How MayaLili Works

1. Draw first, or type an idea

Kids can tap Draw First and scribble anything — a cat, a spaceship, a family portrait. That drawing becomes the cover of the book and the story is written around it. If they would rather use words, they can type a short idea like “a brave kitten who flies to the moon”. Younger children can pick a ready-made idea from our story ideas list.

2. Make the hero their own

Choose the hero’s name, whether the hero is a girl or a boy, up to three kind feelings (brave, curious, gentle, proud…) and one of ten picture styles: watercolour, crayon, clay, paper cut, comic, pixel art, soft felt and more. Pick 3, 5 or 10 pages — 5 is just right for bedtime.

3. Read it, hear it, print it

A playful progress bar keeps kids company while the pictures are drawn. Then the book opens with big pictures and simple sentences. Tap Read to Me to hear it in one of four kid-friendly voices, with a speed slider and automatic page turning. Every story can be saved to the gallery on that device, downloaded as a PDF, exported as a picture, or sent to grandparents with a private link.

Turn any story into a coloring book

Switch Picture colors to “Color it myself!” and every page is drawn as clean black-and-white line art — a personalised printable coloring book starring your own child.

Is it really free?

Yes. MayaLili is free to use, needs no account, and stories stay on your own device unless you choose to share a link. Read more in For parents.