My favorite gift to give children is always the gift of reading. A lifelong bookworm myself, I find a particular joy in matching titles to the interests of the child- hoping that they will fall in love with the images and story, and take comfort rereading the pages within again and again.
Books can be a tricky gift to give, though. You never really know which ones the recipient already owns (or might receive at any given gift-giving occasion). And a kid who’s all about dinosaurs today might decide tomorrow that trains are his latest obsession.
But a story that’s all about THEM? That mentions their name and little customized details about their own life story? You can be sure that a personalized book with a child’s name in print will catch and hold their attention, and that there will be no duplicates on their bookshelf.
I See Me!’s award-winning personalized children’s books are as unique as the child that receives them. Offering selections for boys and girls ages 0-12, these customized books would make great gifts for birthdays, holidays and baby showers; for newborns and new big brothers or sisters.
For my own niece, Eva, I received a board book celebrating her 2nd birthday later this year (I have no willpower; Eva got it early). The book is exactly the right size for her little hands to hold, and the pages are nice and sturdy. I fully expect that it will hold up to the intense love that a toddler can give.
I love the artwork, which is bright and whimsical and cheery without being cheesy, and the story is adorable: woodland creatures are all atwitter, preparing for Eva’s birthday party. It’s engaging and fun to read aloud- and at this age, when the same stories tend to get read out loud A LOT, that’s an important factor. There’s nothing worse than reading a boring book aloud a mind-numbing number of times.
Even my decidedly not-bookish husband was chuckling and nodding approvingly at the cuteness of the graphics and plotline.
I can’t bring myself to write inside books, so my preference has been to paste bookplates into gifted titles as a personal touch; a practice that is admittedly pretty antiquated but means a lot to me. I do know younger kids just can’t resist tugging at them. Eva’s board book brilliantly has a dedication printed directly onto the inside cover which reads, This book was made especially for Eva Marie who arrived on September 14, 2010.
You can have the gift-giver’s name inscribed as well, along with the year the book was given. This little detail- the permanent “bookplate”- is absolutely my favorite feature of I See Me!’s customized books.
I See Me!’s selection of high-quality, durable storybooks (including pirate tales and fairy tales) can be customized starting at $24.95. They also carry gift sets (books paired with stuffed animals or t-shirts), personalized floor puzzles and a My Very Own Name app for the iPad. Any of these gifts are sure to put a smile on a kid’s face, and be a gift they’ll reach for again and again.
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of a I See Me Book to review. All opinions listed are my own.
Robin Elton is a real food advocate, wilderness champion, general loudmouth and Honey Badger Mom to three backyard naturalists. Community Manager for Fitfluential LLC, she is the Twitterific day-to-day voice of @FitFluential. Robin writes about the non-toxic healthy lifestyle, the restorative benefits of the outdoors, and the power of play at simple. green. organic. happy.
Robin Elton is a real food advocate, wilderness champion, general loudmouth and Honey Badger Mom to three backyard naturalists. Community Manager for Fitfluential LLC, she is the Twitterific day-to-day voice of @FitFluential. Robin writes about the non-toxic healthy lifestyle, the restorative benefits of the outdoors, and the power of play atsimple. green. organic. happy.
The “who loves me” one, for sure!
I would choose the My Very Own Fairy Tale Storybook
I would definitely have to choose the “My Very Own Fairy Tale Book” book for my little Anistin. She’s such a little Diva Princess at 16months old!
The Super, Incredible Big Brother would be perfect for my son!
I’D LIKE TO BLESS MY NEPHEW WITH AN “WHO LOVES ME? I SEE ME!” BOOK!
‘My Very Own Pirate Tale Storybook’ would be #1 on our list.
We would choose the big brother story book.
I would choose the Who Loves Me? with personalized blanket. My grandson spends every weekend with me and he LOVES for his Granna to read to him while he is curled up beside me with a blanket. He would be so excited.
I would choose the world according to me : )
I think the name story one would be nice.
We’d love The Super, Incredible Big Brother!
i like preschool according to me
nannypanpan@gmail.com
What a nice gift this would make.
I would choose My Very Own Fairytale or My Very Own Name for my niece.
I would choose My Very Own Name Storybook for my daughter.
I would choose My Very Own Name. It looks ADORABLE!!!
The Happy Birthday book looks nice.
I like the Happy Birthday book.
I know a 2 year old little girl who just had her birthday, that would like this.
I like this idea, it would be their own special book.
I think these story books are great for children.
I would choose My Very Own Pirate Tale storybook for my son.
Such a neat & great book for kids.
My Very Own Fairy Tale Storybook! I’ve already ordered Who Loves Me and it is really beautiful. Everyone loves it!
I would choose the Who Loves Me? book.
My daughter would love the My Very Own Fairy Tale Storybook, thanks!
I would choose My Very Own Pirate Tale Storybook!
Thank you!
I would choose the My Very Own Fairy Tale Storybook!
Thanks!
Jenn from Making Hair Bows
learnquilling@gmail.com
I would love to have the Super, Incredible Big Sister for my daughter who will be a big sister in April! Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
my very own name, or the christmas one would be nice
I love and bought several of these books and I still keep buying for friends with lil ones I love my own name book and the fairies book the pirate is also nice. I’d love to purchase the new birthday book or win it for my own lil 1 year old for his next birthday. These are the best gifts to give as the will be cherished for a lifetime!
We have a few of these books. Time to get the pirate one for 1 of my children who already has the My Very Own Name book. I’m about to order 2 books for our youngest 2, 1 is getting the pirate version & the other My Very Own Name.
I have been a fan for years, starting with My Very Own Name given to my daughter as a gift. Since we have purchased My Very Own Fairytale for her, My Very Own Name for her cousin, & My Very Own Pirate Tale for another cousin. I think I would have to choose God Loves You for my son next. It’s so hard to choose as you can see, we love them all!
I like the My Very Own Name Storybook
i really like the My Fairytale book!
The Very Merry Christmas Book would add such a magical touch to any holiday season. Now to figure out which child to use it for…..? Probably the youngest, Donovan who’s 4 months old.
THANK YOU so much for the lovely book review on “My Very Happy Birthday”! We are so excited to have this title in our line up of books! We loved the photos and comments posted in the review above!
I have 3 children and they would all love to have these books. They all look fabulous!
my very own pirate tale.
I like the birthday book for girls. My baby girl turns 1 on Saturday and it would be something neat she could read later!
The Very Happy Birthday Book For Gracie!
I love the new My Very Happy Birthday Book. We have the Fairy tale book and Love it!
Thanks for these Lolli, I would choose “My Very Own Pirate Tale.”
My Very Own Pirate Tale
i’d choose My Very Own Pirate Tale Storybook
LOVE LOVE LOVE My Very Own Pirate Tale Storybook! =)
Id choose:My Very Own Pirate Tale Storybook
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
I would choose My Very Own Name Storybook
I would choose My Very Own Pirate Tale for my son
I would love to get The Super, Incredible Big Sister!
I would get the super incredible big sister book for my daughter since we are expecting our second child!
My daughter LOVES the My Very Own Fairy Tale Book! We have read it a hundred times!!! So we would choose the Birthday Book.
I’d choose My Very Happy Birthday Book for girls. Thanks.
i like the My Very Own Pirate Tale Storybook
My Very Own Book is great!
Birthday Book for Boys
My very Own Name.
Would love My Very Own Name for my little one.
tnxns09 at gmail dot com
My grand daughter would love this.
I would love the birthday book for girls for my granddaughter on her 2nd birthday…
I would like My very Happy Birthday Book.
i love the my very own name book
I think my new niece would like “My Very Own Fairytale,” and her mother would love to read it to her!
My Very Own Name would be perfect for my little guy, Zane. 🙂
These look great – I’d love to get my daughter either the Fairy Tale book or the Who Loves Me Book – both look awesome!
I would love the Fairies book.
My daughter would love the
My Very Own Fairy Tale Storybook.