Has anyone ever bought one of those personalised story books?

[CantSleepWontSleep]

You know the ones that you get leaflets advertising in just about everything, from identitydirect?

Can never decide if they're a great idea, or just naff.

So do you have one, and what do you think of it?

yes, i got a christmas one for my son when he was about 4/5. he liked it, we bring it out each december, it's fairly well written and the fact that you get to include friends/sibs etc makes it exciting. I'd go for it again, as a fun present.

yes form letterbox
were goood

We got one for DS ages ago. DD (8 yrs younger) now reads it and loves that it is about her big brother!!!

Oh excellent. Sounds like a hit then. Will keep the leaflet and work out which friends I can get them for, as I've decided that everyone is getting books this Christmas!

link please!

We had one done for each of our three several years ago now, great hit at the time and one of them has been rediscovered and it's still a hit.

lol - here Isababel.

Thank you

my dd1 got the tigger one from a relative when she was very little. Now she loves it and her face lights up when you mention her name etc. It is also a lovely reminder of where we used to live as it contains friends and our address from the UK.

I have spent the last half an hour doing a mental list on how many books I should order... They seem like a lovely birthday gift, and christmas one, etc.

Thabks again,

PenWizard are less traditional in style...

They are lovely. All the kids - including mine - who I have bought them for adored them. They are so impressed that they (and special friends/family!) are in the book!

I would agree that the books are a lovely reminder of times gone by - my brothers and I all got a personalised book when we were small ('twas probably around 25 years ago), and we all still cherish our books.

They mention friends, pets and places we lived/visited lots - it's nearly as good as looking through photos!

I'll be getting them for the dds when they are old enough.

I had one as a kid and adored it. Still have it somewhere.

Oh oh oh god they make me want to curl up and ignite with the heat of my face, glowing from referred embarrassment and shame! No no no naff naff naff.

Ds1 wants one, he will probably get one, but reading it will make me want to sob with humiliation. I hate the thought of cringey things.

What's so cringeable IMHO? Surely the reason we buy our children presents is for their enjoyment? Not many children would be unimpressed by a story "about them"?!

I had one made for ds1 a few years back when I was hoping having his name in a book would encourage him to read. I can't say it was successful. He read it once but I didn't think the story was that great and it is certainly not something he would get out time after time to re-read.

It was naff really. You know those letters you get with your name inserted into the text ("We have designed a new product and we just know that you, Mrs X, will love it")? Well, the book was rather like that. It had ds1's siblings' names in it too and they were just chucked into a list along the lines of: "X climbed into his rocket and waved to A, B and C. A, B and C waved back excitedly"

Put it this way: I have 4 children and only had a personalised book made up for the oldest.

Yes I bought DS one from Letterbox as I still have the one I had as a kid and I still love it. He's too little to read it yet but I can't wait until he can.