A Keepsake Gift Grandparents Can Give Their Grandkids
Grandparents know the toys do not last. What lasts is the time together and the stories. So here is a gift that is both: help your grandchild become a published author, and get a copy of their very first book for your own shelf.
Why it means more than another toy
A book your grandchild writes is a snapshot of who they are right now: the words they use, the things they find funny, the worlds they dream up. In ten years, that book will be one of the things the family pulls off the shelf and laughs about together.
And kids reread books they wrote again and again. It is one of the best ways we know to grow a lifelong reader.
How to give it
- Choose the book. With Gift a Book, you pick the size: a 12 page Little Story, a 24 page Classic Story, or a 32 page Deluxe Story.
- Give something to unwrap. The gift card arrives by email right away. Print a free gift certificate showing exactly which book you are giving and tuck it into a card.
- Let them take their time. The gift never expires. Your grandchild's family starts the book whenever they are ready.
Make it a project you do together
The gift is even better when you are part of the story. Next time you are together, or on a video call, ask your grandchild four questions and write down their answers exactly as they say them:
- Who is the story about?
- What do they wish for more than anything?
- What goes wrong along the way?
- How does it all work out?
Need ideas? Stories about a favorite pet, a day at Grandma's, a garden, a fishing trip, or a made up creature who lives in Grandpa's attic all make wonderful books. Our free story builder walks through it step by step.
Long distance grandparents
You do not need to live nearby. The story can be planned over the phone, and your grandchild can draw their characters and have a parent send photos of the drawings. Parents review and approve a proof of every page before anything is printed, and we never need photos of the child.
Then the best part: copies for everyone
Once the book is finished, it goes on sale in our store so grandparents, aunts, uncles, and family friends anywhere in the US can order their own copies. Your grandchild can even earn a royalty on every copy someone else orders.
Every book has a dedication page, so do not be surprised if yours says "For Grandma" or "For Grandpa." Many families add a new book every year, and the row on the shelf becomes a keepsake of its own.
Common questions
What age is this for?
Kids ages 4 to 10 love it. Younger kids tell the story out loud while a grown up writes it down. Older kids can write every word.
Who owns the story?
The story belongs to the family. Every book comes with a Certificate of Authorship crediting the child as the author.
Can it arrive by Christmas?
Give the gift card any time, even Christmas Eve. If you want the finished book itself under the tree, the story needs to be ordered by December 1.
What if my grandchild would rather draw?
They can draw the whole book and we will publish it exactly as they drew it, as a printed paperback or a print at home PDF.
Give your grandchild the gift of seeing their own story in print.
More gift ideas: Unique Christmas Gifts for Kids Who Love Stories.