A little girl in pink pajamas leans on her grandmother in bed and reads the page about Rusty the dog
How your book is made, on the phone: add a photo, choose 1 to 3 topics, just talk, and your storybook is painted for you
The book open on a quilt: Grandma's words on the left page, the painting of Grandma and Emma flipping pancakes on the right
A little girl looks up from the book at her grandmother and asks, Grandma, is that really you?
Your photo becomes two paintings for the book: you today, and little you
A grandmother reads the book to her grandson in bed, and he points at the dog under the table
The A4 hardcover When Grandma Was Little on a kitchen table, told by Grandma for Emma, next to a coffee mug and reading glasses
The When Grandma Was Little hardcover in an open gift box with tissue paper, a ribbon and a gift tag
Two copies side by side on a blanket, one told for Emma and one for Jack
Grandma's hands holding the open book at the page about Rusty walking her to the school bus

Personalized storybook

Once Upon a Time, I Was Little

Your childhood memories, tied into one wholesome bedtime story.

26 pages, with 12 full-page paintings

No writing. Just talk for 3 to 5 minutes

Change anything before it prints

Big A4 hardcover with their name inside

How many grandkids?

Canada Free shipping· Arrives in 7-10 days

100%Happiness guarantee

You see every page of your book first. Don't love it? Write to support@thegroovd.com before we print it, and you get 100% of your money back.

Once Upon a Time, I Was Little $86.00

How your book is made

  1. 1

    Add a photo

    We paint you as you are today, and when you were little.

  2. 2

    Choose 1 to 3 topics

    We'll cover them in your storybook, like pets, school days or holidays.

  3. 3

    Just talk

    Tell any story you like. Our questions are only there to help. It takes about 3 to 5 minutes.

  4. 4

    We do the rest

    We turn everything you tell into one story and paint 12 pictures for it. You see the whole book first, and your hardcover arrives in 7 to 10 days.

The story only you can tell

This sample is Grandma's, for Emma. Yours is painted from your own memories.

The closed book: When Grandma Was Little, told by Grandma, for Emma
The front cover, told by Grandma, for Emma.
The first page: For Emma, with love, Grandma
The first page is for them: “For Emma. With love, Grandma.”
Rusty walks little Grandma to the yellow school bus
“We had a dog named Rusty. He was a brown and white collie with one ear that flopped down. Every morning he walked me to the school bus.”
Little Grandma feeds her peas to Rusty under the table while Mom watches
“I hated peas, so I fed them to Rusty under the table. Mom saw the whole thing, and I got a second plate of peas! Rusty got a pat on the head.”
Miss Baker reads to the class under a big oak tree by the schoolhouse
“At school, Miss Baker read to us under the big oak tree, on every sunny day. She was my favorite teacher.”
Christmas morning: little Grandma runs downstairs in her pajamas and Rusty barks at a present
“And then came Christmas morning! We ran downstairs in our pajamas, and Rusty barked at every single present.”
Grandma and Emma flip a pancake together
“Emma, every Sunday morning we make pancakes together. We flip the last pancake together and shout, ‘Flip!’”
The last page: Grandma today, and I love you, Emma
The last page: you today, and “I love you, Emma.”
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A grandmother painted as she is today and as a little girl

Curious what little you looked like?

Add a photo of you today, and see yourself when you were little. We paint you while you look around.

Or add it after you order.

A painted page of the book: little Grandma walking to the school bus with her dog Rusty

Your little one has never seen you at seven

The dog you loved. The day you hid your peas under the table. Tell it once, out loud. They'll hear it at night and see you as a kid in every picture. Years from now, they'll still know your story by heart.

What will your book be about?

Pick one, two or three after you order. The topics only help you get started. Talk about anything you like, and it all becomes one story.

  • Home and familyThe house you grew up in, and who lived there with you
  • Pets and animalsThe dog, the cat, or the cows next door
  • School daysTeachers, best friends and recess
  • Playtime and mischiefGames, toys and the trouble you got into
  • Holidays and traditionsHoliday mornings, birthdays and summer trips
  • Adventures and firstsFirst times, big trips and brave moments
  • Love and growing upBeing a teenager, your first job, falling in love
  • When their mom or dad was littleThe baby they were, the things they said, the trouble they got into

A book they'll ask for again and again

  • A big hardcover picture book, 29.7 x 21 cm (11.7 x 8.3 in)
  • One bedtime story in your own words: 26 pages, with 12 full-page paintings
  • You see every page first, and change anything before it prints
  • A note from you to them, on the last page
  • You and your little one, painted together
  • Their name inside, and on the cover

Questions

I'm not good at telling stories.

You don't have to be. Talk the way you would at the kitchen table. Our questions help you along, and we write it all down in your own words.

What will I be asked about?

Anything you like. After you order, you pick one to three topics, like pets, school days or holidays, and we ask small questions to help you remember. Tell us whatever comes to mind, and we put it all together into one bedtime story.

How long does it take?

About 3 to 5 minutes of talking. We take care of the rest: the writing, the painting and the printing.

I don't have old photos.

That's fine. A photo of you today is all we need. If you have one from when you were little, you can add it too.

How big is the book?

It's a hardcover, 29.7 cm wide and 21 cm tall (11.7 x 8.3 inches). That's A4, laid on its side.

I have more than one grandkid.

Pick 2, 3 or 4 books. Each book has that grandkid's name inside and on the cover.

Can I change things?

Yes. You see every page before it prints. Paint a picture again or change the words as often as you like.

When does it arrive?

7 to 10 days after you say it's ready to print. Shipping is free.

What if I don't love it?

Write to support@thegroovd.com before we print it, and you get 100% of your money back. You see every page first, so you always know what you're getting.

Can Grandpa make one?

Yes. Grandpa tells his stories the same way, and we paint him as a little boy.

The most meaningful gift they'll ever get

One day, they'll read it to their own children.

Create my storybook