Your child discovers an extraordinary power - and an even bigger heart.
Ages 4-8
From $14.90
For a friend's child
A personalized book for your friend's child
The party present that is not more plastic, and the one the parents keep. Read the cover and chapter one free - you only pay if it looks like them.
What to know when you are buying for a friend's child
A present for a friend's child is really a present for your friend, and you both know it. The bar is not what it cost - it is whether you were paying attention. A book with their child drawn into it clears that bar in a way another toy cannot, and it is one of the few things a parent is relieved rather than resigned to unwrap. You do not have to know the child well to get this right. You do have to know their age, and you do have to get hold of one photo.
A dedication in your voice
Happy birthday from your Auntie Kate - not a real auntie, but close enough. x
The dedication is page one of the printed book - the first page they open.
One practical tip
Ask their parent for a photo before you order, and say what it is for. It spoils the surprise for the adult and not at all for the child, and it is the whole difference between a face they recognise and a face they do not. Ask for a clear, forward-facing one - the best photo of them is rarely the most flattering.
Before you order
This is the one recipient where the gift starts with two things you do not have - a photograph of a child who is not yours, and their exact age. Both come from one message, and the guide says what to put in it: what to ask their parent before you order
Stories that work for a friend's child
Your child blasts off on a journey across the stars.
Ages 4-8
From $14.90
A slow, cozy journey to dreamland where your child says goodnight to the whole wide world.
Ages 0-6
From $14.90
A joyful celebration story where your child turns another year older, surrounded by wishes, laughter, and a sprinkle of birthday magic..
Ages 0-8
From $14.90
A warm-hearted story where your child discovers that the smallest acts of kindness can light up the whole world around them..
Ages 2-8
From $14.90
A reassuring story for the big first day, where your child learns that a brand-new place can quickly start to feel just like home..
Ages 2-8
From $14.90
Your child travels back to the age of gentle giants.
Ages 4-8
From $14.90
Your child earns a place at a school where anything is possible.
Ages 4-8
From $14.90
Free preview before you pay Add a dedication - "For my friend's child, with love" Ships straight to your friend's child
Buying for someone else?
Shopping for an occasion?
All occasionsCommon questions
What makes a personalized book a good gift for a friend's child?
It is the one gift that cannot be duplicated: your friend's child is the named, illustrated hero on every page, drawn from a photo you choose. That is also why it survives the shelf - it is a record of who they were at this age, not another toy.
Can I see the book before I pay?
Yes. You get the cover and the whole of chapter one free, with your friend's child's face already drawn in. You only pay if it genuinely looks like them.
How long does it take?
The digital book is ready in minutes. A printed keepsake is made to order - the delivery page carries the current cut-off dates for each market.
What photo works best?
One clear, well-lit, forward-facing photo. A beautiful side-on shot produces a weaker likeness than a plain one taken straight on, because the illustrator works from the face it can actually see.
Last updated:
Make your friend's child the hero of their own story.