I've got a good one for you today!
Printakid books is a company that writes personalized stories for your child, using his or her name in the story, and his or her hair style/color, eye shape/color and skin tone in the illustrations. Additionally, they include the names of the parents and a few friends or siblings (I chose siblings).
Unfortunately, I can't show you the best review I have: the look of sheer amazement on Joseph's face when he saw his name in print. He's five, and he's just learning to read enough to recognize his own name and that of his family members. His jaw was on the floor when he saw us all in one book together. "Where did you get this?" he breathed.
They offer about a half dozen stories for you to personalize, including special Christmas and birthday versions. We chose the one pictured at right (In the Kingdom of Nevernight). Some of the features that particularly impressed me:
- There's a page at the front for a "dedication": To Joseph--we love you, Mom and Dad. He loved this.
- Using siblings' names makes this a gift for the whole family. My seven and nine year olds are equally enthralled.
- They offer different reading levels, based on your child's ability.
- It was easy to order; you don't have to send a picture, just answer a few questions.
It struck me that this would be an especially appropriate gift for a long-distance grandparent to send a child, since they can't cuddle on the couch and read together. And it has proven to be an excellent motivator for my blooming young reader, Joseph. Seeing his name in a real live book has his eyes glued to all the words on the page.
The books cost $27.89 each (they offer other personalized products, too, such as CDs and greeting cards). You can see their website here.
My only "negatives"?
- Shipping is a bit expensive at $10, but they're a Canadian company--I guess the international shipping makes it a bit pricier. Forty dollars is a lot for a book, but in this case, it's worth it.
- In the book we chose (I can't speak for the others), the rhyming was kind of weak at points. It rhymes without being broken down into poetry-type lines that reflect the right cadence, which was a bit distracting. But that's only something an old English major as freakish as I am would notice; my kids don't give a flip!
I enthusiastically recommend this company and their product. I'm giving it a 4.5-rocks rating: 
(By the way, if you order one before November 10th, they'll throw in a free gift-wrapping kit. Just type in the code LEO2006 in the comments section of your order.) Order soon for the holidays!
My product review policy can be found here.
