Birthday Gifts for Kids: a book that stars them
On their birthday a child is the centre of attention, so give them a present that keeps them there: a picture book where they are the hero, with their name in the title and a birthday message from you on the first page. Toys get outgrown; this one goes on the shelf for good.
Start with a photo
Turn the party into the adventure
Choose the birthday story and the plot is built around their big day: a surprise that nearly goes wrong, a cake that needs rescuing, friends who all turn up to help. Or pick the world they are obsessed with this year, dinosaurs, unicorns or space, and add their age to the dedication.
Write the age into the book. A line such as ‘For Mia on your 5th birthday’ turns the book into a record of that year, and it is lovely to collect one each birthday as the pictures change with them.
Good for every kind of birthday giver
Parents usually give the hardcover as the main present. Grandparents and godparents like that it is personal without being another toy, and the printed copy can be posted straight to the birthday child. Aunts and uncles abroad often send the digital book so it arrives on the day wherever they live.
Why it works
- Their name in the title and their face on every page
- A birthday dedication printed opposite their portrait
- A keepsake that records them at this age
- Digital edition ready the same evening if you are short of time
When to order
For a printed copy, order about two weeks before the party. Forgot? The digital book is ready about ten minutes after you order, so you can share it on the morning and order the printed copy to follow.
Your dedication is printed on the first page, opposite their portrait. For example: “For Mia on your 5th birthday, the bravest girl we know. Love, Mum and Dad.”
Popular stories for this gift
Look inside “Ava and the Missing Rainbow”
Ava and the Missing Rainbow
starring Ava
Questions
Can I put their age in the book?
Yes. Add it to the dedication on the first page, and the age you enter also sets how long and how lively the story is.
Can it be posted straight to the birthday child?
Yes. Enter their address at checkout; shipping is included in the printed price.
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.
Looking for a story idea? See 20 birthday book ideas, each with its plot, first page and the ages it suits.