When I Was Little
Your book: When Granny Was Little
An illustrated picture book of their real childhood. Send us an old photo and their memories, and we illustrate them as the star of their own story: a trip down memory lane, and a glimpse for the children of what growing up was like in a different time.
Not on the list? Any name works: Gangan, Nona, Gaga... You type the exact name in the story form after you order.
Look inside
Look inside a sample book
This is a real customer's book, all 32 pages, from the file we sent to print for the 28 cm hardback. Nothing is a mock-up. Drag a page corner, tap the pages, use the arrows or swipe to turn them.
This family call her Grandma; your book uses whatever name you choose. Shown at screen size: the real hardback is 28 cm square, about the size of a large atlas, and 56 cm wide when open.
From an old photo
Send us a childhood photo. We draw them as they were.
The fringe, the freckles, even the outfit from the photo. They become the star of every page and look like themselves on each one. No photo? Tell us their hair, colouring and clothes instead.
A trip down memory lane
What growing up was like, back then
For the grown-ups, it's a trip down memory lane. For the children, it's a window into a different time: a world of penny sweets, outside toilets and playing out until tea, with Grandma or Grandad as a little one their own age.
Every page is short enough to read aloud, and it starts the conversations families never quite get round to.
How it works
Ten minutes of questions. A book the family keeps forever.
Order
Choose the hardback or the PDF and pay securely.
Tell their story
You'll get our 13 simple questions straight away: where they grew up, school, favourite sweets, how they met their partner. Skip any you like. Use whatever name the children call them, spelt your way.
Approve the preview
Within 3 working days we send every page to check. Want a word changed? Just ask.
Printed and posted
Your hardback is printed and posted to you, arriving in 5 to 8 working days.
Inside the book
A few lines from you become a whole page
No writing skills needed. Answer each question in a sentence or two, the way you'd tell it over a cup of tea. Open "What the customer wrote" under each page to see exactly what they typed.
What the customer wrote for this page
1. Long ago: what year were you born, and where did you grow up?
1954, Bothwell, a small village near Glasgow, on Easter Monday. I was born at home in a flat above the post office on the Main Street. My mother used to tell me the Easter Bunny brought me!
We turned those few lines into the page above.
What the customer wrote for this page
5. Playing out: what was your favourite toy or game, and who did you play with?
So many friends to play with and lots of freedom to play out as long as we were home for tea. Always in a crowd playing games on the street as there was very little traffic, but my best toy ever was my roller skates, I wore them everywhere
We turned those few lines into the page above.
What the customer wrote for this page
Anything else you'd love to include?
I used to catch frogs and newts at the local pond and bring them home, much to my mother's horror. My best pet was our Jack Russell terrier, she was called Tiny and was definitely part human, she ate cornflakes and drank tea!
We turned those few lines into the page above.
What the customer wrote for this page
6. Pocket money: what did you buy with it, and what did things cost?
Usually I bought sweets, from Mr Darroch in the Main Street. He had a penny tray, a Tuppeny (2pence) tray and a Thruppeny (3 pence) tray to choose your sweets from depending on how much money you had.
We turned those few lines into the page above.
- 32
- pages
- 14
- full-page pictures, each with its own story
- 28 cm
- large square hardback, printed in full colour
- +
- their real photo on the cover, a dedication, and every grandchild's name on the last page
The fourteen scenes in every book:
- Long ago
- Home
- The kitchen table
- School
- Playing out
- Pocket money
- Before screens
- Pets and adventures
- Holidays
- Growing up
- Falling in love
- Our family
- Dear little me
- A wish for you
The best bit
They pop back in time to meet their younger self
We ask one last question: what would you whisper to little you? Then we draw the two of them side by side, with a little magic in the air. Add a recent photo and they'll look just like themselves today. The book ends with their real photos, then and now.
What the customer wrote for this page
12. Dear little me: if you could pop back in time and sit beside your younger self, what would you whisper?
Be more confident, you can do it!
We turned those few lines into the page above.
The last page
A wish for every grandchild, by name
The book ends with their younger and older self blowing a dandelion together. Every grandchild's name floats up with the seeds, beside their wish for them. It's the page the children go looking for.
Want it in their own hand? Send a photo of "Love, Grandma" written on paper, or the whole wish, and we'll put their real handwriting on the page.
Order
One book, made just for your family
Softcover picture book
£24.99 + £3.99 UK delivery
- 32 pages, 20 cm square, full colour
- Their real photo, their own words and a dedication from you
- Every grandchild's name on the final page
- Every page approved by you before printing
The keepsake
Large hardback picture book
£34.99 + £3.99 UK delivery
Launch price until 31 December, then £39.99
- 32 pages, a large 28 cm square hardback, full colour
- Their real photo on the cover, beside their picture-book self
- Every grandchild's name on the final page
- Every page approved by you before printing
Printable PDF
£12.99
- The same book as a high-quality PDF
- Print at home or share with family abroad
- Emailed once you approve it
Checkout opens very soon. Please check back in a day or two.
How long it takes
Questions
How long is the book?
32 pages, either a 20 cm square softcover or a large 28 cm square hardback. There's a title page, a dedication from you, an opening page with their real childhood photo beside their picture-book self, 14 illustrated scenes with their story, and a then-and-now photo page at the end. It takes about 10 minutes to read aloud.
What happens to the photos I upload?
We use them only to draw the character for your book. Photos are deleted 30 days after your book is delivered and never used for anything else.
What if we don't have a childhood photo?
Tell us their hair colour and style, freckles, glasses and the sort of clothes they wore, and we'll draw them from that.
Who can the book be about?
Anyone with a childhood worth telling: Granny or Grandad, Nana or Grandpa, or Mum or Dad for their own children. The title uses whatever name your children call them, so Gangan, Nona, Gran, Oma or Pops all work. You type it in, spelt your way, when you answer the questions after ordering.
What if they don't remember everything?
Skip any question. The book adjusts to the memories you share.
How many children can it be for?
All of them. Every name goes in the dedication, and floats up into the sky on the last page.
Can their own handwriting go in the book?
Yes, if you'd like. Ask them to write "Love, Grandma" (or their whole wish) on plain paper, take a photo in good light and send it to us. We use their real writing. We never imitate anyone's handwriting.
Can I change things after I see the preview?
Yes. Small word changes are always included. We'll check with you before printing anything.