Questions parents ask

Sova Stories is a bedtime story subscription. Every night, a brand-new story written just for your child arrives by email or text, ready for you to read aloud. Each story is crafted with the Sova Method™, our storytelling method that layers simple relaxation techniques into the story to invite relaxation and calm.

A storybook is the same every time. A Sova story is new every night and stars your child, with their pets, family, friends and favorite things. It's also written to calm: gentle pacing, soothing repetition and short shaded reading notes guide you to slow down so your child can settle.

"Sova" is Swedish for sleep, and the word for owl in several Slavic languages. Our owl, Wonder, delivers every story.

Every story is written by AI, guided by the Sova Method, our story-safety rules and the details you share about your child, and then checked by a second, automatic safety review. That's how each one can be brand new and personal every night. A person doesn't read each story first, so please read it yourself before sharing it with your child.

It's our storytelling method. It takes simple relaxation techniques from practices such as hypnotherapy, biofeedback, NLP, guided meditation and ASMR, and layers them into the story itself, so there's nothing for your child to do but listen. The Sova Method is not a therapeutic method, it doesn't hypnotize the child or the parent reading, and there's nothing clinically curative about it; it simply invites relaxation and calm.

They're gentle stage directions for you, the reader. A short note just before a passage tells you how to read it: slow down, find a rhythm, linger on sleepy words, count slower and quieter, lower your voice to a whisper, or offer an optional gentle touch. Pauses are written into the words themselves, so there's nothing to memorize.

No. Sova Stories uses calming storytelling to make bedtime easier, but it isn't medical, psychological or sleep treatment. If you're concerned about your child's sleep or wellbeing, please talk with your pediatrician.

That's completely fine. Every child and every night is different. The goal is a calm, connected wind-down, and many families find bedtime gets easier as the nightly ritual becomes familiar.

Yes. Sova Stories is made to be read aloud by a parent or caregiver. Your voice, your pace and your closeness are a big part of what makes it calming. Children never use the app themselves.

Sova Stories is text only, with no videos, games or bright animations, and it's meant for you to read, not your child to watch. If you'd rather skip screens entirely, choose the printable version and read from paper.

By email, by text message with a link to read on your phone, or both, at the time you choose each night. You can change the time or method anytime from your account.

Yes. You can choose to get a printable page with every email story, designed with a wide margin and punch guides for a 3-ring binder. Growing Family and The Whole Nest members can also reprint any past story from their Story Library.

Of course. Skip tonight with one tap, or pause a range of nights for a trip, all without changing your billing. For longer breaks, you can pause your subscription for one to three months.

One Dreamer is $7 a month plus tax for one child. Growing Family is $12 a month plus tax for up to 4 children sharing one story each night. The Whole Nest is $24 a month plus tax for up to 4 children, each with their own story. Both include the Story Library. See plans.

Yes. Every account starts with a 3-day free trial, and no card is needed. You're only charged if you choose a plan.

Yes. Your child's age goes up by one automatically every year: in their birthday month, if you add one on the Children tab, or on the anniversary of when you entered the age. Each story is written for your child's age that night, so stories gradually become longer and richer as they grow. When an age changes, we'll remind you in your account to check their interests and friends too, and you can update anything at any time.

With Growing Family, all your children (up to 4) share one story together each night. With The Whole Nest, each child gets their own story every night, which is great for siblings of different ages. You can switch plans anytime.

Yes. Cancel from your account in a couple of clicks. Stories continue until the end of the month you've paid for, and you won't be charged again. See our Refund Policy.

We ask only for what makes a story personal, like a first name, age and favorite things. We never ask for photos, last names or addresses, never sell information, and never use it for advertising. You can delete your child's profile and stories yourself, anytime. Read our Children's Privacy Notice.

We can't use characters that belong to other companies, like those from TV shows, movies, books or games. Instead, the story creates an original friend inspired by what your child loves about that character, such as a brave rescue pup or a kind snow princess, so they still get the adventure they love. Wonder the Owl™, our own character, says goodnight to little ones and may star in special series.

Every story follows our story-safety rules: gentle from start to finish, right for your child's age, and caring with feelings. If anything ever seems off, tell us and we'll make it right.