A studio service
A birthday book they keep.
Most birthday presents are forgotten by August. A custom illustrated book with the birthday child inside it gets read at bedtime for years, and then kept in a box for decades. Made once, for one child.
The one present that still exists in ten years.
N° 01Why a book
The present that doesn't get outgrown.
A birthday book works because it does two jobs at once. On the day it's a present to be unwrapped, with the child's own face on the cover. For the years afterwards it's just a book on the shelf that happens to be about them — read at bedtime, taken to school, eventually read to a younger sibling.
It's also the gift that grandparents, aunts and godparents ask for, because it solves the problem of buying for a child who already has everything.
N° 02What goes in
Their year, not a generic one.
01
The child as the character
Built from three to five reference photos into a proper character sheet, so they look like themselves on every spread rather than approximately themselves.
02
The things they love right now
The dinosaur phase, the yellow wellies, the cat that tolerates them. The specific details are what make a child recognise the book as theirs.
03
The people in their life
Siblings, friends, grandparents — each drawn from their own reference photos and given their own character sheet.
04
A story, not a slideshow
An actual narrative with a beginning and an ending, built around a birthday. Books that are just a sequence of nice pictures don't get re-read.
05
A dedication page
Written by you, set properly, and the page most parents say they end up looking at years later.
06
Milestone editions
First birthdays told from the parents' point of view; tenths that mark the end of small childhood. Different books for different ages.
N° 03Timing
Order earlier than feels necessary.
A custom book runs six to ten weeks: character design first, then storyboard, then spreads, then print and shipping. Six weeks before the birthday is comfortable and leaves room for a revision round.
If the date is closer than that, say so when you write. The keepsake tier uses an existing story with the child illustrated into it, which is considerably faster and still made specifically for them.
We will tell you honestly if a date isn't achievable rather than taking the booking and hoping.
N° 04Investment
Three ways to work together.
Keepsake
From $480
An existing story with the birthday child illustrated into it.
- Character drawn from your photos
- Name throughout the book
- 12 illustrated pages
- One printed hardcover copy
- Print-ready files for reprints
- 1 round of revisions
Custom birthday book
From $2,200
An original story built around this birthday.
- Full character design from photos
- Up to 16 illustrated spreads
- Story written around the child's year
- Supporting characters (siblings, friends, pets)
- 2 printed hardcover copies
- Dedication page
- 2 rounds of revisions
Milestone heirloom
From $4,800
A first, tenth or other milestone, made to last.
- Bespoke story illustrated from scratch
- 24 illustrated spreads
- Premium hardcover printing
- 5 printed copies
- Endpapers and dedication
- Full digital archive
- Unlimited minor revisions
N° 05Questions
The answers we give most often.
- How long before the birthday should I order?
- Six weeks is comfortable for a custom book and leaves room for revisions and shipping. Four weeks is doable. Under three, we'd steer you to the keepsake tier — it's faster because the story already exists.
- What do you need from me?
- Three to five clear photos from different angles, the child's age, and a few specifics worth including — a best friend, a pet, this year's obsession. That last part is what stops the book feeling generic.
- Can it be a milestone birthday?
- Yes, and those work especially well — a first birthday told from the parents' side, or a tenth marking the shift out of early childhood. Milestone books get read by the adult as much as the child.
- Can siblings or friends appear?
- Yes. Each extra character needs its own reference photos and adds about a week, since every character gets a sheet before any spread is drawn.
- Do I get files to reprint later?
- Yes — print-ready files come with every tier, so grandparents can order their own copy without coming back to us.
Start your book
Make this birthday the one they keep.
Tell us the child's name and age, when the birthday is, and what they're into this year. We'll reply within two working days with a proposal and a draft character sketch.