Frequently asked questions
Everything parents and kids usually ask about making a MayaLili storybook.
- Is MayaLili free to use?
- Yes. MayaLili is completely free, needs no account and has no ads. Stories are saved on your own device.
- How long does a storybook take?
- Usually under a minute. The words are written first, then each picture is illustrated one at a time, so kids can start reading right away.
- Can my child use their own drawing?
- Yes. Kids can draw on the screen or upload a photo of a paper drawing, and the whole story is written around it.
- Can I print the story?
- Yes. Every story downloads as an A4 PDF, and single pages can be saved as pictures.
- How do I make coloring pages?
- Choose 'Color it myself' before making the story, and every page comes out as clean black-and-white line art ready to print.
- Does it read the story out loud?
- Yes. There are four friendly narrators and a speed slider, so early readers can follow along at their own pace.
- Which languages does MayaLili speak?
- English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese and Arabic. The story text and the read-aloud voice follow the language you choose.
- Is it safe for young children?
- Stories are written for ages 3 to 9: gentle, hopeful and free of scary or violent content. Typed ideas and uploaded pictures are checked before a story is made.
- Who can see our stories?
- Other families cannot see your stories unless you choose to share. The site keeps a private copy of the story words so we can check stories stay safe and kind, and a share link is private and unguessable until you send it to someone.
- Do I need an account?
- No. You only need an account if you want to post a story to the community feed.