How to choose a personalised book: what to check first
3/11/2026
The name used naturally, your child's likeness, what you see before paying and what can be fixed. How to spot a good custom book before you pay.
Choose a personalised book by how much your child is really in it: just their name, a character pieced together from a menu, or their actual likeness. Then check three practical things: what you'll see before paying, what can be fixed once it's finished, and what you'll pay in total, including printing and delivery. A seller who won't answer this up front won't tell you after you've ordered either.
If you want a present in which your child recognises themselves at first glance, a book illustrated from a photo is worth it. If what matters most is that your child reads a brilliantly written story and the name is just a bonus, a classic book by a good author with a handwritten dedication will serve better. And if you've only got a few hours before you hand it over, don't buy a printed made-to-measure book at all; go for the digital version or a gift voucher.
Three kinds of custom book: name, avatar or likeness
Three very different things are sold under the word personalised. The simplest is a ready-made story with the name dropped in. The illustrations are the same for every child and the hero is a generic character.
One step further are avatar books. You choose hair colour, skin tone, hairstyle or glasses, and the character in the book comes a little closer to your child. But it's still a type, not your child.
The third kind is made from a photo. The hero has your child's own features, so even grandparents opening the book without explanation recognise them. This route is the most personal, but it needs a good photo and a bit more time to prepare.
None of these kinds is a scam or a mistake. The point is to know which one you're buying, because the pictures in the ads look similar for all three.
What to check before you order
- How the name sits in the storyReady-made templates often slot the name into fixed sentences, so it can feel pasted in, and the rest of the text doesn't change around it. Look at the sample text to see whether the name reads naturally throughout. Where the story is written for your child from the start, the name fits every sentence.
- What you'll see before payingAsk exactly what you'll get to look at. With us it's a draft title, a story sample and the dedication. The finished illustrations are only created after payment, because they're made for each child individually. Anyone promising more should show you what it looks like.
- What can be fixed once it's finishedA good custom book can be fine-tuned. Check whether you can edit the text and whether an illustration that didn't work out can be redone. With us you edit the text yourself before printing, and 3 new versions of the illustrations are free, each further one costs NZ$0.69.
- What you'll pay in totalCompare the final price, not the first number on the page. With us the digital book costs NZ$14.99, the printed one NZ$69.99 and delivery NZ$12.99. The audiobook is optional for NZ$5.99. The breakdown is in the article how much a custom book costs.
- How soon it's in your handsThe digital book is usually ready within 15 minutes. Printing takes up to 5 working days, plus delivery. The article how long a custom book takes goes into detail. Before Christmas, allow some leeway.
- Which language it can be inFor a bilingual family or a present for someone overseas, it helps if the book isn't only available in English. With us you choose from 30 languages.
- What happens to the photoA photo of your child is personal information. Look in the privacy policy for what the seller uses it for, where it's stored and how you delete it. With us the photo is used to create the illustrations of your child. How long we keep it and how you delete it is set out in our privacy policy.
- Whether the book can be returnedGoods made to a customer's specifications usually can't be returned just because you've changed your mind, and a book created from your child's photo and name generally falls into that category. Before you order, read the specific seller's terms and conditions. A printing fault is a different matter, so read how complaints about faulty goods are handled.
Custom book or classic book with a dedication
| Personalised book from a photo | Classic book with a dedication | |
|---|---|---|
| Who the main character is | your child, with their name and likeness | the author's hero, whom your child can identify with |
| Story | a short custom story across 12 illustrated spreads | a proven text that's been through an editor and read by generations |
| Language and depth of the text | simpler, built around your child | richer and more thoughtful from a good author |
| Price | NZ$14.99 digital, printed NZ$69.99 plus NZ$12.99 delivery | a picture book from a bookshop is usually cheaper |
| When you have it | ebook usually within 15 minutes, printing up to 5 working days plus delivery | straight away at a bookshop |
| Returns | not for a change of mind; faults are covered | many shops will exchange it or take it back, depending on their policy |
| What's left of it in years to come | your child's likeness at the age they received it | depends on the dedication; the book itself is the same for everyone |
Which book suits you
Answer a few questions and we'll suggest what makes sense for you.
What to do once you're ordering
- 1Get a good photo readyA sharp, front-on photo of the face, in daylight, without sunglasses or a hat over the eyes. Only that one child in the photo. For siblings, prepare a separate photo of each.
- 2Think about what the story should be aboutA child who loves dinosaurs will enjoy a different world from a little gardener. You can pick a ready-made plot or write your own idea in a few sentences.
- 3Check the sample textGo through the name, the way your child is addressed and the dedication. Write the dedication as if you were writing it by hand. You'll find inspiration in the article book dedications.
- 4Go through the finished book page by pageBefore you order the print, read the whole text and look at every illustration. Fix anything you don't like now. Once it's printed, you can't.
- 5Order the print lastYou can order a printed copy of a finished book at any time. Don't rush it before you're happy with the book.