Picture to StoryMake a book

Personalised starting nursery book

Starting nursery or going to a childminder introduces your child to new faces, rooms and rhythms. A personalised starting nursery book gives you a simple way to talk through those parts together before the first day. Picture to Story creates a 32-page picture book with your child as the main character, illustrated from one photo of them. You answer a few questions about their age, preferred art style, adventure and little details, so the story can reflect the moments you want to discuss, from saying goodbye at the door to coming home again. Choose from storybook watercolour, animated film (3D), bold cartoon or coloured pencil, then see the cover free before paying. The wording is matched to your child’s age, for babies through to age 10.

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

Starting nursery 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 2-3Your child's First Nursery MorningYour child gets ready for nursery, choosing clothes, holding a familiar comfort item and following the morning routine. At the door, your child says goodbye, finds small things to do inside and returns home ready to share the day.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-4Your child Says See You LaterAt the nursery door, your child learns to say “see you later” to their parent before joining a day of play, snacks and new faces. As the familiar routine unfolds, your child discovers that goodbye comes before a happy hello at collection time.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 1-3Your child Meets the ChildminderYour child visits a childminder’s cosy home, where a new grown-up shows them the play spaces and introduces a small group of children. After snack, garden play and a quiet story, your child is collected and has plenty to tell Mum or Dad.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-4Your child Finds the Cosy CornerOn a busy first morning at nursery, your child notices a quiet corner filled with cushions and picture books. From this calm spot, your child watches the room, meets a friendly child and tries one small activity before going home.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-3Your child and the Snack TableOn a nursery morning, your child finds a small table set with cups, fruit and places for new friends. With a gentle grown-up nearby, your child practises pouring a drink, sharing the bowl and settling into a cheerful snack-time routine.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-4Your child's First Rainy Nursery DayWhen rain arrives on your child's nursery morning, puddle boots, an umbrella and a goodbye at the door begin the day. Inside, your child finds busy indoor play, a friendly new face and a cheerful journey home through the drizzle.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-4Your child Paints a Big PictureWhen your child feels unsure at the nursery door, a welcoming grown-up invites them to choose a paint colour and make the first mark on a huge sheet of paper. With every dab, swirl and handprint, your child settles into the nursery day and has a bright picture to show at home.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 3-5Your child's Morning at Forest NurseryYour child arrives at Forest Nursery, hangs up their bag and pulls on waterproofs for a morning beneath the trees. After a goodbye at the door, they explore with new friends, follow the nursery routine and head home with a story to tell.Enchanted Forest · Storybook watercolourAges 2-3Your child's Nursery Coat HookOn your child's first nursery morning, a coat hook with a little picture becomes their first job: coat off, hook found, coat hung up. After a goodbye at the door and a morning of play, your child returns to the same hook at home time, ready to collect their coat.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-4Your child Waits for Pick-UpAt the end of a nursery day, your child helps with the familiar last jobs: putting toys away, finding their coat and waiting near the door. As other children are collected, your child notices the routine continuing until their own grown-up arrives for the journey home.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-4Your child and the Playdough TableOn a nursery morning, your child spots the bright playdough table and begins rolling a soft green ball. When another child joins in, they make a pretend picnic together, then your child has a cheerful goodbye at home time.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-3Your child's First Half-DayYour child goes to nursery for a short morning, with a clear beginning, middle and home-time ending. After a goodbye at the door, your child finds small things to do, shares the routine and heads home to tell their grown-up about it.Their own home town · Coloured pencilAges 1-3Your child's Settling-In VisitsYour child visits their nursery room several times, each visit lasting a little longer as the adults, activities and goodbye routine become familiar. With a grown-up close by at first, your child finds small things to enjoy before heading home to share what happened.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-4Your child Packs Their Nursery BagYour child has an important job before nursery begins: choosing what to put into their small bag. With a pocket-sized helper keeping track, your child packs, practises the walk to the door and learns that home-time comes after the nursery day.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-4Your child Has Two Nursery DaysYour child looks at a simple weekly picture chart and learns that two mornings are nursery mornings, while the other days are home days. From getting dressed and saying goodbye at the door to playing, coming home and looking ahead to the next nursery day, your child follows the same reassuring pattern twice.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 3-4Your child Joins Circle TimeYour child arrives at nursery and chooses a place on the round mat as circle time begins. With a hello song, listening ears and a turn to pick the next song, your child learns what happens before play begins.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-4Your child's New Nursery ShoesYour child puts on new nursery shoes and follows their tap-tap sound from the front door to the nursery room. With each small step through goodbye, play, routines and home-time, your child discovers the shape of a nursery day.Their own home town · Coloured pencilAges 2-3Your child's First Day Without a DummyWhen your child's dummy stays at home for nursery day, your child discovers small comforts in the new routine: a hand to hold, a familiar song and a cosy story at rest time. After play, snack and a goodbye wave, your child heads home knowing the day has a beginning, a middle and an ending.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 2-3Your child's Quiet Goodbye WaveYour child arrives at nursery with a familiar grown-up and chooses a small, quiet wave at the door. Through play, snack time and a story, your child sees that their grown-up comes back at home time.Their own home town · Storybook watercolourAges 3-5Your child Builds with New FriendsOn a first nursery morning, your child spots a group of children building with wooden blocks and begins by adding one block to their tower. As the tower grows, your child shares ideas, helps after a wobble and heads home ready to talk about the day.Their own home town · Storybook watercolour

Choose a story with familiar nursery moments

Look for a story that stays close to the parts of the day your child is likely to recognise. A calm arrival, a clear goodbye, time for play or a snack, meeting other children and an adult who is there to help, then being collected all give you useful talking points. If your child is going to a childminder, focus on the same everyday pattern rather than trying to copy a particular setting exactly. Share a few details your child knows, such as the name they use for their bag or a favourite activity. Keep the story’s events simple and positive, while leaving space for your child to say which bits seem new or puzzling.

Read it before the first day and keep returning to it

Begin reading the book a little before nursery starts, when there is time for an unhurried chat. Read it at a quiet point in the day, perhaps after tea or as part of the bedtime routine, rather than only during a rushed morning. Pause at the goodbye and homecoming scenes and ask open, practical questions, such as what your child might carry in or what they would like to tell you afterwards. You do not need to finish every page in one sitting. Re-reading favourite spreads lets the sequence become familiar. Bring the book out again after the first few sessions, when your child may have their own details to add to the conversation.

Use the book to practise simple words and routines

A personalised story can help you put everyday nursery routines into clear, child-friendly language. As you read, name the people who may help, the things your child may do and the fact that a parent or carer comes back at collection time. Practise a short goodbye phrase that you can use consistently at the door, without making the departure long or complicated. Let your child point to the pictures and tell you what they notice. If they raise a worry, listen first and answer plainly rather than promising that every moment will be easy. The book is not a substitute for settling-in arrangements, but it can support familiar conversations at home alongside the information from your nursery or childminder.

Questions

What is a personalised starting nursery book?

It is a picture book in which your child is the main character. Picture to Story uses one photo of your child to illustrate a story built around details you provide, including an adventure suited to starting nursery or a childminder.

What information do I need to create the book?

You provide a photo of your child and answer a few questions, including their name, age, art style, adventure and little details. You can see the cover free before paying.

Is this suitable for a toddler starting nursery?

Yes. Picture to Story is made for babies up to age 10, with words per page that grow with the child’s age. For a toddler, a story can focus on clear, familiar moments such as drop-off, play and coming home.