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Create your own children's book: Complete guide for parents

Want to create a personalized children's book for your child? Here's a complete guide — from idea to finished book in under 10 minutes. No experience needed.

Have you ever wished there was a children's book about exactly what your child is passionate about? Maybe a book about their dog, a trip to the moon, or a story about starting at a new nursery? With Fanteri, you can create that book yourself — without knowing how to write or draw.

What do you need to create a children's book?

Nothing but an idea and a few minutes. You don't need to be a writer, an illustrator, or technically minded. Fanteri uses AI to write the story and create the illustrations based on what you tell it. You steer — AI delivers. Wondering what an AI-generated children's book actually is? We explain the technology behind it.

Step by step: From idea to finished book

Step 1: Choose an illustration style

You start by choosing how the book should look. Fanteri has three illustration styles: watercolour (soft and dreamy), hand-drawn (warm and classic), and 3D (modern and colourful). The style sets the mood for the whole book, so think about what your child likes best.

Step 2: Describe the main character

Now you create the character who will be the hero of the story. Give the character your child's name, describe their appearance (hair colour, eye colour, skin tone), and feel free to add personality traits. The more you describe, the more personal the book becomes. You can also add secondary characters like siblings, parents, or pets.

Step 3: Choose theme and age group

Here you choose what the story should be about and who it's for. Fanteri has four age groups (0-2, 3-5, 5-7, and 7-9 years) that control language level, complexity, and length. You can either pick a theme from suggestions or type in your own idea — for example, "Emma and the flying cat" or "Lucas starts at a new nursery".

Step 4: AI creates the book

Now the magic happens. AI generates a complete story tailored to the age group, then creates unique illustrations for each page. The whole process usually takes under 10 minutes. The result is a finished book with a cover, text, and illustrations — ready to read.

Create your first book

Magical creative process with brushes and colors

After the book is created: What can you do?

  • Read the book digitally with page-flipping right in your browser
  • Edit the text on each page — change words, sentences, or entire paragraphs
  • Regenerate illustrations if something didn't turn out quite as you imagined
  • Download the book as a PDF to read offline or print yourself
  • Order a printed book in hardcover or softcover — delivered to your door

Ideas for books you can create

Need inspiration? Here are some popular themes parents create books about. You can also create a book together with your child — it makes for a wonderful activity to do together:

  • The child as adventure hero — journeys through magical worlds
  • Everyday situations — starting nursery, getting a new sibling, moving house
  • The child's interests — dinosaurs, space, the ocean, animals, princesses
  • Holidays — Christmas, Easter, birthdays, Halloween
  • Difficult topics — grief, divorce, illness, fears
  • Family stories — holidays, visiting grandparents, building a house

Tips for creating the best book

  1. Let the child contribute ideas — ask what the story should be about
  2. Be specific with the character description — details make the book more personal
  3. Choose the right age group — it affects language and complexity
  4. Use the editing feature — fine-tune the text until it feels just right
  5. Order a printed version for special occasions

What does it cost?

You can read the book digitally or order a printed copy. See all prices.

A printed book costs from 249 NOK (softcover) to 299 NOK (hardcover), plus 49 NOK shipping. Subscribers get 50 NOK off printed books.

Get started

It takes under 10 minutes to create your first book, and it's easy to get started. See examples of books others have created, or create your own book now.

You don't need to be an author to give your child a unique story. You just need an idea — and a little imagination.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need drawing skills to create a children's book?

No, you don't need any prior skills. Fanteri uses AI to create both the story and illustrations. You choose a style, describe the character, and pick a theme -- AI does the rest.

How long does it take to create a children's book?

The entire process usually takes under 10 minutes. You choose a style, describe the character, and pick a theme, and AI generates the story and illustrations automatically.

Can I print the book as a physical copy?

Yes, you can order a printed book in hardcover (299 NOK) or softcover (249 NOK), plus shipping. The book is 21 x 28 cm with 30 pages on high-quality paper.

What languages can I create a children's book in?

Fanteri supports Norwegian, English, Danish, and Swedish. You choose the language when creating the book, and the story is generated in your chosen language.

How much does it cost to create your own children's book?

You can create and read books digitally with a Fanteri subscription. A printed book costs from 249 NOK (softcover) to 299 NOK (hardcover), plus 49 NOK shipping.