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Guide

Stories that grow with your child, from age 2 to 12

Make one character your child loves, then change the story around them as your child grows: rhyming picture books at 2 to 3, phonics-matched Kid Reads stories while they learn to read, picture books and short chapter books at 6 to 7, and illustrated chapter books and adventures at 8 to 12. The character looks the same in every picture and every story.

Make your first character See plans

Updated

One character, four stages

AgeWhat to makePlans
Ages 2 to 3Short, rhythmic read-aloud picture books, with rhyming on. Bedtime and Friendship genres. One character, a toy or a pet, is plenty.All plans
Ages 4 to 5Simple plots with a picture on every page, read aloud. For children starting phonics, switch on Kid Reads Level 1 and slide to the lesson they are on.All plans
Ages 6 to 7Read-aloud stories with more going on, or Kid Reads Levels 2 to 4 for their own reading. Creator and Publisher can make these ages a chapter book, with a picture on every other scene.Chapter books: Creator, Publisher
Ages 8 to 12Illustrated chapter books, continued one chapter at a time as a series, with characters who change as the book goes on. Choose-your-own-adventure chapters when they want a say.Creator, Publisher

Children vary a lot, so use age as a starting point. For beginning readers, match the reading level, not just the age.

Why the same character matters

A child who has met Wren, or Biscuit the dog, at 3 and again at 7 and 10 keeps wanting the next story. In InkStak a saved character keeps the same face, colors and outfit in every picture and every story, and you can edit the details as they grow. Create one from a photo or a child’s drawing, or in words. A character is the same one in a bedtime story and in chapter 12.

The early-reader stage

For children learning to read, turn on Kid Reads. Its four levels follow the published UFLI Foundations order (Level 1: lessons 1–34; Level 2: lessons 35–53; Level 3: lessons 54–76; Level 4: lessons 77–98), and a slider picks the exact lesson. A story can open with a Words to look for page; it is on unless you turn it off. Kid Reads is on every plan, including Free. It is practice material, not a lesson plan: use it beside the phonics program your child already follows.

Then chapter books

Chapter books (Creator and Publisher) are written one chapter at a time, remember what happened before, and can be continued as a series. Decide the plan for the next chapter yourself, or leave it to InkStak. More on chapter books.

Start free: 5 stories a month, free forever, no credit card. Picture books and Kid Reads are on the free plan; chapter books need Creator ($9.99 CAD a month).

Questions people ask

Ages 2 to 12: rhyming and read-aloud picture books, Kid Reads early readers at four phonics levels, and illustrated chapter books for ages 5 to 12.

Yes. A saved character keeps the same look in every picture and every story, and can star in picture books, adventures and chapter books.

Often around 6 to 8, when they can follow a longer plot. Chapter books are an option from age 5 on Creator and Publisher, so you can try one with a child who is ready and keep picture books for the rest.

Keep reading

GuideReading levels by ageWhat to read with children at 3, 5, 7 and 9. MakeDecodable storiesStories that use only the sounds your child has learned. MakeChapter booksChapter books for ages 5 to 12, one chapter at a time.

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