Do you have a story in mind for your child, a nephew, or a goddaughter? With Maker Book, you can turn that idea into a real illustrated book in under 15 minutes. No need to know how to draw or have any layout skills. The artificial intelligence handles everything. This guide walks you through every step, from creating your account to exporting your print-ready PDF.
Step 1: Sign up and get started
Head to Maker Book and click “Start for free.” Signing up takes less than 30 seconds: an email, a password, and you land straight in your dashboard. No credit card is required to get started. You arrive directly in your personal space, with a clearly visible button to create your first book.
The dashboard is deliberately simple. It's where you'll find all your books once they're created, with the option to edit, duplicate, or export them at any time. For now, you have just one goal: click “Create a book” to launch the wizard.
Step 2: The 9-step creation wizard
The wizard is the heart of the Maker Book experience. In 9 quick steps, you define everything that makes up your story. Each step advances automatically as soon as you make your choice, which keeps the process smooth and fast. Expect to spend about 2 to 3 minutes completing it all.
1. The story idea
Describe the concept of your book in a few sentences. For example: “A little fox who's afraid of the dark discovers that the night is full of wonders.” The more precise your idea, the more faithful the generated story will be to your vision. You can also let your imagination run free with a vaguer idea that the AI will develop.
2. The age range
Choose the age of your target readers: 0-3, 4-7, or 8-12 years old. This choice shapes the vocabulary, sentence length, and complexity of the plot. A book for toddlers will favor onomatopoeia and short sentences, while a book for 8-12 year-olds will offer a richer plot.
3. The hero
Give your main character a name and a description. You can upload a photo or let the AI generate the character. If you've already created a character in “My Characters,” it will be filled in automatically.
4. The art style
Watercolor, cartoon, colored pencil, Japanese style... Choose from over 10 styles. Each style gives your book a completely different mood. Check out our dedicated guide to choose well.
5. The number of pages
Set the length of your book. A 10-page book works well for short stories aimed at toddlers, while 20 to 24 pages let you develop a fuller plot for older children.
6. The format
Square, portrait, or landscape: choose the format that matches your vision. The square format is the most classic for children's picture books. Landscape is ideal for panoramic scenes and outdoor adventures.
7. The theme and tone
Adventure, friendship, nature, fantasy... The theme guides the content of the story. The tone is chosen at random by the AI from several options (playful, tender, epic, funny, poetic, mysterious) to guarantee varied stories.
8. Supporting characters and objects
Add companions to your hero if you like. You can also define important objects that will play a role in the story. The AI will generate design sheets to ensure visual consistency throughout the book.
9. Story generation
This is the magical moment. The AI writes your complete story in 20 to 25 seconds. While you wait, an animated loading screen keeps you company. The illustrations are generated in the background, in batches of 3, to optimize speed.
Step 3: The editor
Once the story is generated, you arrive in the editor. This is where you can fine-tune every detail of your book. The editor has two main parts: the text and the illustrations.
The text is fully editable. You can fix a turn of phrase, adjust a line of dialogue, or even rewrite an entire passage. The text is displayed page by page, exactly as it will appear in the final book.
The illustrations are generated automatically, but you keep full control. Three modes are available for each image:
- Edit this image: keep the same composition but apply a specific change (change the color of an element, add a detail, alter the character's expression).
- New image: regenerate the illustration from scratch if the result isn't to your liking.
- New shot: change the camera angle (high angle, low angle, view from behind...) to vary the perspectives.
Take your time exploring the editor. Every change is saved automatically, and a history lets you step back at any moment.
Step 4: Layout and personalization
Before exporting, go through the layout editor. This is where you choose the font, the text size, the background effect (watercolor, solid, etc.), the dedication, and the endpapers. Every setting is previewed in real time so you can adjust without any surprises.
The dedication is a special space at the start of the book where you can write a personal message. Choose the text color and add a signature if you wish. This is what turns a printed book into a truly unique gift.
Step 5: Export and printing
Is your book ready? Click “Export to PDF.” The process takes a few seconds and generates a high-resolution file (about 254 DPI), perfectly suited to professional printing. The PDF respects the margins and layout you've defined.
You then have several options:
- Print at home: use thick paper (160-200 g/m²) for a result closer to a real book. Print double-sided if your printer allows it.
- Order from a printer: send the PDF to an online printing service to get a professionally bound book.
- Publish on Amazon KDP: put your book up for sale on the world's largest bookstore. Check out our dedicated guide for the detailed steps.
You can also share your book online through the reading link. Your loved ones will be able to flip through it in a beautiful interactive reader with a page-turning effect, straight from their browser.
Tips for a successful first book
- Start with a simple, clear idea. The best children's stories are often the simplest.
- Choose an art style you genuinely love. You can always try others in your next books.
- Don't hesitate to regenerate the illustrations you're not happy with. The AI offers different results with each generation.
- Read the text aloud. It's the best way to check that the rhythm and vocabulary suit the target age.
- Use the dedication to add a personal touch that will make all the difference.
By following these steps, you'll hold a unique illustrated book in your hands, created by you, in under 15 minutes. And the best part? You can start over as many times as you want, with new characters, new stories, and new styles.