Key takeaways
- Pick the story the child is into right now, not the one you loved as a child.
- Under five: short and familiar. Five to eight: adventure, ideally with a best friend or sibling as a second hero.
- Grandparent gifts work best when the grandparent is in the story too.
- If time is short, send the digital book on the day and let a printed copy follow.
The easiest way to get a personalised book wrong is to choose the story you would like. A four-year-old in the middle of a pirate phase does not want Sleeping Beauty, however beautiful the pictures. So before the list, one question to ask the parents: what is the child obsessed with at the moment?
After that, these are the ideas we’d suggest.
For birthdays
1. Their current obsession, as a classic tale. Dragons, space, mermaids, knights. Pick the tale closest to it. The Little Mermaid for the child who lives in the bath, Jack and the Beanstalk for the climber.
2. A story about the year ahead. Write two or three sentences of your own: the new school, the first bike, the trip they keep talking about. It becomes a record of being that age.
3. A first-birthday keepsake. The baby won’t know what’s going on, but in three years the child will love “the book from when I was a baby”. Keep it short and put a parent in it.
4. A party present, if you know the family well. It stands out on the gift table. You will need the parents’ help with the photo, so this one is for close friends and godparents rather than the whole class.
For Christmas
5. The Nutcracker. A doll under the tree that wakes up at midnight, a battle with the Mouse King, a trip to the Land of Sweets. It is the natural Christmas tale, and grandad can play the godfather who brings the gift.
6. A Christmas Eve book. Give it on the 24th and read it at bedtime. By the second year it’s a tradition.
7. A story you write about your own Christmas. The dog stealing sausages, the wonky snowman, the cousins arriving. These tend to be the ones families keep. See our Christmas guide for order timings.
The Nutcracker
A gift under the tree that wakes up at midnight
If you want a printed copy under the tree, order it in November.
Make this book with your child →When a new baby arrives
8. The big-sibling hero. Everyone brings presents for the baby. A book in which the older child is the brave one, and the baby just comes along for the ride, is a kind thing to give. There’s more on this in books for a new big brother or sister.
9. Two heroes. If both children are old enough for stories, make them joint heroes. Hansel and Gretel was written for two.
From grandparents
10. Grandma in the story. Little Red Riding Hood is built around a grandmother, and in Cinderella she makes a good fairy godmother. These tales have a part written for a grandmother.
11. Grandad’s adventure. Jack and the Beanstalk, Peter Pan, or a short story about something the two of them really do together.
12. The long-distance book. Grandparents abroad can read a digital book with the grandchild over a video call, turning pages together. We wrote about this in personalised books from grandparents.
For particular moments
13. Starting school. A story in which the child is brave on the first day gives them a picture of it going well.
14. Moving house. Set a short story in the new house or the new town.
15. Poorly, or in hospital. A digital book arrives the same day, and a story where they are strong and brave is a nice thing to have on a tablet by the bed.
The practical bits
- The photo. You need a clear, recent photo of the child’s face. If it isn’t your child, ask; don’t lift one from social media.
- Timing. A digital book on I Am In The Story takes minutes. Print needs printing and delivery on top, so allow a couple of weeks, more in December.
- Cost. Digital books are cheap: the shortest (six pages) starts at 12 credits, about $1.44, and new accounts get 20 free credits. A printed copy costs more.
If the party is tomorrow
Make the book tonight, send the parents the link on the day, and order the print to follow. It turns into two presents.
All of these can be made on I Am In The Story: choose a tale from the story library or write your own idea, add the child’s photo and anyone else who belongs in it. If you’re unsure which story fits which age, our age guide will help.
Frequently asked questions
What personalised book suits a 3-year-old?
A short tale they already know, such as Goldilocks, The Three Little Pigs or Little Red Riding Hood. At three the thrill is spotting themselves, so a familiar plot helps.
Can I make a personalised book for someone else's child?
Yes, but you need a clear photo of the child, so you will have to ask a parent. Many people make the book together with the parent, which also means the parent knows exactly how the photo is used.
Is a digital personalised book a proper present?
For families who live far apart, or for a last-minute gift, yes. Children are just as pleased to see themselves on a tablet, and a printed copy can follow later.
Pick a fairy tale, add your child
Classic stories children already know by name — each one retold with your child on every page.
The Nutcracker
A gift under the tree that wakes up at midnight
Make this book with your child →
Rapunzel
A tower, a lantern-lit sky and hair as long as the story
Make this book with your child →
The Unicorn and the Rainbow
Seven colors, one brave little heart
Make this book with your child →
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Too hot, too cold, just right
Make this book with your child →
