Personal children’s books
Personalized children’s books where your child is the hero
One photo, their name and a story they love. A personal children’s book draws your child into every page, so the bedtime story is finally about them.
Ready to read in about 15 minutes · eBook $7.99 · Hardcover printed to order
The short answer
What is a personal children’s book?
A personal children’s book is a picture book written and illustrated for one particular child. Their name is in the text, their face is in the pictures, and the story is about something that matters to them, whether that is dinosaurs, a new baby sister or being brave at the dentist.
Personalized children’s books come in three broad kinds. Name books print a name into a story that is otherwise the same for everyone. Photo-illustrated stories turn a photo of your child into the illustrated hero of a story written for them. And some families write and draw their own, which is lovely but takes weeks. This site is mostly about the second kind, and our name book guide explains the difference.
One photo
Becomes the hero of the story
How it works
How a personalized children’s book is made
- 1
Add a photo and a name
One clear photo is enough. Add a sibling, a grandparent or the dog too: up to five characters, each from their own photo.
- 2
Choose the story
Pick the age, one of 120 story subjects, a lesson such as courage or kindness, one of 10 illustration styles and the language.
- 3
Read tonight, print later
The eBook is ready in about 15 minutes. Change any page you like, then order the printed hardcover when it is just right.
The pictures are illustrated with the help of AI from your photo, then you check every page. Want the full walkthrough? Read how to make your own children’s book.
Illustration styles
The same child, drawn ten different ways
By age
Choosing a personal book by age
3 to 5
13 pages · 20 to 35 words a page
Simple adventures and everyday milestones.
Toddlers and preschoolers10 and up
13 pages · 80 to 120 words a page
Longer stories with more words on every page.
Story ideas for older kidsBy occasion
A personal book for the moments that matter
Buyer’s checklist
What makes a personalized children’s book worth keeping
Not every personalized book is personal in the same way. Before you order one, these are the six things worth checking.
The child is drawn, not just named
Many books only swap a name into a fixed story. A truly personal book shows your child, recognizably, on every page.
The story fits their age
A one-year-old needs a few words and big pictures; an eight-year-old wants a plot. Look for text written to the age, not one version for everyone.
You can fix what is not quite right
Hair a shade off, a line you would phrase differently: being able to rewrite a page or redraw a picture matters more than any preview.
It is about something they care about
Dinosaurs, a new sibling, the first day of school. The subject is what makes a child ask for it again tomorrow.
The family can join in
Grandma, a brother, the dog. A book with the people they love in it becomes the one they keep.
Print quality you would keep
A durable hardcover with a matte laminated cover and large pages, printed only after you have checked every page.
What you get
Start with the eBook, keep the hardcover
Every book is written and illustrated from scratch after you order, so the first step is small. Read it, change anything, and only then decide on print.
eBook
$7.99
12 to 13 illustrated pages plus a cover. Read on any device, share by private link, download as PDF.
Hardcover
$44.99
Plus shipping, after the eBook is deducted. 8.3 x 11.7 in, matte laminated cover, printed to order.
Story ideas
What should their story be about?
Guides to personalized children's books
Books for kids
Some personalized books become the one your child asks for every night; others get read twice and shelved. This guide covers what separates the two, and how to choose by age, interest and occasion.
Story books
Putting your child's name in a book is easy. Giving them a story that fits their age, their interests and what they are going through right now is the part worth getting right.
Books with a photo
One good snapshot is all it takes for your child to appear on every page as a drawn character. Here is how that works, which photos give the best result, and what happens to the photo afterward.
Books for toddlers
Toddlers will point at their own face in a picture book again and again. This guide covers how to use that delight well: the right amount of text for ages 1 to 5, and stories for the big steps of these years.
Baby books
A baby will not remember their first year, but a book can hold it for them. Here is how the two kinds of personalized baby books differ, and how to choose one to read now and keep for later.
Personalised books (UK)
A book with a grandchild's face on every page is a lovely way to stay close when you live miles apart. Here is how to choose one, get British spelling right and have it delivered to a UK address.
Questions parents ask
What is a personal children's book?
A personal children's book is a picture book made for one child: their name is in the story and, in the best ones, they are drawn as the hero on every page. The story, the illustration style and the lesson are chosen for them, so it feels like their own book rather than a book with their name printed in it.
How long does it take to make one?
With Custom Picture Books the eBook is ready to read in about 15 minutes after you order. The printed hardcover is made to order: printing takes 3 to 10 working days, plus shipping to your country.
How much does a personalized children's book cost?
At Custom Picture Books the eBook is $7.99. If you love it, the printed hardcover is $44.99 plus shipping, because what you paid for the eBook is deducted. The pricing page lists shipping for every country.
What photo do I need?
One bright, sharp photo where only your child is in the picture and their face is clearly visible. Skip sunglasses, hats pulled low and heavy filters. See our guide to books made from a photo for more tips.
Can I change the story after it is made?
Yes. When the book is ready you can rewrite the text of any page and ask for any picture to be redrawn, before you order a printed copy.
Which ages are personalized children's books for?
From babies to children of 10 and up. The length and the amount of text change with the age you choose, from 4 to 12 words a page for the youngest to 80 to 120 for confident readers.
Ready when you are
Make a personal children's book tonight
Upload a photo, choose their story, and read it together in about 15 minutes.
Start their bookYou will continue on custompicturebooks.com
