Five Reasons Why Personalized Books Make The Perfect Gift (Updated, March 2025)

Personalized books have become a popular gift option for people of all ages. They offer a unique and special touch to a traditional gift, allowing the recipient to feel seen and heard. Here are five reasons why personalized books make the perfect gift:

A Personalized Book is a Thoughtful and Unique Gift

When you give a personalized book, you are giving something that is truly unique and thoughtful. Unlike a generic gift card or generic book, a personalized book is tailored specifically for the recipient. Personalized books show that you put thought and effort into finding the perfect gift for that person, and that you took the time to create something special just for them.

An example of a unique and thoughtful personalized book that makes a great gift is our “Happy Birthday PhotoStory.” The book is highly personalized, incorporating not just the child’s name but also their birthday and other personal details. Best of all, it is a PhotoStory, one of our unique books that allows customers to upload their own photos and have them become part of the book. In the Happy Birthday book, the parents can add photos of the child from when they were a baby, current photos, photos of the family and more to make it a truly personal gift that cannot be duplicated at all!

Personalized Books Can Encourage Reading and Learning

Personalized books can also encourage reading and learning, especially for children. When children see their name and personal details included in a story, it can spark their interest and excitement to read more. This can lead to a love of reading and a desire to learn more about the world around them. 

One U.S. study found that adding personalized aspects to school reading books, reading comprehension scores improved by 40% compared to peers reading non-personalized stories.

One example of a personalized book that encourages reading and learning is our "ABC - What Will I Be?" book. This children's personalized book goes through the alphabet and walks the child through a list of whacky and imaginative professions they could be. The language is simple enough for a young toddler to read or follow along with, and as an added bonus, the child’s name is hidden on every page, making it a fun activity they can play as they read the book. The book can be customized with different characters to represent the child, making it a truly unique and special gift.

A Personalized Book Can Be a Keepsake

Personalized books can also serve as a keepsake, something that the recipient can treasure for years to come. Unlike a traditional gift that may eventually be forgotten or replaced, a personalized book is a unique and special item that can be cherished and passed down through generations.

At Manimal Tales, we have launched a whole series of books called PhotoStories, that are a great new way to personalize books and make them keepsakes. PhotoStories are part photo albums and part stories. Users can upload their own photos and have them become part of the story. We have a range of titles including our newly launched “About My Mother” and “About My Father” titles that are perfect gifts for parents, and our “Happy Birthday”, “Your Baby’s Story” and “Jingles Christmas Adventure” titles are perfect for birthdays, new babies and Christmas respectively. 

Personalized Books Can Boost Self-Esteem

Personalized books can also help boost self-esteem, especially for children. When a child sees their name and personal details included in a story, it can make them feel special and important. This can lead to increased confidence and self-esteem, which can have a positive impact on their overall well-being.

This has always been a particularly relevant point for us and is actually one of the main reasons Manimal Tales was founded in the first place. According to the Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in 2021, of all children’s books with human characters, 47% had main characters who were white. “Part of the reason I started writing personalized children’s books was to address the appalling lack of diversity in children’s books,” says Sue Donhym, our author and founder. 

Our Manimal Tales series of stories dedicated to positive, progressive messages for children. Each title is focused on a particular empowering message for the child and makes the child the hero of that particular story. The Oiligator for example deals with climate change and the little things that children can do to help the environment; the Orangey-Tan talks about the importance of standing up for your beliefs and against injustices of any kind; the Grumpopotamus discusses the importance of of friendship and about being brave; and the ZooKeeper is a rollicking adventure story and also talks about friendship and bravery.

Personalized Books Can Strengthen Relationships

Finally, personalized books can strengthen relationships, whether it's between parent and child, partners, or friends. When you give a personalized book, you are creating a special and meaningful experience that can bring people closer together. It shows that you care about the person and value your relationship with them.

Example of personalized books that can strengthen relationships are our “Your Baby’s Story” and “About My Mother” and “About My Father” books. Each of these books covers key moments in the lives of those nearest and dearest to you; and each one allows you to supplement the story with your own real photos, creating a book that is both magical and meaningful. These are also books that you can pick up years later and relive memories with!

1. Best Gift for New Moms: Your Baby’s Story - Personalized Baby Tale

Becoming a new mom is an emotional and life-changing experience. A personalized baby book like Your Baby’s Story - A Personalized Baby Tale is a beautiful way to commemorate this special journey. This custom book tells the unique story of a baby’s birth, creating a one-of-a-kind keepsake she will treasure forever.

Why It’s a Great Gift:

• Customizable details: Add the baby’s name, birth date, weight, time of birth, and even a heartfelt dedication to make it extra special. This personal touch makes the book completely unique and meaningful.

• Beautiful illustrations and engaging storytelling: Designed to capture the emotions and memories of welcoming a new baby into the world, the high-quality illustrations make the story even more magical for both mom and child.

• A meaningful first Mother’s Day gift or baby shower present: A sentimental and unique way to celebrate a mother’s journey, making it an ideal present for a new mom who wants to hold onto these precious memories.

• A keepsake to cherish forever: As the child grows, this book will serve as a nostalgic reminder of the love and excitement surrounding their birth, making it a treasured memento that can be passed down.

• A unique gift that stands out: Unlike generic baby books, this custom book tells a personal story, making it a thoughtful and special present that will stand out among other gifts.

2. Best Gift for Moms with Multiple Kids: Mommy and Us - Personalized Mother’s Day Book

This customized storybook is designed for moms with more than one child. Mommy and Us - Personalized Mother’s Day Book includes all of her children’s names in a heartwarming tale.

Why It’s a Great Gift:

• Personalized for moms with two or more kids, making it a perfect way to celebrate the love she shares with all of her children.

• A touching keepsake to read and enjoy together, allowing kids to feel included and special in the story.

• Perfect for Mother’s Day, birthdays, or Christmas, making it a versatile and cherished gift that she can enjoy year after year.

• Strengthens the mother-child bond, as reading a book featuring the whole family can be an intimate and joyful experience.

• A lasting memory that captures the love, laughter, and moments shared between a mom and her children in a beautifully crafted story.

3. Best Photo Gift for Mom: My Mother - PhotoStory Personalized Book

For moms who love photo gifts, My Mother - PhotoStory Personalized Book combines custom text and personal photos into a meaningful book.

Why It’s a Great Gift:

• Includes personal photos for an extra sentimental touch, making it one of the most heartfelt gifts a mother can receive.

• Custom message to express love and appreciation, allowing you to personalize the book with messages and anecdotes that truly reflect your relationship with your mom.

• Ideal for Mother’s Day, birthdays, or anniversaries, ensuring that it remains a timeless keepsake.

• A way to preserve memories in a beautiful and professionally printed book that she 

• A unique way to say ‘I love you’, as the combination of photos and words makes this gift stand out from traditional store-bought presents.

Conclusion

Personalized books make great gifts. The best personalized books though are ones that go deeper than just the surface level simplicity and offer greater levels of personalization through photos, added personal information to create memories and keepsakes that are treasured by the recipients for years to come!