Personalised story for nursery without dummy: your child's first day

When your child's dummy stays at home for nursery day, your child discovers small comforts in the new routine: a hand to hold, a familiar song and a cosy story at rest time. After play, snack and a goodbye wave, your child heads home knowing the day has a beginning, a middle and an ending.

Ages 2-3
Their own home town
Storybook watercolour

See the cover free before you pay.

Cover of “Ava and the Missing Rainbow”, a personalised picture book starring Ava — An example book in the storybook watercolour style

What happens in your child's First Day Without a Dummy

Your child's dummy stays at home in its little box.
A grown-up and your child share a slow goodbye at the nursery door.
Your child chooses play and meets a friendly teacher.
A song, a drink of water and a picture book offer calm moments.
Your child is collected at home time and tells the story of the day.

How the first page could read

This morning, your child's dummy was staying at home. It would wait in its little box until nursery was finished. At the door, your child held a grown-up hand, took one slow breath and looked inside. There were blocks, picture books and a kind teacher ready to say hello.

Your child’s name, look and little details replace these words, and the whole story is written for their age.

Why this story works

For a child aged two or three, nursery can bring several new things at once: a different room, a goodbye at the door and a routine without a familiar comfort. This story keeps the focus small and practical. Your child is not rushed or told to be brave; instead, the pages show ordinary ways a nursery day can move along, from holding a hand at arrival to choosing an activity, having a drink and hearing a story. The predictable sequence gives parents useful language for talking through the day beforehand, while the personalised child at the centre makes the scenario feel close to home.

Reading it together

Read the book together before a nursery day and pause to name the parts of the routine that will happen for your child.
Ask your child which comfort in the story they would like to try, such as holding a hand, choosing a book or taking a slow breath.
Use the home-time page to talk about who will collect your child and what you might do together afterwards.

Suggested art style: Storybook watercolour

Soft storybook watercolour keeps the nursery setting familiar, calm and easy for a young child to look at closely. A sidekick idea: a small nursery teddy who models each part of the routine. You can pick any of the four styles and change the details in the form.

Make your child's First Day Without a Dummy

Add one photo and answer a few questions. This story is picked for you, and you’ll see the cover before you decide.

Start with a photo

What’s in the book

A hardcover and a paperback copy of the same personalised picture book, seen from above — Both editions are 8.5" × 8.5" with the same 32 pages. The hardcover has rigid boards; the paperback has a soft cover.

pages: 32pages
full-page pictures of your child: 15full-page pictures of your child
square book (21.6 × 21.6 cm): 8.5" × 8.5"square book (21.6 × 21.6 cm)
years, words matched to their age: 2–8years, words matched to their age

Front cover with their name in the title
Title page with their portrait and your dedication
15 spreads: a picture on one page, the story on the other
“The End” page made especially for them
Printed: premium full-colour paper, paperback or hardcover
Digital: PDF and online flip-book reader

Questions

Can this book help us talk about nursery without a dummy?

Yes. It gives you a gentle, concrete nursery-day scenario to read through with your child, including the dummy staying at home, the goodbye, play, quiet moments and collection. It is a useful prompt for talking about what may happen and which comforting routines your family would like to use.

How is your child included in the personalised book?

You share one photo of your child and answer a few questions, including their name, age, chosen art style, adventure and little details. Picture to Story creates a 32-page book with 15 illustrated story spreads starring your child, and you can see the cover before paying.

Can I see the book before I pay?

Yes. Your child’s cover and the first page of the story are made while you answer the questions, usually in under a minute, and you see them before checkout. You only pay if you love it.

How long does it take?

The digital book is usually ready about 10 minutes after you order. Printed books take 3 to 5 working days to print, then 3 to 7 days to post in the UK and US.

More starting nursery book ideas

Ages 2-4Your child Has Two Nursery DaysYour child looks at a simple weekly picture chart and learns that two mornings are nursery mornings, while the other days are home days. From getting dressed and saying goodbye at the door to playing, coming home and looking ahead to the next nursery day, your child follows the same reassuring pattern twice.Their own home town · Storybook watercolour Ages 3-4Your child Joins Circle TimeYour child arrives at nursery and chooses a place on the round mat as circle time begins. With a hello song, listening ears and a turn to pick the next song, your child learns what happens before play begins.Their own home town · Storybook watercolour Ages 2-4Your child's New Nursery ShoesYour child puts on new nursery shoes and follows their tap-tap sound from the front door to the nursery room. With each small step through goodbye, play, routines and home-time, your child discovers the shape of a nursery day.Their own home town · Coloured pencil Ages 2-3Your child's Quiet Goodbye WaveYour child arrives at nursery with a familiar grown-up and chooses a small, quiet wave at the door. Through play, snack time and a story, your child sees that their grown-up comes back at home time.Their own home town · Storybook watercolour Ages 3-5Your child Builds with New FriendsOn a first nursery morning, your child spots a group of children building with wooden blocks and begins by adding one block to their tower. As the tower grows, your child shares ideas, helps after a wobble and heads home ready to talk about the day.Their own home town · Storybook watercolour Ages 2-3Your child's First Nursery MorningYour child gets ready for nursery, choosing clothes, holding a familiar comfort item and following the morning routine. At the door, your child says goodbye, finds small things to do inside and returns home ready to share the day.Their own home town · Storybook watercolour

All starting nursery ideas →