Personalized Gifts for Kids

Why a story makes a great gift

Most kids already have more toys than shelves. What they don't have is a story that's about them. A personalized story is:

• Truly one of a kind. Nobody else has the same one, because nobody else is your kid.
• Something they come back to. Kids ask for their own story again and again, often for months.
• Meaningful for the giver, too. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and godparents can appear in the story right alongside the child.
• Easy to give from far away. It's digital, so it arrives instantly, wherever the family lives.

Gift ideas by occasion

Christmas and the holidays

A cozy winter adventure: the child helps a lost reindeer find its way home, or wakes up to snow and a mystery on Christmas Eve. Add siblings, grandparents and the family dog, and you have a story for the whole family to read by the tree. It also makes a sweet stocking stuffer you can share on Christmas morning. More ideas on our Christmas gift page.

Birthdays

A story where the birthday kid is the hero of the day: saving a party, leading an expedition, finding a treasure. Read it at the party, or at bedtime that night when the excitement finally settles down. See our birthday gift page for story ideas.

A new baby in the family

For the new baby, a first story with their name in it is a lovely keepsake for parents. For the older sibling, a story about becoming a big brother or sister can be the most thoughtful gift of all. It shows them they're still the hero of their own story. See our new baby gift ideas. Our guide on preparing a child for a new baby and our new baby sibling stories have more ideas.

From grandparents

Grandparents who live in another state or another country can still be part of bedtime. A story where grandma and grandpa go on an adventure with their grandchild, or where the grandchild visits their house, says "we're thinking of you" in a way kids understand. Read more on our gifts from grandparents page.

Starting preschool or kindergarten

A gift for a big step: a story about the first day, a new friend and the happy moment at pickup. Pair it with a new backpack. See our back-to-school gift page, and our starting preschool tips and first day of kindergarten guide cover the rest.

Just because

Sometimes the best gift is for a hard week: a story about being brave at the doctor, sleeping in a new bed, or not being afraid of the dark.

What you can create with Winktale

• Mini story. Six illustrated pages, ready in a couple of minutes. Great for a quick, thoughtful surprise.
• Big story. About 20 pages, with a page editor so you can tweak anything. Add up to five family members, friends or pets.
• The hero looks like the child. Use a photo or describe their hair, eyes, glasses, favorite outfit.
• Pick a theme or a lesson. An adventure, a holiday story, or a lesson like courage, sharing or sleeping in their own bed. Or describe your own.
• Narration, video and a PDF. The story can be read aloud, watched or opened on any device.
• English, German or Spanish. Handy for bilingual families and relatives abroad.

Creating a story is free, including the cover, the full text and the first illustrated pages. If you like it, you pay once to keep it. There's no subscription. Winktale stories are digital, so there's nothing to wait for in the mail.

Tips for giving a story

• Ask a parent for a photo or a few details if you're not the parent. Favorite animal, best friend's name, a pet.
• Keep the surprise. Kids love discovering that the hero is them, so let them find out on the first page.
• Read it together if you can. On a video call, at a holiday visit, or in person. The story means more with the giver's voice in it.
• Write a short dedication in your card: "For Sophia, the bravest explorer we know."

For more on what separates a great personalized book from a generic one, read our guide to personalized books for kids, or see how it works on our personalized story book page.