bring a family festival together, from hanging decorations to setting out the food. Each relative adds something of their own, and your child discovers there is a place for every contribution on the day.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 3-7Your child's Welcome Home PartyYour child becomes the chief party planner when a much-missed family member is coming home from far away. With help from the family, your child turns small preparations into a warm welcome that everyone can share.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-5Your child Sends Love by PostYour child spends a quiet morning making a card and choosing a small parcel for a relative who lives elsewhere. With everything ready, your child walks to the postbox to send a little piece of home across the miles.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 5-9Your child and the Family Photo AlbumOn a rainy afternoon, your child opens a family photo album and asks about the people, places and small details on every page. As the album is explored, simple memories connect relatives near and far, ending with your child adding a page for today.Their own home town · Storybook watercolour

Choosing a family story that feels natural

Start with the relationship or family moment your child knows best. It might be the familiar way a grandparent spends time with them, the bustle of a larger family gathering, or a quieter connection with someone who lives far away. Keep the details recognisable without trying to include every person or every part of family history. A simple adventure gives the story room to feel like a picture book while the small touches make it personal. Think about your child’s age, what they enjoy talking about and which family connections you would like the story to reflect. Choose an art style that suits the tone you want, then add only the details that matter most.

When to read a family-centred book

A family story can fit easily into bedtime, a calm afternoon or the time before a visit or video call. Reading it together before your child sees a grandparent, cousin or other relative can give you a natural opening to talk about what is coming up. It can be equally useful after a family occasion, when your child wants to revisit a familiar day and the people in it. For long-distance family members, a digital book can be shared as part of a call, while a printed copy can stay with your child at home. There is no need to save it for a particular event; repeated reading lets your child notice different details in the pictures.

How a personalised story can support family conversations

Seeing themselves illustrated in a story gives your child a clear starting point for talking about the people around them. As you read, pause over the details you chose and invite them to tell you what they remember, expect or enjoy about family time. This works for many family shapes: a child may have parents in different homes, adopted family, step-relatives, close friends who feel like family, or relatives who are far away. Use the book’s adventure as a gentle prompt rather than a script. Your child can add their own thoughts, change the story in play, or point out what matters to them. Keeping the language simple and familiar helps the conversation stay focused on their experience.

Questions

Can a personalised book from grandma include other family members?

Yes. You can shape the story around the family connections that matter to your child, including grandparents, parents, aunties, uncles, cousins and other people they see as family. The child is the illustrated star, created from one photo.

Is this suitable for blended, adopted or long-distance families?

Yes. The story can reflect your child’s own family shape and the details you choose. You can focus on a shared routine, a visit, a call or an imagined adventure that brings important people into the story.

How do I make the book personal to my child?

Answer a few questions about your child, including their name, age, preferred art style, adventure and little details. Picture to Story uses one photo to illustrate them, and you can see the cover free before paying.