Key Takeaways
- Creating a book as a gift is a deeply personal way to celebrate memories, relationships, and shared experiences.
- You can choose from various types of books, such as memory books, travel journals, storybooks for kids, or recipe collections, to suit your recipient.
- Thoughtful touches like QR codes, blank prompts, or small keepsakes make the book even more meaningful and interactive.
There’s something special about a gift that says, “I really know you.” It’s the difference between grabbing a generic candle off the store shelf and handing someone a book filled with memories, messages, and moments crafted just for them. In a world of quick-click gift cards and last-minute buys, choosing to create a book as a gift shows thoughtfulness, effort, and heart.
Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, graduation, or just want to say “I love you,” a custom-made book becomes a keepsake they’ll treasure forever. It’s not just another item to unwrap – it’s a personal story, shared history, or collection of love that only you could give.
Steps to Create a Book as a Gift
Creating a book as a gift involves choosing a theme, gathering content, designing, and personalizing it. The process is broken into simple, manageable steps that anyone can easily follow.
1. Choose the type of book
The first step in creating a book as a gift is deciding what kind of book you want to make. And that starts with thinking about who you’re making it for. Consider the recipient’s personality, interests, and the connection you share. Are they sentimental? A foodie? A traveler? A storyteller? Let these details guide your decision.
A memory book is perfect for celebrating shared moments—birthdays, anniversaries, or friendships. Fill it with photos, handwritten notes, and inside jokes. On the other hand, a storybook works beautifully if you want to create something fun and imaginative, great for kids or partners who enjoy playful, personalized tales.
If your person loves to travel, a travel log is a great idea. Revisit past adventures together or document a dream trip you’ve yet to take. Meanwhile, for someone who lights up in the kitchen, a recipe collection with your shared favorite dishes or family recipes can feel incredibly warm and thoughtful.
Choosing the right type of book adds depth and emotional weight to your gift. It ensures your creation feels personal, relevant, and unforgettable.
2. Collect content
Once you have decided on the type of book, the next step is gathering the content. This is where your book begins to take shape, so take your time and choose pieces that carry personal meaning.
Think about what would touch the recipient most. You can include photos, heartfelt messages, short stories, funny memories, meaningful quotes, or even scanned items like old letters, handwritten notes, or artwork.
The goal is to fill the book with content that reflects your shared relationship and brings back warm, happy, or even tearful moments. It is not about perfection but about capturing the emotions and experiences you want to celebrate.
To make things easier down the line, try organizing your content before you start designing. Creating folders or stacks based on themes or timelines is a great way to do so.
3. Use book-making platforms
You do not need to be a design expert to create a beautiful, custom book. Many user-friendly platforms make the process simple, even for beginners. These tools are designed to help you bring your ideas to life with minimal effort and maximum creativity.
Most platforms allow you to upload your own text and photos, then drag and drop them into place. You can choose layouts, fonts, colors, and even backgrounds to match the tone and style of your gift. Whether you are building a photo-heavy memory book or a written collection of personal stories, these platforms make it easy to customize every page.
WonderWraps offers beautiful templates and endless personalization options. It is a great choice for anyone who wants to create a book that looks professionally made but still feels completely personal.
4. Customize design and layout
Design is where your book truly becomes one of a kind. A clean and consistent layout not only makes it look polished but also helps the emotional moments shine. Every element—from spacing to alignment—should support the message you want to share.
Start with a template to get the structure in place, especially if you are new to design. From there, make it yours. Choose fonts that reflect the tone of your relationship, pick colors your recipient loves, and select backgrounds that match the theme of your book. For example, soft pastels can give a calm, heartfelt feel, while bold tones can highlight adventure and energy.
Adding these personal touches takes your gift to the next level. It shows intention and effort, something that generic gifts often miss. Think of it like setting up a well-designed presentation in business. You already know how to organize things with meaning; now, you are just applying those same instincts to something beautifully personal.
5. Add personal touches
What makes a book gift truly unforgettable are the personal details only you can include. These are the moments that bring a smile, a laugh, or even a tear. One of the most powerful things you can do is write a handwritten note or include a heartfelt dedication page. You could also add a personal letter at the beginning or end of the book, sharing why you made it and what the person means to you.
Inside jokes, favorite quotes, shared memories, and custom captions will also make your book feel deeply familiar and meaningful. These are the things no store-bought gift could ever offer. Use the recipient’s nickname, include the song lyrics you both love, or mention the little things you always laugh about.
Even the smallest details carry weight when they are personal. These touches remind your loved one that you paid attention, that you remember, and that you care. That is what transforms a simple book into a treasured keepsake.
6. Print and package the book
Printing is the final step to your masterpiece. Before hitting print, take a moment to review your final version carefully. Look out for typos, formatting issues, or photos that may appear blurry. This final check ensures your book is polished and ready to impress. Reading through it from start to finish also helps you catch anything that might feel out of place or could be improved.
Most book-making platforms offer convenient printing and shipping services. You can often choose from different paper types and finishes, as well as cover options like hardcover or softcover. If you are aiming for something sturdy and long-lasting, a hardcover might be the best pick. On the other hand, softcovers can be a lighter, more casual choice depending on the occasion.
Once the book arrives, do not overlook the presentation. Wrap it with care using decorative paper, twine, or ribbon, or place it inside a gift box for an extra special touch. Great packaging builds excitement and adds to the emotional impact when the recipient finally opens their one-of-a-kind gift.
Types of Custom Books You Can Create
Choosing the right book format helps make your gift even more special. Popular options include memory books filled with photos and stories, storybooks for kids with personalized tales, travel or adventure books to capture journeys, and recipe books featuring favorite meals or family recipes.
Memory books
Memory books are a beautiful way to celebrate your shared history with someone special. They are collections of photos, stories, and milestones that highlight the meaningful moments you have experienced together. From funny adventures and heartfelt conversations to important life events like birthdays, graduations, or holidays, memory books capture the essence of your relationship.
This type of book is especially meaningful for close relationships such as partners, parents, or lifelong friends. It shows that you value the time you’ve spent together and want to preserve those memories in a tangible form. Including handwritten notes, ticket stubs, or other small keepsakes can add even more warmth and personality.
A memory book is not only a gift but also a journey through your shared past—a reminder of the love, laughter, and growth that connect you. It’s a timeless treasure that the recipient will return to again and again.
Storybooks for kids
Personalized storybooks make reading magical by starring the child as the main character. Imagine a tale where your little one goes on adventures with the Boy and the Moon Goddess or enjoys a sunny day in Girl’s Fun in the Sun—both available through WonderWraps. These stories become extra special because they include the child’s name, photos, or even character traits, making the experience feel truly unique.
This type of book helps build a child’s interest in reading by making the story relatable and fun. Seeing themselves as the hero boosts their self-confidence and encourages a deeper emotional connection to the story.
Giving a personalized storybook is more than just a gift; it’s a way to inspire imagination, nurture a love of books, and create lasting memories that children will cherish as they grow.
Travel or adventure books
Travel or adventure books are a perfect way to relive unforgettable trips and celebrate the bond built through shared experiences. Whether it was a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime journey, turning your adventures into a custom book helps preserve those moments in a meaningful way.
This format works especially well for couples, close friends, or family members who have explored new places together. You can include photos, journal entries, ticket stubs, maps, and even funny mishaps or inside jokes from the trip. Add captions or small stories to give context and bring those moments back to life.
This kind of book is about capturing how it felt to be there together, what you discovered, and how the journey changed you. It shows your appreciation for the time spent side by side and creates a keepsake you can flip through anytime you want to revisit the adventure.
Recipe books
Recipe books make heartfelt and practical gifts, especially when filled with favorite dishes that hold special meaning. You can include treasured family recipes passed down through generations, meals you have shared with the recipient, or even dishes tied to holidays, celebrations, or quiet nights spent together.
What makes this type of book truly special are the stories behind the recipes. Consider adding a note with each dish that explains where it came from, who taught you how to make it, or a memory connected to it.
For example, maybe the spaghetti reminds you of Sunday dinners at grandma’s, or the chocolate chip cookies bring back late-night baking with your best friend. These personal touches turn a simple cookbook into a rich collection of shared experiences.
A recipe book is a great gift for family members, close friends, or anyone who enjoys cooking or baking, offering comfort, connection, and a way to relive special moments through the food you love.
Tips to Make Your Gift Extra Special
To take your custom book gift to the next level, try adding interactive elements that surprise and delight the recipient. One idea is to include QR codes that link to short videos, voice messages, or playlists connected to the memories inside. A video from a shared trip or a song you both love can instantly transport them back to that moment.
Another thoughtful touch is to add blank pages or prompts throughout the book. Write something like “Your memory here” or “Recipe we should try next” to invite the recipient to add their own reflections or ideas. It turns the book into an evolving keepsake rather than a finished product.
You can also create a small pocket or attach an envelope inside the front or back cover to hold tiny keepsakes. For example, you can add ticket stubs, small notes, dried flowers, or anything else that fits the theme of your book. These details add a personal, hands-on element that makes your gift even more meaningful and unforgettable.
Conclusion
Creating a custom book as a gift is a heartfelt way to celebrate your connection with someone special. Whether it is a memory book, a personalized story for a child, a travel journal, or a recipe collection, each page becomes a reflection of your shared moments and emotions.
With easy-to-use platforms and thoughtful design choices, anyone can build a meaningful, one-of-a-kind keepsake. These books are lasting reminders of love, laughter, and time spent together.
Check out our personalized books today and start designing a book that will be remembered for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to give someone a book as a gift?
Wrap it thoughtfully or place it in a keepsake box, and include a handwritten note to make the moment feel personal and memorable.
How long does it take to create a custom book as a gift?
Depending on the content and platform, it can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete and order a custom book.
