Deeper character builder, no photo upload, shipping not included
Story Genie vs. Hooray Heroes
The family-and-pets specialist — illustrated character builder lets you put grandparents, siblings, and even the dog in the story.Here’s an honest, side-by-side look at how we’re different, including where Hooray Heroes is the better pick.
Side by side
What you actually get, row by row.
Format
Story Genie
Hardcover (standard)
Hooray Heroes
Hardcover (standard)
Pages
Story Genie
24+ illustrated pages
Hooray Heroes
28 pages
Personalization from a photo
Story Genie
Yes — face-accurate illustration from a single photo
Hooray Heroes
No — illustrated character builder (skin, hair, eyes, glasses, freckles)
See full story before paying
Story Genie
Yes — full story, free, before paying
Hooray Heroes
Yes — preview every page before checkout
Revisions
Story Genie
Unlimited during free preview
Hooray Heroes
Edits possible up to ~24 hours after order
All-in price
Story Genie
$49.99 all-in (US shipping included)
Hooray Heroes
$46.99 + shipping (free shipping at $75 cart)
Family / pet characters
Story Genie
Single hero focus today
Hooray Heroes
Multi-character — grandparents, siblings, couples, dogs, cats
Ships to
Story Genie
US
Hooray Heroes
US (most states), Canada, EU regional sites
Where Hooray Heroes pulls ahead
The honest case for Hooray Heroes.
We won’t pretend they have no advantages. If any of these matter most to you, they’re the right pick.
- Deeper illustrated character builder — pick skin tone, hair, eyes, glasses, and freckles without ever uploading a photo
- Multi-character configurations Story Genie doesn't offer today: grandparents, siblings, couples, even the family dog or cat
- Higher page count (28 vs our 24+)
- Multi-region presence — US, Canada, and UK regional sites
- Long track record — over 3 million books personalized
Where Story Genie pulls ahead
Why families pick Story Genie over Hooray Heroes.
- Your child's actual face on the page — Hooray Heroes is illustrated character building, not photo-based
- $49.99 all-in including US shipping; Hooray Heroes is $46.99 + shipping (free shipping kicks in only above a $75 cart)
- Unlimited revisions during the free preview; Hooray Heroes locks edits ~24 hours after ordering
- Higher recent rating density — 4.9 / 5 across 11,000+ orders since 2023
Common ground
What you get with either.
Price at a glance
One book. One price.
Story Genie
$49.99
All-in. Hardcover, free US shipping, unlimited revisions during preview.
Hooray Heroes
$46.99
Plus shipping (free shipping kicks in above a $75 cart).
Common questions
Quick answers.
Can Hooray Heroes use my child's photo in the book?
No — Hooray Heroes is illustrated character building. You pick skin tone, hair, eyes, glasses, and so on, but no photo upload makes the hero look like your real child. Story Genie does that with a single photo.
Is Hooray Heroes cheaper than Story Genie?
On the sticker, $46.99 vs $49.99. But Hooray Heroes adds shipping at checkout unless your cart is over $75 — a single book usually doesn't qualify. Story Genie's $49.99 includes US shipping, so the comparable line item is roughly the same or cheaper.
Can I put my whole family in a Story Genie book?
Hooray Heroes' family + pet customization is genuinely deeper than what we ship today — Story Genie's focus is on a single child as the hero. If 'whole family + the dog' is the gift you need, Hooray Heroes is the honest pick.