A personalized book for your 1 year old

We're parents ourselves, and we remember the first birthday: the smash cake, the wobbly almost-steps, and the feeling that the whole year went by in a blink. A storybook with your baby as the hero is one of the few gifts that gets better with time. Today they pat the pictures. In a couple of years they will bring it to you every night, because the book is about them.

See their free preview

Is a personalized book a good gift for a 1 year old?

Yes, especially as a keepsake. At one, babies love faces, bright pictures and the sound of your voice. A little character who looks like them, with their own name on the page, makes story time feel personal. Our books are written for ages 2 to 8, and our Just Because story works well from age 1. Think of it as a book they grow into, not one they grow out of.

What makes a good book for a 1 year old?

• Short pages you can read in a breath or two.
• Big, warm pictures with one clear thing to point at.
• Their name, over and over, so it starts to feel familiar.
• A hardcover that lasts for years of rereading.

Our books have paper pages, not board pages, so for now many parents keep it on a high shelf for snuggled-up read-together time.

Do I need a photo of my baby?

A clear photo of their face gives the closest likeness. If you would rather not upload one, you can pick a look instead. Either way, you see a free preview right on the page in about 2 to 3 minutes, before you pay anything.

How much does it cost?

The preview is free. If you love it, the hardcover is $40 and the digital book is $12.99. See pricing and shipping for the details.

What should I write inside?

Write a short note inside the cover by hand with the date: what they love right now, their first word, who came to the party. That page becomes the part you both treasure later.