Why I Built MyTaleMaker: A Personal Story

Some of my most treasured childhood memories are of storytelling time with my parents. My dad would spin elaborate science fiction tales about space explorers, while my mom’s stories centered on children navigating emotions and friendships. My brother and I were captivated. Those stories weren’t just entertainment—they shaped how we saw the world, taught us important lessons, and created bonds that remain strong to this day.

When I became a mom, I knew I wanted to recreate that same magic for my son. But I dreamed of something even more—what if I could combine the personalized, imaginative storytelling of my childhood with modern technology? What if the stories could come alive not just through words, but through pictures too?

That’s how MyTaleMaker was born.

The Vision

I wanted to create a library of diverse tales that could grow with my son, stories that featured characters and situations from his own life, with illustrations that brought those characters to life visually. Not generic template books that just swap in a name, but truly personalized stories where he and the people he loves are the heroes.

The platform I envisioned would let parents collaborate with AI to create these stories—you guide the process, shape the narrative, and the AI brings your vision to life with both words and pictures.

The Journey

In early 2023, I started building. I built MyTaleMaker from the ground up, creating a platform that could generate age-appropriate stories with custom illustrations. The key was making it collaborative—parents aren’t stuck with whatever the AI generates; they shape the story together with the AI.

From Simple Stories to Teachable Moments

When my son was 2, our stories were simple bedtime fun. But as he grew, I discovered something wonderful—these personalized stories became powerful teaching moments.

I’ve created stories to help him with:

• Sharing toys with friends
• Managing big emotions
• Starting daycare

The stories work because they’re relevant to his world. They feature characters he knows, places he recognizes, and challenges he’s actually facing. And because he loves the stories, he asks to hear them again and again, turning lessons into natural, joyful experiences.

Making It Accessible

I built two ways to create stories:

• Photo Stories: Upload family photos, and the AI creates story characters that actually look like your loved ones
• Avatar Stories: Select appearance traits (skin tone, hair color, etc.), and we provide matching pre-made characters

And because I remember how those childhood stories from my parents cost nothing but time and love, I made the first story completely free—no credit card required. You can download it as a PDF, read it online, or order a beautiful print book as a keepsake.

The Magic Continues

My son is now 4, and our storytelling journey continues to evolve. The stories have grown with him, becoming more complex and creating more opportunities for learning and connection. Every story we create together becomes part of our family’s treasure trove of memories.

I built MyTaleMaker because I wanted to give my son the same magic my parents gave me—but enhanced with the possibilities of modern technology. The pictures bring the stories to life in ways that words alone never could. The personalization makes every tale uniquely meaningful.

I’m sharing it because every child deserves stories that celebrate who they are, reflect their world, and help them grow. Stories that create those same magical moments I cherish from my own childhood—but now with illustrations that make the experience even richer.

If you’re a parent, aunt, uncle, or grandparent looking for a new way to connect with and teach the children in your life, I hope you’ll give MyTaleMaker a try. The first story is free, and who knows—it might just become part of your own family’s treasured moments.

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Try MyTaleMaker: www.mytalemaker.com