Posted By Laura in Bookshelf, Gift Inspo, Review, Shopping | 1 comment

I thought so. I really did. I fell for the personalised thing with the first child (Chrsitmas songs about you from Coco the Clown, anyone?), but ever since have firmly stuck to my guns and said a big fat NO.

But then I got offered a book from Itsyourstory. Which I didn’t answer, if I’m honest. But the PR was lovely, and bit persuasive, and assured me I would love it. More importantly Pink would adore it.

So I succumbed, and sent in a pic, not really hoping for much.

The book arrived, and honestly? I was impressed with the quality. Truly. I expected a cheap, flimsy, poorly-put-together affair. Not so – this is sturdy, glossy, and the print quality is lovely.

The storyline is basic (we had the Dressing Up Box), and on each page my daughters head appears on the main character – in much the same fashion as PicMe on Nick Jr. Surprisingly, what I thought would be moderately tolerable was actually… very very likeable. Sweet. Amusingly illustrated. And not annoying in the least.

So I put it to the ultimate test.

I showed it to Pink.

Oh.

My.

The squeaking was probably heard three doors away. She puffed and preened, turning the pages amid fresh squeals at each new image of herself. In a BOOK!

Of course, we had to sit, right there and then (kitchen floor, dinner time) and read it. She loved the story, adored seeing herself as all the dressed up characters – predictably being a princess and a fairy were big hitters, but she was also rather taken with herself as a doctor. And she roared and felt her head on the last page to check for the left-behind hat.

And so, bedtime that night, we had to read it again. And the next night. And the next. And the next…

This is Pink’s Book. It came on holiday. It lives beside her bed. She knows it word for word (as do we *sigh*), and gets cross if a Mummy might feel like ad lib-bing a little. But actually – that’s okay. Because we’re rather fond of it too. And no – it’s not tacky at ALL.

(These would make fab gifts, and there’s a huge range of stories from First Books up to 8yr old child versions, and a rather charming Christmas themed ‘Love Is…’ grown ups version that may find its way under the tree this year. Next posting is 18th November, so be quick and miss the Christmas rush. These aren’t cheap at £20 each – but the logistics of producing such high quality books individually can’t be easy, and as this is something I know Pink will treasure for a very very long time I really do think they’re worth the money for that special gift)