Story ideas for a personalized children’s book
The best personal book is about something your child already loves, or something they are about to go through. Here are 38 ideas to start from, each one a story where they are the hero.
How to choose: for a gift, follow what they play with every day. For a change at home (a new baby, a move, a first day of school), choose the story that walks them through it before it happens. The one-liners give a flavor of the kind of story each subject inspires; the story itself is written for your child. Every idea opens the matching subject on Custom Picture Books, where you pair it with a lesson such as courage, kindness or sharing.
Big adventures
For the child who wants to be brave, fast and a little bit loud.
Dinosaurs
A friendly T. rex, a lost egg and a hero who knows exactly what to do.
In space
Countdown, lift-off and a walk on the moon before bedtime.
Pirates
A treasure map, a ship of their own and a crew that listens to the captain.
Superhero
Their own cape, their own power and a town that needs them.
Fire department
Sirens, ladders and a rescue that makes the whole street cheer.
Garbage truck
The early round with the biggest truck on the block, a favorite for little ones.
Construction machinery
Diggers, cranes and a playground they build themselves.
Time travel
A clock that spins backwards and a day with the knights or the dinosaurs.
Magic and fairy tales
Castles, spells and creatures that only appear to the hero of the story.
Unicorns
A shy unicorn, a rainbow bridge and a new best friend.
Mermaids
A tail that shimmers, a coral castle and a treasure chest on the sea floor.
Knights and dragons
A dragon who is not scary at all once you get to know him.
Princes and princesses
A royal ball, a kind heart and a crown that fits just right.
Wizard school
First day at a school for spells, and the first spell goes wonderfully wrong.
Fairies and elves
A tiny door in the garden and a world on the other side.
Family moments
Stories for the big changes at home, told with the child at the center.
A new baby
Getting ready to be the best big brother or big sister.
A little sister
Meeting her, holding her and finding their place as the big one.
A little brother
A new teammate arrives, and he needs someone to look up to.
A new pet
Choosing a name, the first walk and a promise to look after them.
Moving house
Saying goodbye to the old room and making the new one theirs.
Parents' separation
Two homes, the same love: a gentle story for a hard time.
Saying goodbye
A soft story about missing someone and keeping them close.
Growing up
Everyday milestones are easier when the hero in the book already did it.
First day of school
New bag, new teacher and the moment they wave goodbye at the gate.
Potty training
A cheerful story that makes the big step feel like their own idea.
Brushing teeth
Two minutes, a sparkly smile and a battle against sugar bugs.
Riding a bike
Wobble, wobble, whoosh: the day the training wheels come off.
Visiting the doctor
What happens at a check-up, told so it feels safe and familiar.
The alphabet
From A to Z with the hero meeting a new friend at every letter.
Big feelings
When a feeling is too big to talk about, a story can do some of the talking.
Afraid of the dark
The night is full of friendly things once the hero switches on their courage.
Feeling jealous
Naming the feeling and finding out there is enough love to go around.
Tantrums
A storm inside, and the calm that comes after it.
Finding confidence
Trying the thing they were scared to try, and loving it.
Being bullied
Standing tall, asking for help and knowing it is not their fault.
Holidays and celebrations
A book that comes back out every year on the same special day.
Birthday
The best birthday ever, with the birthday child as the guest of honor.
Christmas
A sleigh ride, a mix-up at the North Pole and the hero who saves Christmas.
Hanukkah
Eight nights of light, family and a little miracle.
Eid al-Fitr
New clothes, sweets and the joy of giving at the end of Ramadan.
Halloween
A costume, a pumpkin and a haunted house that is more silly than scary.
Grandparents' Day
A day of adventures with grandma and grandpa, starring all three.
Ready when you are
Found their story?
Pick the subject, add a photo and their name, and read it together in about 15 minutes.
Browse all 120 storiesYou will continue on custompicturebooks.com
More guides
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 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.
Big brother and sister books
A new baby changes everything for the child who was there first. A big brother book or big sister book where they are the hero gives them a story about that change in which they matter, and a way to talk about it with you.