StorySafari
Step 1
Start with the child
A real photo gave the adventure its curious hero: Murray.
Bedtime stories
Personalized bedtime stories where your child is the hero
Make an illustrated bedtime story starring your child and a familiar friend. Start with a free preview in your browser.
No app needed. Use a photo or a description, with up to 3 characters. Languages, pricing, and book details. Also available as an iPhone & iPad app.
Read before you create
Free bedtime stories to read tonight
Read complete, illustrated examples from the StorySafari library. Choose one together, then borrow a favorite detail as the starting point for your child's own story.
Loved by families
Real stories from real families.
The best proof is the detail kids ask to keep: a pet dragon, a space slug, a horse best friend, the fairy story that gets read again.
I love seeing StorySafari create pictures with my characters.Kira
Jack made a story about him and a space slug.Jack and Dad
I always dreamed of having a horse best friend.Paiya
My mom reads me my fairy story every night.Wren
Another real StorySafari example
From a flower-garden idea to a family storybook
Murray imagined her family and Poki in a flower garden, became a watercolor character, and ended up holding her own printed mystery.
Step 2
Create the character
StorySafari turned Murray into a reusable watercolor character.
Murray's idea
My family in a flower garden
Her parents and Poki joined a mystery among gray, wilted flowers.
Step 3
Ask what they want
The whole family can enter a story sparked by one child's idea.
Step 4
Make the story
The idea became The Gray Garden Mystery, where the family helps a magical garden bloom again.
Step 5
Keep the favorite
Murray's family adventure made it out of the app and into her hands.
Why it works
Bedtime feels different when the story belongs to them
A familiar bedtime routine can become more meaningful when the story includes your child's name, favorite animal, sibling, grandparent, or imaginary world.
For a quieter read-aloud, choose a small problem and a reassuring ending. Preview the story yourself and save any adventure that feels too exciting for daytime.
1
Start with a spark
Choose a hero, setting, creature, question, or dream from the day.
2
Read together
Use the story as a shared read-aloud, quiet wind-down, or independent reading moment.
3
Keep the favorite
Continue the adventure later or turn a special story into a printed keepsake book.
Story ideas
Personalized bedtime story starters
1
The moon mail adventure
Your child finds a tiny letter from the moon asking for help finding its missing silver button.
2
The pajama train
A quiet train arrives outside the bedroom window and visits three sleepy animal towns before morning.
3
The pet dragon promise
Your child and a gentle dragon learn how to keep a brave promise before bedtime.
An idea to adapt: Write a gentle bedtime story about Rowan and a small dragon returning a lost blanket. Keep the problem small, include a cozy place, and end with everyone safe at home.
Swap in your child's name and favorite companion when you create.
How to make bedtime stories more personal
Use small details your child already cares about: the family dog, a favorite blanket, a recent trip, a best friend, or a question they asked at dinner. Those details make the story feel close.
For younger kids, keep the adventure cozy and concrete. For older kids, add choices, mysteries, and recurring characters they can build on night after night. The shape matters as much as the details — our guide to what makes a good bedtime story covers why the excitement should peak two-thirds of the way through and glide down from there, and reading aloud by age has the delivery techniques that go with it.
To see the pattern in complete stories, browse our free bedtime story collection: familiar characters can have a real adventure while the final pages still guide the energy back down.
What is a personalized bedtime story?
A personalized bedtime story includes familiar details from a child's life, such as their name, favorite places, family members, pets, or interests, inside a story made for winding down together.
Which personalized stories are best for bedtime reading?
Look for a familiar hero, a manageable problem, and an ending that settles instead of adding a final surprise. The best personalized bedtime story uses a child's favorite people, pets, or places without making the plot too exciting for lights-out.
Are personalized bedtime stories good for reluctant readers?
They can help because the story begins with something the child already cares about. Familiar names and interests make reading feel less abstract. Read more in our guide for reluctant readers.
Can a personalized story still be calming?
Yes. A bedtime story can be imaginative without being wild. Choose gentle settings, warm stakes, and a soft ending.
Does StorySafari work for siblings?
Yes. The web creator supports up to three characters, including siblings, friends, family members, or pets. You can use a photo or describe each character.
Can I try a personalized bedtime story for free?
Yes. Start with a free story preview in your browser. The complete example stories linked above are also free to read. Completing your own illustrated story requires a purchase or subscription; see the product details for pricing and print options.
Do I need an app or a photo?
No. You can create in your browser with a character description instead of a photo. The web creator supports English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Italian, and Dutch. A parent or guardian should guide creation and review the story before reading it with a child.
Make tonight's bedtime story personal
Choose a familiar hero and one gentle idea. Start with a free story preview in your browser.
Create a bedtime story
4.8/5 stars on the App Store