Personalized children’s books can be an excellent gift choice for those that are looking to make a big splash for a little loved one. Personalized children’s books allow the customer to customize a creative storybook online with options including:
• Uploading a photograph
• Gender
• Name
• Outfit
• Appearance (hair, skin, eyes, etc.)
As a newish uncle, I understand that sometimes it can be challenging to get children to read. Not only will a personalized children’s book encourage them to read, but it can make a great gift as the child is the star of their own personalized story.
Most shoppers are seeking to purchase a personalized storybook as a gift for their child, a family member’s child, or close friend’s child for certain occasions such as birthdays, Christmas, and other celebratory events. Most personalized children’s book shoppers are doing so for the first time and with a growing industry, it can be difficult to find that perfect choice to highlight the kiddo we love. The following information will help inform an online storybook shopper about 9 publishers currently creating storybooks and allow them to make the best choice based on a few factors.
1. Tellinga
Tellinga (like telling a story) sends 100% personalized and hand-drawn storybook greeting cards as unique gifts by snail mail. Story recipients receive illustrated stories about themselves based on unique preferences. It can be fun, dramatic, thoughtful… anything!
How it works:
- Select your story length (options-one day, one week, two weeks, or one month)
- Upload a photo and add a description of your desired story (you can reminisce a memory from your past or create a brand-new story)
- A team of talented illustrators and artists will start working on your story
- A few days later, the designated recipient of the story will start receiving unique hand-drawn greeting card-sized illustrations every other day in their mailbox until the package ends
We live in such a digital world these days as we are always emailing, text messaging and following each other’s social media accounts. Things such as traditional mail have somewhat been forgotten and for those that still frequently check the mail are often disappointed by the number of bills or junk mail. Tellinga offers a way to tap back into the tangible and traditional by providing a product that you can touch and feel on a deeper level rather than staring at another screen. It provides that old level of eagerness and anticipation of looking forward to checking your mailbox every day. It is the same exciting feeling of when you were exchanging letters of a pen pal or loved one growing up, looking forward to that new edition of your favorite magazine, or the expectation of receiving a greeting card from a loved one. The goal is to provide an extremely personalized gift that brightens a loved one’s day by delivering little hand-drawn story surprises in their mailboxes. It gives people the chance to be a character of their own mailbox story sent out piece by piece.
- Number of storyline choices: Unlimited — you can reminisce a memory from your past or create a brand-new storybook
- Personalization: Unlimited — describe your personalized storybook online, and add as many photos as you wish
- Upload a photograph: Yes
- Age: All ages
- Price: Starting from $7.99
- Estimated Delivery: 2–5 days (option of choosing the delivery date)
2. LoveBook Online
In 2007, four friends and colleagues set out to create the most meaningful gift to express one’s love for another. Instead of just saying, “I love you,” they wanted to get to the deeper meaning of love by helping people express the reasons why they love each other. LoveBook is a personalized book of all the reasons why you love someone. They believed that spreading love, in all its forms, was an important goal. Whether the book was intended for a romantic relationship, a friend, or family member, their online system could provide a way to help the user express their love for any individual in an adorable keepsake.
- Number of storyline choices: Too many to count — allows customization based on occasion and relationship
- Personalization: 13 options (name, gender, body, face, hair, eyes/eyelashes, nose, mouth, facial hair, eyewear, clothing, features)
- Upload a photograph: No
- Age: All ages
- Price: $38-$51
- Estimated Delivery: 8 days
3. Pint Size Productions
Pint Size Productions offers personalized and simple board book designs with your photos and text for a special board book you’ll cherish forever. Their board books are printed and bound directly on thick paperboard. Board books must be durable and made to withstand the chomping, chewing, bending, and attempted tearing that babies and toddlers love to make part of their early reading experience.
How it works:
- Select a template
- Upload up to eight photos and add selected text
- Purchase securely
- Number of storyline choices: 27
- Personalization: Add up to 8 photos and add select text
- Upload a photograph: Yes
- Age: 0–6
- Price: $22-$36
- Estimated Delivery: 14 days
4. I See Me!
I See Me’s mission is to bring smiles of joy and delight by making each person feel special with uniquely personalized books. The goal of their books is to show each child how unique and special he or she is, to teach the child how to spell his or her name, and to build vocabulary skills.
- Number of storyline choices: 49
- Personalization: 5 options (name, gender, color, skin tone, hair)
- Upload a photograph: Yes
- Age: 0–12
- Price: $20-$35
- Estimated Delivery: 6–13 days
5. Put Me In The Story
Put Me In The Story puts growing readers in the middle of the action by creating an instant, profound connection to the story, the moment, and the grown-up who made it possible. When kids see themselves in the middle of the action, when their favorite superheroes ask them to join the team by name, when the princesses they pretend to be during playtime ask them about their dreams for the future, children feel an instant, profound connection to the story — and reading in general.
- Number of storyline choices: 52
- Personalization: 2 options (name, gender)
- Upload a photograph: Yes
- Age: 0–12
- Price: $10-$50
- Estimated Delivery: 6–14 days
6. Hallmark
Hallmark’s line of personalized books is the perfect gift for the children in your life! Their selection of custom storybooks includes adventures as a pirate, train conductor, superstar, ballerina, firefighter, superhero, president, and more. Baseball fans can even become a baseball player for their favorite Major League Baseball™ team. Children can also rescue Metropolis with Superman™, fight Gotham City Crime with Batman™, or get some superhero training with Wonder Woman™. With so many to choose from, there’s an adventure for every child. Hallmark also offers wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue paper, ribbons, bows, and the option of a recordable storybook.
- Number of storyline choices: 26
- Personalization: 7 options (name, gender, outfit, skin tone, eye, hair, hairstyle)
- Upload a photograph: No
- Age: 0–6
- Price: $30-$35
- Estimated Delivery: 8–11 days
7. Shutterfly
Personalized story books from Shutterfly are filled with fun rhymes, beautiful illustrations, magic, adventures, and a personal touch designed to make your child feel special no matter the occasion. Discover a range of book titles and themes that are perfect for babies, toddlers, young children, and older kids, too. Whether you’re looking for the perfect baby shower gift, a birthday surprise or a Christmas present, there’s something every kid will love. Include a personalized message at the front of your book to commemorate the occasion or tell your little one how much you love them. Some of the books from their collection not only feature your child’s name but also their photo, siblings’ names, the family pet or other personalized touches that bring the tale to life in a big way.
- Number of storyline choices: 16
- Personalization: 4 options (name, gender, character, hometown)
- Upload a photograph: Yes — only with five books
- Age: 0–12
- Price: $28
- Estimated Delivery: 5–7 days
8. Wonderbly
Wonderbly is the market leader of the personalized book market as it has annual revenues close to $36 million. They believe there is nothing more magical than a child’s imagination. It’s delightful, limitless, and incredibly precious. Wonderbly creates meaningful, magical personalized stories which let children imagine themselves doing extraordinary things. From learning about their own identity to discovering the world around them and developing empathy, curiosity, and confidence, our splendid stories help prepare children for every chapter of their life ahead.
- Number of storyline choices: 19 — One of the books provides a different page for each letter in your name
- Personalization: 3 options (name, gender, character)
- Upload a photograph: No
- Age: 0–12
- Price: $30-$35
- Estimated Delivery: 9 days
9. Hooray Heroes
Hooray Heroes has taken the concept of personalization to a whole new level. You can choose everything that defines the hero of the story, and in a couple of their books, you can even define other characters like mom and — coming soon — even a little brother or sister. Check out their best sellers “When Jacob Grows Up” in which you can choose 10 or 15 stories in the form of poems from a rich selection of 20 altogether. So many great choices!
- Number of storyline choices: 20 (mom and dad options)
- Personalization: 3 options (name, gender, skin)
- Upload a photograph: No
- Age: 0–12
- Price: $39
- Estimated Delivery: 21 days
Summary:
There are a lot of excellent personalized children’s book choices out there. All of the options listed above are sure to provide a unique gift experience suitable for any special occasion in a child’s life. With similar pricing, customers must decide how personalized and unique they want their story with storyline choices, personalization if they want to upload a photograph, and how long they want to wait for their personalized story to be delivered.
If you are seeking a 100% personalized and hand-drawn storybook to send as a unique gift over time by snail mail, then start your story at Tellinga.com
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