The day we met you
“We waited two years for our family to grow. The phone call came on a Tuesday, and three days later we met Mateo at the hospital in Ohio. He held Dad's finger and didn't let go. A book about the day we met him.”
Personalized adoption books
A personalized adoption story book for your child.
Your child's adoption story belongs to them, and it should sound like your family. Write it in your own words: how you waited, the day you met, and how they came home. We turn it into an illustrated hardcover with your family drawn from your photos, and you review every word before it prints.
Free to preview. You only pay once you love it: $39 for one book, or $25/month.
Why a custom adoption book
Adoption books for kids are a common way families share a child's story from the very beginning, so it's something they've always known rather than a surprise later on. A general adoption book can start the conversation. One about your child, with your family in it, tells their actual story.
Every adoption is different: domestic, international, foster care, kinship, open or closed. A custom book can say what's true for your family, in the words you already use at home.
Adoption story book ideas
Tell it the way you'd tell it at bedtime. A paragraph or two is plenty, and you can edit every line before it prints.
Coming home
“Lily came home from China when she was 18 months old. Her big brother Sam made a 'welcome home' sign, and her favorite thing that first week was the bathtub. A story about her first days home.”
Family Day
“Every year on March 4 we celebrate the day Jaylen's adoption was finalized, with pancakes and a trip to the zoo, his pick. A book about our Family Day tradition.”
How our family grew
“We fostered Ava for a year before we adopted her at age four. A story about how she joined our family, our dog Rosie, and how much we love her.”
How it works
- 01
Tell us the story
Add your family once, with photos if you have them. Then write the story in a paragraph or two, the way you'd tell it to a friend.
- 02
Preview every page
We write and illustrate a 12-page picture book in the art style you pick. Edit any line or redraw any picture before it prints.
- 03
A hardcover arrives
Approve it and we print a hardcover storybook and ship it free anywhere in the US.
Tips for a personalized adoption book
- Use the words your family uses for birth parents and for the day your child came home. Some families say 'Gotcha Day,' and many prefer 'Family Day' or 'Adoption Day.'
- Stick to what you know is true about your child's story. Leave out details you can't back up, and save the harder parts for when they're older and asking.
- Birth parents can be part of the story in the way that fits your family. They don't need to be pictured, and you choose every word.
- Read it when you feel calm, and shelve it with the regular books. The goal is for their story to feel like a normal part of who they are.
More stories about your family
Once your family is set up, every next book takes a paragraph: a birthday, a trip, or a made-up adventure your kids dream up. Their adoption story can be one book on a shelf full of stories about them.
Families who keep going get a new hardcover each month for $25. Skip a month or cancel whenever you like. Or just make this one book. That's fine too.
Adoption story book questions
What age is a personalized adoption book good for?
Many families start reading their child's adoption story when they're toddlers, so it's always been part of what they know. For a younger child, keep it short and simple. You can make a fuller version as they grow.
Do I have to include the birth parents?
That's your decision. Some families mention them by name, some say 'your birth mother,' and some keep it general. You write the story and review every word before anything prints.
Is my child's story kept private?
Yes. Your story and photos are used to make your book, and you control what's in it. Our FAQ covers privacy in more detail.
Can I see the book before I pay?
Yes. We write and illustrate the whole book first, and you review every page. You can edit any line or redraw any picture. You only pay once you approve it.
How much does a personalized book cost?
$39 for one hardcover book, with free US shipping and no subscription. Or $25 a month for a new book every month, if you want to keep going.
Can we make more books after this one?
Yes. Your family profile is saved, so the next book only takes a paragraph. It can be about any real memory or any adventure your kids make up. Order books one at a time for $39, or get a new one every month for $25. You can skip a month or cancel anytime.
Guides for parents
- When To Tell Your Child They Were Conceived With an Egg Donor
Waited longer than you meant to? This first-talk plan covers the moment, the words, the reactions, and the week after, for parents of kids 5 to 8.
Tell their story, in your family's words.
Free to preview. Hardcover books start at $25, shipped free in the US.
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