Guides for Parents
Practical ideas for helping your child become a reader, a writer and a storyteller, plus straight answers to the questions parents ask us most.
Guides
Step-by-step ideas you can try at home this week.
How to Help Your Child Write Their First Story
A simple, step-by-step way to help a young child (ages 5-8) write their first story: finding the idea, building a beginning, middle and end, and keeping their own words.
How to Turn Your Child's Drawing into a Storybook
Turn your child's drawing into a character and a storybook: how to photograph the art, build a story around it, and keep the character consistent on every page.
Bilingual Chinese–English Stories for Kids: Reading and Creating Them at Home
How to use bilingual Chinese–English stories to keep a heritage language alive at home: reading side by side, letting kids write their own, and practising with narration.
Questions parents ask
Straight answers about KindleWood and kids' creativity.
What is KindleWood Studio?
KindleWood Studio is a creative studio where children write, illustrate and narrate their own storybooks. Your child brings the idea, the characters and the words; AI helps turn them into an illustrated book they can read, listen to and share.
What age is KindleWood for?
It is designed for children of about 5 to 8, usually creating alongside a parent or teacher. Younger children can tell a story out loud while an adult types it in; older kids often write on their own.
Does the AI write the story for my child?
Only if you ask it to. Kids can keep their own words exactly as they wrote them, and their spelling and phrasing stay theirs. Optional helpers can suggest improvements or a light polish, but the child decides what to keep.
How does making a book help my child learn to read and write?
Children read more eagerly when the book is theirs. Making one means planning a beginning, middle and end, choosing words, and then reading the finished pages back, often many times. Recording narration adds speaking practice.
It is not a phonics program, but it gives early readers a strong reason to read and write.
Is this good screen time?
Screen time where a child creates something tends to be very different from scrolling or watching. A KindleWood session ends with something your child made: a book with their ideas, drawings and voice. Many families make it a shared activity rather than solo screen time.
Can my child's drawing become a character?
Yes. You can upload a photo of a drawing, a toy or a family photo, and it becomes an illustrated character that appears consistently throughout the story.
Can my child narrate the book in their own voice?
Yes. Your child can record narration page by page, and the book plays it back as they read. AI narration is also available if they would rather listen.
Can we make bilingual books in English and Chinese?
Yes. Stories can have English and Chinese (中文) text side by side, with narration in both languages. It is a natural way to practise a heritage language with stories your child cares about.
What kinds of books can kids make?
Picture books, chapter books, coloring books and photo storybooks. Most young kids start with a short picture book.
How long does it take to make a book?
A short picture book can come together in one sitting. Longer books and chapter books are often made over several sessions, which is part of the fun.
Is my child's story private?
Stories are private by default and visible only to your account. A story becomes public only if you choose to publish it to the community library.
How do you keep the community library safe?
Every story is checked before it can be published: for content that is not appropriate for children, and for personal information such as full names, schools or addresses. Anything uncertain is held for a person to review.
Can my child read other kids' stories?
Yes. The community library is free to read, on the web and in the KindleWood Kids app, with collections like bedtime stories, animal adventures and bilingual Chinese stories.
Is there an app for kids?
Yes. KindleWood Kids is a free reader app for iOS and Android with community stories, narration and word games. Books are created on the web at KindleWood Studio and read anywhere.
Does it work in the classroom?
Yes. Teachers use KindleWood for creative writing, and there is a plan for schools and educators. We also run in-person creative workshops with partner learning centers.
How much does it cost?
You can start with a free trial, and reading the community library is free. Current plans for families and schools are on the pricing page.