IlluStory Make Your Own Story Kit | 
| Brand: Creations by You
List Price: $21.95
Buy New: $17.48
as of 11/20/2009 17:02 CST details
You Save: $4.47 (20%)
New (32) Collectible (2) from $17.48
Seller: powerofthemindbooks
Rating:  101 reviews
Sales Rank: 41
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Pages: 12
Number Of Items: 1
Batteries Included: No
Age: 6 - 9 years
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 10 x 12.7 x 1.6
MPN: IKR
Model: IKR
ISBN: 0963679600
UPC: 736212100015
EAN: 9780963679604
ASIN: 0963679600
Publication Date: November 1994
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Make your own book kit allows children to write and illustrate their own story | | • | Receive a color-copied, professionally type-set book in a few short weeks | | • | Children get to design cover and write About the Author biography page | | • | Mail in story in the prepaid envelope, or create book entirely online. | | • | Includes 18 book pages, 2 cover pages, 10 washable markers, story web planner, instructions, order form, and prepaid envelope |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
IlluStory Write and illustrate your own book!! Imagine your child's face when she or he sees their own story and drawings made into a professionally typeset, hardbound book! With this multi - award winning kit, you simply have your child write and illustrate their story using the materials supplied in the kit, which are then mailed in (in the pre-paid envelope provided) for publication. You'll soon receive a beautiful, professionally typset, 12 page, 7" x 9" hardcover book, complete with an "about the author page", title and dedication pages and your little author's name, title and drawing laminated on the cover. Extras books are optional and make great gifts for grandparents. Winner of Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award, Parents' Choice Classic Award, Family Life's Best Learning Toy Award and Dr. Toy Best Toy-Classic Award.
Amazon.com
Publish your own book with the Illustory Make Your Own Book Kit! This award-winning activity kit allows future authors to write and illustrate their very own story on special book pages provided. Once the story is complete, it is sent to be published, and in a few short weeks the budding writer receives a color-copied, professionally type set hardbound book. Ideal for ages five and up, this innovative kit nurtures enthusiasm for reading, writing, and illustrating. Let the Fun Begin
Illustory Make Your Own Book Kit is not only fun, it also helps your child build self-esteem. You'll never forget the look in your budding writer's eyes as you proudly display his or her first book on your coffee table or bookshelf. This kit even includes an "About the Author" biography page, title, and dedication, just like a real published book. Your child will also enjoy creating the cover and will be able to select from seven cover colors. Families can have fun too as they create their own story together. Extra books with alternate dedication pages can be ordered to make the child's story a gift or keepsake for family, friends, or teachers. Once your child is finished with the writing, sending the manuscript to publishing is easy, with the included paid postage envelope. Production time is about three to four weeks, plus delivery time. The finished hardcover book measures 7 by 9 inches with 12 pages, and features a permanent hardback binding, a laminated cover drawing, and book title. For techno-savy young authors, the book can be created entirely online by using the Creations By You bookmaking Web site. The entire Illustory kit includes 18 special book pages, 2 cover pages, 10 washable markers, story web planner, instructions, order form, and a prepaid envelope. The correct spelling option allows a choice between leaving spelling errors in or having the words printed correctly. Award-Winning Features
This kit was a winner of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award, as well as multiple awards from other organizations. It helps builds self-esteem and sparks an interest in reading and writing. Youngsters learn to see a project through to completion, and their final printed story rewards their effort. There are many optional upgrades available (for a charge) to enhance the book. Extra books can be printed and separately dedicated as gifts for family and friends. In addition, the author's photo can appear on the bio page, and rush delivery is also available. The Make Your Own Book kit beautifully captures a child's creativity and turns it into a keepsake that will be treasured for years to come. What's in the Box
18 book pages, 2 cover pages, 10 washable markers, story web planner, instructions, order form, and prepaid envelope.
Amazon.com Review
Using the popular IlluStory Make Your Own Story kit, kids who love to write and color can turn their work into a "published," hardcover book that's complete with personalized dedications for each copy. Aspiring writers ages seven and up will get a big thrill when their finished book comes in the mail featuring their own creative text as well as their own photo in the "About the Author" section! 
Kids will love seeing their work published with the IlluStory kit. View larger. | 
Each kit comes with 10 colorful markers. View larger. |  | What We Think
Fun Factor: 
Durability: 
(what this means)
The Good: Personalized copies of books make great gifts for relatives
The Bad: Complicated instructions and publishing options
In a Nutshell: Creative kids will definitely be thrilled at becoming a "published" author | At a Glance
Ages: 7 and up
|  | | Write, Color, Publish!
Parents will have to read the instructions carefully to help kids create and mail in their book for publishing. There are several important rules to follow, such as strict word countes per page. Once you've helped your child understand the rules, all they have to do is color and write! There are "cover pages" and "story pages" provided, with extras of each in case of mistakes -- a thoughtful touch. The kit includes 10 markers, but kids can also use their own. When it comes time to publish, the variety of options parents will be faced with can be confusing. They are all covered in the instructions, which are relatively clear, but you may have to read them a couple times through to fully digest them. Great Gifts for Relatives
Though kids can only write one story per kit, they can write personalized dedications for each book they order, which makes their published books great gifts for grandparents and other relatives. The "About the Author" section is sure to be exciting for your child, especially when they see their own photo. And while younger kids will love the act of coloring and writing on the pages that are provided, older, computer-savvy kids might enjoy the option to create their book online -- an option that lets your child get published faster! Watch Out, Stephen King!
We really appreciated the extra cover and story pages that were provided in case of mistakes. The "Story Web: Plan Your Story" page is a nice feature too: it gives kids a quick lesson in storytelling while encouraging them to plot their story out before writing. The ability to create your book online is very cool. But our online attempt to create the cover illustration got sadly foiled by a technical error. There was no explanation of what it was or how to fix it, either. On the other hand, the physical kit, with its quality, old-fashioned paper and pens is easy to use. Also, when you mail the story in for publishing, the postage is free!
What's in the Box
Instructions, story web planner, two cover pages, 18 book pages, order form, 10 broadline washable markers, and postage paid envelope.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 101
 Fabulous October 31, 2009
A. Maldonado (Ct)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
My 6 year old daughter got this as a Christmas gift and she and my 8 year old son decided to do it together. He was the author and she the illustrator. It was a great family acivity and the company was wonderful. My son spelled his cousins name differently on 2 pages and they caught it and actually called me personally to check. The finally copy was adorable and it made a wonderful gift for their grandfather who cried when he recieved it. I would definitely do this again!
 Fun to do; not that impressed with finished product. October 21, 2009
Jennifer (IN)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
My 5-year-old enjoyed making her book. I did not realize, however, that the sheets we mailed in would be the same sheets bound into the book. I guess I thought they would be color copied and bound. Because they are the same sheets, the marker bled through the back of each sheet and looks pretty cheap. We also had a misspelled word. I would have done it online if I had known. It is definitely fun to do, and quite educational, but it wasn't quite what we had in mind. I may be too picky. I guess for under $[...], this is what you would expect.
Very Impressed with Illustory October 17, 2009
M. McTigue
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
My 5yo received this kit as a birthday gift. The kit contains about 30 or so pages, each with a designated space for the illustration and lines at the bottom for the handwritten text. It included markers, a postage paid return envelope, directions, and a guide on how to write a story (who are your characters, what is the conflict, how will the story end). To avoid having to pay for additional pages, since only 20 words are allowed per page and the whole story must be 12 pages or less, we storyboarded my DDs story on our own.
This is a big project. My DD spent 4 days, maybe an hour or so each day. I don't know what the average time spent would be, but she put a lot of effort into the drawings. She and I enjoyed the project from start to finish.
I was impressed with the completeness of the kit and the email contact from the company from start to finish. Illustory sent emails when the manuscript was received and when it was shipped. We received the book in less than 2 weeks from when we sent it in though based on the info included, this was a very fast turnaround.
My DD was so pleased with the result. The book is made of the actual pages submitted which surprised me (though I think there is an option to upgrade). Some of the marker bled through to the back of the pages but this didn't bother my daughter or me. The cover is well made and the typewritten story exactly matched the manuscript with no typos. The dedication page and author bio page are great and included free.
I totally recommend this for other new short story writers. When 20 words per page won't cut it anymore we'll probably look elsewhere to create books. For beginners this is an excellent product put out by a great company.
Wonderful Creative Option for Kids September 13, 2009
Audrey&Cora's Mom (Columbia, MO USA)
We purchased this for our kindergartener for Christmas. She enjoys creating her own stories and this allowed us to capture that process for a keepsake - mis-spelled words and wild illustrations included. The binding looks great and the colors of the illustrations were bright. The final product was not a disappointment. We plan to have her create a new book at the end of each school year to chronicle her creativity and development -until she gets too old to be willing to do it. I gave it a "4" for fun because it required us to assist with the process - and that decreased her sense of independence in the process. Next year it will be a "5" because we won't need to help her. I purchased several extra kits this week to give as birthday party gifts for her friends. We love that this gift reqires no batteries and is limited only by her imagination.
Fantastic Customer Service! August 19, 2009
Lee
I chose to create a book online. The program there could use a bit of maintenance and tweaking, but the fast and ultra-friendly customer service more than made up for that. Best customer service I've encountered in a LONG time!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 101
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