Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General Questions
What is Tikatok™?
Tikatok is an online platform where parents and their children can write, illustrate, and publish their original stories into professional-quality hardcover and paperback books or eBooks.
What is the cost?
It is free to join Tikatok! You will only need to pay when you order a hardcover, paperback, or eBook of your or your child’s original story.
The final cost of a book depends on the number of pages and the shipping method.
- Hardcovers start at $18 and paperbacks start at $15 for a book with 7-8 original interior pages plus the front and back cover.
- Additional pages cost $0.18.
- Shipping starts at $6.48 for a single copy.
- All eBook downloads are $2.99.
Shipping costs vary based on your preferred shipping method and the number of books that you are purchasing. You can select from the following options for shipping within the United States:
- UPS Ground: $5.99 plus $0.99 per item
- UPS 2nd Day: $8.99 plus $1.99 per item
- UPS Overnight: $13.99 plus $2.99 per item
In addition, Tikatok does ship hardcover and paperback books internationally. Here are the international shipping options:
- US Protectorates (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, etc) and Military: $5.99 plus $0.99 per item
- Canada: $3.99 plus $2.49 per item
- UPS Worldwide (all other countries): $19.99 plus $5.99 per item
How can I join Tikatok?
Please click here to join Tikatok. You must be at least 13 years old to join Tikatok.
How do I change my password, email address, or username?
Parents can change their username, password, and email address from their Parent account profile. Just click the “Profile” link at the top of the screen.
Creating Books
My child and I have registered. How do we begin making a book?
Once you've registered, you can login and click "Create A Book" to begin writing.
What is a StorySparks™ Prompt?
StorySparks were created by Tikatok to spark your imagination. They are a little bit like a writing prompt, except that you may choose a topic and pick the names of the main characters. When you select a StorySpark and name the characters, the beginning of a story is automatically added into the book editor. Tikatok also shows hints at the bottom of each page, recommendations for what you should write about next. But feel free to ignore the hints and change anything you want!
My child and I need help with the book editor.
Read this book to find out what all of the buttons in the editor do, and to get tips for creating your book.
My child started a book, but now I can't find it. Where did it go?
You can always find all of the books that you've made in the section of the site called the "Bookshelf." To edit a book, go to the Bookshelf section, click the cover of the book you want to work on, and then click "Edit."
My child wants to add illustrations to a book? How can I add them?
You can upload original illustrations or digital photos right to your child’s Tikatok account.
For drawings, we recommend using a scanner. Use of a digital camera is not recommended. Here are some tips for creating good scans:
Use resolution settings that will give you a file size of around 2-3 MB. For a letter-sized image, this should be around 150 or 200 dpi. Set the color setting to the highest number of colors. If possible, crop the page to capture just the image itself. Save your file to the “jpeg” or “jpg” format.
When you're done scanning, just go to the book you want to add the images to, click on “add an image” and follow the instructions to upload your files. Or go to the Drawings section and use the file upload box.
Who owns the copyright to any book created in my account or my child’s account?
Tikatok users own the copyright of all original stories and images they submit to Tikatok with the exception of books created using Build-A-Bear Workshop StorySparks. Build-A-Bear Workshop owns the copyright of all books created using Build-A-Bear StorySparks.
How do I delete a book from my account or my child’s account?
From the home page in your Parent account, click Bookshelf. Click on the book you’d like to remove, then click “Edit” and select “Delete this book” from the drop-down menu. Be careful, because this removes the book from the system and cannot be undone.
Ordering Books
How do I purchase my child’s book?
You must be the parent account holder to purchase any book associated with your child’s account. To place your order, click Bookshelf, click on the cover of the book you’d like to purchase, then choose the type and quantity of books you'd like to add to your shopping cart. Follow the instructions to check out. A free account with Google Checkout is required.
Someone I know created a book on Tikatok. How can I purchase a copy?
You must be the parent account holder to make a purchase. The book being purchased must be associated with your parent account or your child’s account. If you are not the parent account holder, you must ask the parent account holder to place an order on your behalf.
When I order a book will it have my child’s name on it?
When your order your child’s book, you will have the opportunity to add the author’s name, biography, and personal photo to the printed copy. This information will only be used for the printing of the book. The online view of the book will show only the author's username.
What is the quality of the printed book?
We think you’ll be blown away by the quality of the printed books!
Hardcover books are bound and laminated for a glossy cover, just like picture books you find at the bookstore. Your name, should you choose to include it, and the title of the book will be printed on the spine. Illustrations are reproduced in full color on heavy, glossy paper.
Softcover books are also laminated and glossy, and printed at the same size and on the same paper as the hardcover.
eBooks are high resolution pdf files that can be saved to your computer and printed on your home printer. The quality of the printed pages will depend on the capabilities of your printer.
How long will it take to ship my printed book?
Books take as many as 6 business days to print, bind, and dry from the day the order is placed. The final delivery time will depend on the shipping option that you choose.
- UPS Ground – 9-11 business days after the order date.
- UPS 2nd Day Air – 8-9 business days after the order date.
- UPS Overnight – 7 business days after the order date.
- International Orders - 3-4 weeks
Does Tikatok ship books outside of the US?
Yes. Please note that on International orders, customs and import duties are applied once the shipment reaches its destination. These charges are the responsibility of the recipient of your order and will vary from country to country. Contact your local customs office for details.
Tikatok LLC and its shipping partners are not able to influence local delivery practices. The arrival times for International shipping indicate the amount of time it will take for your order to reach your recipient's local post office. The time it takes to get your order from the local post office to your recipient's address can vary widely from country to country. Delivery may be delayed by customs/import duties and local postal requirements.
To place an international order, please select the appropriate international shipping option during checkout:
- US Protectorates (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, etc) and Military: $5.99 plus $0.99 per item
- Canada: $3.99 plus $2.49 per item
- UPS Worldwide (all other countries): $19.99 plus $5.99 per item
What is your refund and return policy?
Tikatok guarantees your satisfaction with the workmanship of your book. If your book arrives damaged or with a manufacturing defect, contact us within 14 days of receipt and we’ll make things right.
Please understand that Tikatok does not provide refunds, cancel orders, or provide free reprints except for the cases expressly described in this return policy (i.e., your book arrives damaged, with a manufacturing defect or a defect in workmanship.)
Please note that your book is all yours: Tikatok does not proof, edit, or change your content in any way. This means it’s your responsibility to review your book before you publish, and fix:
- Typos, grammar, unfinished text, or other text errors
- Low-resolution images that may appear blurry in print
- Design issues, including book format, organization, style, color, and page layout
- Any other creative choices you may have made to your book
Tikatok does require you to review the print preview of your book before placing your order to see exactly as it will appear in print. If you find changes you’d like to make, just go back to your book in the Studio Editor, make your changes, then order as many copies as you’d like.
Please note that because each book is custom made, there may be minor differences across different prints of the same books and/or across books printed by our different book-printing partners, including, but not limited to, slight variances in color fidelity and binding type. While we work very hard to keep our product as consistent as possible, this variation is a normal occurrence and is not considered a manufacturing defect or a defect in workmanship and does not qualify for a reprint.
Gift Cards
How do I buy a Tikatok Gift Card?
Click on the Gift Cards page and choose one of the suggested values, or name your own value (the minimum is $20). You then have three choices - you can email the card as a gift, print it out using your own printer, or have Tikatok mail a physical card. Physical cards are sent by US First Class mail. Please expect 7-10 business days for delivery.
My child has a Tikatok Gift Card. How do I use it?
First, your child should create their book using the editor. When they’re finished, add it to your shopping cart and go through the checkout process. When you get to the Google Checkout page, look for the box that says “Tikatok Gift Card” and enter your gift card claim code in the space provided. Any balance you have left on the card will remain for you to use at another time.
How can I check the remaining balance on my gift card?
Go to the Tikatok Gift Card page and use the balance checking tool in the bottom right corner of the screen.
