Something to do with the grandkids this afternoon. It arrives in the post next week.
Sit down together for about fifteen minutes and make up a story — they name the hero, pick the world, and decide what happens. TinyTale writes and illustrates it while you watch, then prints it as a real picture book with their name on the cover.
$29.99 · free US shipping · ages 2–10 · no account, no app, no sign-up
How the afternoon goes
- About 15 minutes
Make it up together
Sit side by side and answer playful questions out loud. They name the hero, choose the world, and say what happens next. Every prompt is written to be read aloud, so a child who can't read yet can still run the whole thing.
- About a minute
Watch it appear
The story writes and illustrates itself while you both watch. Their character shows up first — that is the bit worth filming for the parents.
- Same day
Read it now, post it later
Read the finished book together on screen before you head home. Order the printed softcover and it lands on their doormat in about 5–8 days.
Why it works when you're the grandparent
No tech skills needed
There is no app to install, no account, and no password. Open a web page and start talking. If they can answer “what is your hero called?”, the two of you can make the book.
Works across a wide age spread
Ages 2–10. Length, vocabulary, and how adventurous the plot gets all shift with the age you pick, so it lands right for a toddler and for a nine-year-old.
Something to show for the day
Screen time that ends in a physical object. It goes on their shelf instead of disappearing into a camera roll.
You are in it too
Add a dedication on the first page. Most grandparents write a single line — it tends to be the page the parents photograph.
Before you spend anything
You read the whole book on screen — and can fix any page's words or artwork — before you pay. Stories stay gentle and age-appropriate, with conflict capped by the age you pick. A photo is optional, only ever guides the illustrator, never appears in the book, and is deleted when the order completes. If the printed copy turns up damaged or wrong, reply to any order email within 30 days for a free reprint or a full refund. Privacy, in plain English
Rainy afternoon? Make them a book.
Fifteen minutes together today, something they keep on the shelf for years.