Frequently asked questions
If you have a question we haven't answered here, email us at hello@tadpoletales.com — we read every one.
The books
How personalized is each book, really?
Every book is written from a memory you share with us, and your family is cast as the main characters — your kids by name, your pets, the setting. It's not a template with a name swapped in. It's a book your family wouldn't have anywhere else.
Can I preview the book before it prints?
Yes. Before anything prints, you'll see the full book start to finish — every page, every illustration.
If something's off, we'll adjust it. You have final say on the story and the art before we send it to the printer.
What if I don't love the book?
Tell us what's not working and we'll rework it. If you still don't love it, you don't have to approve it — and if it's your first book, you won't be charged.
What's the book actually like when it arrives?
A printed hardcover storybook, illustrated end to end, about the size of a typical children's picture book. Something you'd pull off a shelf at bedtime — because that's what it's for.
The subscription
When am I charged?
Not until you approve your first book. We collect a card on file when you sign up so we can start building your book, but nothing is charged to it until you've seen the finished book and said yes.
After that, it's $35/month — one book per month, free US shipping.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. One click in your account, no questions asked, no retention phone call.
Can I skip a month?
Yes. If life is busy or you just need a break, skip from your account — no charge that month, no book.
Do you ship outside the US?
Not yet — US only for now. We want to get the books right in one country before expanding.
Can I order additional copies of the same book?
Yes. Order as many additional copies of a book as you want — grandparents, godparents, classroom, safe-keeping — at the same $35 price per copy. Add-ons ship with your next monthly book or on their own.
Can I buy a book without subscribing?
Yes. One-time books are $49, shipped free in the US — same custom book-making process, no monthly commitment. Great if you want to try it for a single memory or give one as a gift.
Your memories and privacy
What happens to the memory I share?
The memory you send us is used to make your book — and that's it. We don't sell it, we don't publish it, we don't use it to train anything external. It belongs to your family.
Who sees the photos of my kids?
Only the small team working on your book. Photos are used to help the illustrator get likenesses right — hair, eyes, how your kid stands — and are stored securely. You can ask us to delete them at any time.
Can I take my books with me if I cancel?
Of course. Every book you've already received is yours to keep — the physical copies and the digital files.