Christmas gift for a 5-year-old: a personalized children's book

Five-year-olds are full of questions and ideas. This book gives your child an adventure to grow into, with two to four sentences on each page, dialogue and a problem they solve using their own ideas. There's just enough excitement and a reassuring ending, while the hero is illustrated from your child's photo.

Create a book for a 5-year-old

Hardcover in time for Christmas: order by November 29

A five-year-old's questions and ideas

A five-year-old might tell a long story with a beginning, a middle and an unexpected ending. They count steps, recognize their name in writing and perhaps know a few other letters too. They want to understand how the world works: where rain comes from, where the sun goes at night and how far away the moon is. Friends are becoming more important, and play involves taking roles and working things out together. Fairness matters, and cheating is spotted at once. In a book for this age, the hero can work out the solution for themselves, and the story can have a little mystery. Their name in the text may even be one of the first words they read on their own.

Would you like to see a finished book before you decide? Browse our example books.

Two themes for a five-year-old

Many children learn to ride without training wheels around the age of five. The learning to ride a bike theme can be about falling, getting back up and finally riding off with Dad running behind. For a child who dreams of sailing, try pirates, with a map, a parrot and a treasure that might not be gold at all. Tell us what your child would love to find in the chest.

Choose a theme

What to put in a five-year-old's book

Five-year-olds have ideas of their own, so let your child help as you fill in the form. Which theme and illustration style should you choose? Who should come along? A friend, with their parents' permission, a big sister or a grandpa can have a role, and there's room for five characters. Mention interests and details, such as a cape your child always wears or how they can count to a hundred. Perseverance makes a good message, as does honesty, something many five-year-olds think about. In the foreword, you could write about what you see in your child now and read it together again when they're much older.

A book to grow with

You'll probably still read most of the book aloud, but your child may start looking for their name and pointing out letters. Let them find their name on each page: it's a lovely start to reading. As a fifth birthday present, it's a book they can proudly show their friends. On a long car journey, the eBook is there on your phone, and the audiobook opens with the QR code in the book, so your child can listen in the back seat or before bed. When they start reading independently, you can make a sequel with the same heroes and more text.