FAQ
Questions, answered.
If yours isn't here, write to us and we'll answer it.
What do you need from me?
Your child's name and age, a clear photo of them, and a few of their favourite things. The whole thing takes a few minutes.
What kind of photo works best?
A clear, front-facing photo in good light — a school photo is ideal. Sunglasses, hats and heavy shadows make it harder to draw a character that really looks like them.
Will the character actually look like my child?
We create an illustrated storybook version of your child based on the photo, keeping their hair, skin tone and features recognisable. It's an illustration, not a photograph — but they should look at it and see themselves.
Does the character stay the same through the book?
Yes. Character consistency is the thing we're strictest about. The same face, hair and features appear on every page.
Can I add family members or a pet?
Yes — you can add supporting characters such as a parent, sibling, grandparent, friend or pet, with photos where you'd like them illustrated too.
Can I see the book before it's printed?
You see a free preview before you order — your child's character, the title and the first two illustrated pages. The rest of the book you see when it reaches you: before it's printed or sent, someone at Hekaya reads every page and checks every illustration.
Can I change the story or the title?
You can edit the title and the dedication yourself, and ask for another version of the free preview before you order. When we call to confirm your order, that's the moment to tell us anything else you'd like changed.
Is the book available in Arabic?
Yes. Books are produced in Arabic or English — you choose which language the story is printed in.
What happens to my child's photo?
It's used to illustrate your child's character for your book. See the Privacy Policy for how we handle and store it.
How do I pay?
You don't pay on the site — there is no card payment here at all. You send us an order request, we contact you on the number you give us to confirm everything, and you pay in cash when the book reaches you.
Can I order more than one copy?
Yes — tell us how many when you send your order request. Grandparents usually want their own.
Every child deserves a story of their own.
Make your little hero the star of a story they'll want to read again and again.