Social story generator

Make an illustrated social story for whatever is coming up next

Describe the situation, design a familiar character and choose a calm art style. AIBookWriter illustrates the story page by page so you can read it together before the day arrives.

Make a social storySee the Pro plan

What a social story is

A social story is a short, illustrated story that describes a specific situation: what happens, what a child might see, hear and feel, and what they can do. Social stories are often used with autistic children and with any child who finds new or changing situations hard to predict.

A good social story is:

  • Literal. It describes rather than implies. “The fire alarm is very loud. It beeps many times.”
  • Calm and accurate. It describes what usually happens, without promising what cannot be promised. “Usually” and “sometimes” are useful words.
  • Mostly descriptive. More sentences describe the situation than tell the child what to do.
  • Positive. It frames what the child can do, rather than what they must not do.
  • Personal. It uses a character the child relates to, in a setting that looks like the one they will face.

Social stories are a support, not a treatment. If a child works with a teacher, therapist or other professional, share the story with them before you use it. They know the child and may suggest changes that fit better.

How to create a social story

Social stories use the visual book workflow on the Pro plan.

  1. Describe the situation

    A haircut, a dentist visit, a fire drill, a new classroom. Write what usually happens, step by step, in plain language.

  2. Create the character

    Design a character the child can relate to, with a detailed appearance. Reference images keep the character the same on every page.

  3. Choose a calm style

    Pick one gentle, uncluttered art style for the whole story.

  4. Plan each page

    One step of the situation per page, with short, literal text.

  5. Review every page

    Read the plan and the pictures the way the child will. Redo any page that shows something that will not happen, or that could worry more than it reassures.

  6. Print and read together

    Export a print PDF and read the story a few times before the day itself.

Designed around clarity

A social story works best when nothing on the page is confusing.

  • A familiar face throughout

    The same character on every page, kept consistent with reference images.

  • One calm style

    A single art style for the whole story, so nothing changes unexpectedly from page to page.

  • One step per page

    Page-by-page planning keeps each moment of the situation separate and easy to follow.

  • Redo any page

    Pages are illustrated one at a time, so a confusing picture can be replaced without redoing the book.

  • Printable

    Export a print PDF to read at home, at school or in the waiting room.

  • Your family's language

    Write the story in any of more than 30 languages.

Situations to write a social story about

  • Appointments

    The dentist, the doctor, a haircut, an eye test: who will be there and what each step feels like.

  • School changes

    A new teacher, a new classroom, a substitute, a fire drill or a field trip.

  • Family events

    A new baby, a move, visiting relatives, a wedding or a funeral.

  • Travel

    An airport, a security line, a long car ride or a first night in a hotel.

  • Everyday skills

    Taking turns, losing a game, waiting in line or asking for help.

Questions about social stories

Who are social stories for?

They are often used with autistic children and with any child who finds new or changing situations hard to predict. Parents, teachers and therapists write them to preview an event, explain a routine or talk through a skill in calm, literal language that can be read again and again.

Is this a therapy tool?

No. AIBookWriter helps you write and illustrate the story; it does not assess a child or replace professional advice. If a child works with a teacher, therapist or clinician, share the story with them before using it. They know the child and may suggest changes.

Which plan do I need?

Social stories are visual books, which are part of the Pro plan: $30 a month billed yearly or $37 billed monthly, with 5,000 credits a month. Each illustrated page costs 20 credits, so a ten-page social story uses 200 credits for its pages.

Can the character look like the child?

You describe the character's appearance in detail, including hair, clothes and anything else that helps the child see themselves in the story. Reference images keep that look consistent from page to page. If the child prefers, the character can be a simple animal instead.

How should the text be written?

In short, literal sentences that mostly describe what happens rather than give instructions. Use words like usually and sometimes so the story stays true when things change, and frame actions positively: what the child can do, not what they must not. Read it aloud before printing.

Can I edit a page after it is illustrated?

Yes. Pages are illustrated one at a time, so you can change a page's text or redo its picture without touching the rest. That matters for social stories, where one confusing detail can undo the reassurance the rest of the story provides.

Prepare for the next new thing

Describe the situation, create a familiar character and print the story to read together.

Make a social story

Related pages

All use cases