You bring the people. We build the storybook.
Choose a format, share the characters and moments, and review the details before checkout. We turn that information into a personalized book with a story to read and pictures to color.
1. Pick your book and story type
Choose a 30-page printed book ($39.99), a 60-page printed book ($59.99), or a 30-page printable PDF ($19.99). Printed books include US shipping. The PDF is emailed for you to print yourself.
The story can star a child, celebrate a relationship, ask a big question, mark a special day, or tell another tale you have in mind. Picking a story type gives you relevant prompts to help you share the details.
2. Introduce the cast
Add the people and pets who belong in the book. Give each one a name, a relationship, and clear reference photos. Favorite toys, familiar places, and distinctive features can help make the illustrations feel personal. Our photo guide explains what to look for.
3. Tell us what happens
Describe the story in your own words. A list of moments works as well as a paragraph. Choose a tone, include exact words or dates that must appear, and explain the ending. You can select creative freedom for the plot or little details if you want us to fill those in.
For a surprise ending, tell us the reveal and request an opening reminder to color one page at a time. The story should still make sense from its beginning through its final scene.
4. Review and place the order
Check names, photos, spelling, email, and the shipping address before paying. For a printed gift, you can send the book directly to the recipient and include a gift note. If you need the book by a particular date, contact us before ordering so we can discuss timing.
5. Follow your book’s progress
After a completed order, the customer thank-you email includes a private tracking link. Keep that link to see progress as the book is made. Printed orders move on to printing and shipping; digital orders are delivered by email.
An open tracking page refreshes automatically. Printing and shipping information may take up to an hour to appear after an update from the printer.
When will my printed book arrive?
Allow about 3 weeks from order to delivery for a printed book. This estimate includes 5 days to create your custom book, followed by Lulu’s printing and standard Mail delivery. Lulu normally prints in 3–5 business days; printing and Mail delivery together take about 2 weeks.
Delivery dates are estimates, not guarantees. Holidays, busy periods, and carrier delays can take longer, especially outside the continental US. Please contact us before ordering if your gift needs to arrive by a particular date.
6. Read, color, and make it yours
The finished scenes follow the story in order, with readable captions beneath the artwork. Printed books have a color outside cover and black-and-white inside pages with blank backs. The PDF includes black-and-white pages without inserted blank backs.
Have a question before starting? Email hello@inkyourtale.com. You can also meet Cadence, the founder of Ink Your Tale.
Make a story of your own.
Start with your photos and the people who matter to you.
Start your custom book