Story

Show HN: Lyra Kids – A personalized AI picture book generator for parents

Hi HN,

I’m a developer and a father of two daughters (ages 4 and 6). Like many parents, I found that standard bedtime stories didn't always capture their unique imagination. So, I built Lyra Kids (https://lyra.kids) to turn our nightly ritual into something more magical.

What it does: It allows parents to input a simple hero name and a plot idea. The system then generates a structured story blueprint and brings it to life with high-quality, whimsical illustrations.

Why I built it: I wanted a safe, ad-free environment where my kids could see themselves as the heroes of their own adventures. I've focused on creating a "Draft the Plan" feature that helps when you're feeling stuck but still want to be part of the creative process.

The Tech:

Frontend: Responsive web design for both mobile (vertical) and PC (side-by-side reading mode).

AI: Powered by Google Gemini's image and language models for story and illustration generation.

I'm currently optimizing the layout for PC users to provide a more immersive, "book-like" experience.

I’d love to get your feedback on the UX and the storytelling logic. I'm also happy to answer any questions about the technical challenges of maintaining character consistency across generated illustrations.

Thanks for checking it out!