Answer · For gift-givers
How does a grandparent give a personalized book as a gift?
A grandparent gives an Akoni Books storybook by making it themselves: the grandchild becomes the illustrated hero, and the grandparent's name is printed on the dedication page — "For Maya, with love. From Grandma." It is the first page of the book, and it appears in the free preview before any money changes hands.
What you need is small: the grandchild's first name, their age, and one clear front-facing photo. While creating the book you answer "Who's this book from?", and that is what prints as the signature. A digital book is ready in about a minute at $9.99; an 8 × 8 inches softcover is $29.99 and a hardcover is $39.99, both with free shipping and delivery in 5–7 business days. Illustrations are AI-generated. Full refund within 30 days, and they keep the book.
The details, in one place
| What the grandparent needs | The grandchild’s first name, their age (2–10), and one clear front-facing photo |
|---|---|
| How the giver’s name gets in | The "Who’s this book from?" field prints on the dedication page as "From Grandma" (or Grandpa, Nana, Papa — whatever you type, up to 60 characters) |
| Where it appears | The dedication page — the first page of the book — in both the digital and printed editions, and in the free preview |
| Also signable by hand | Printed books include a bookplate page with fillable to / from / date / location lines |
| Time to make it | about a minute for the most popular themes; 4–6 minutes if you write your own story inputs |
| Prices | Digital $9.99 · Softcover $29.99 · Hardcover $39.99 |
| Delivery | Digital instantly; printed in 5–7 business days with free shipping to 55 countries |
| Guarantee | Free preview before paying, no card needed; full refund within 30 days of delivery and they keep the book |
The mechanic, in one paragraph
Personalized books usually stop at the child: their name, sometimes their face. The signed dedication adds the other half of the gift — the giver. During creation you answer "Who’s this book from?", and that answer is appended to the book’s dedication, which is printed as the first page. The result reads:
For Maya, with love.
From Grandma
Because it is stored as one piece of text rather than being added at print time, the same signature shows up in the online preview, the digital PDF and the printed book. That means you can see the signed page before you buy — it is part of the free preview.
Start with the right signature
These links open the gift page with the signer already set, so the dedication field is pre-filled when you reach the book form. You can always edit it.
What the grandchild actually receives
A 35-page book at 8 × 8 inches square. Page one is the title, page two is the signed dedication, page three is a bookplate with blank to, from, date and location lines for hand-writing. Then up to 16 illustrated story pages with the child as the hero, followed by keepsake pages — a glossary of the names in the story, a first-reading page, a draw-your-favourite-part page, an about-me page, and photo-paste memory pages. Softcover and hardcover are printed on 170 gsm (65 lb) coated silk.
If the occasion is Grandparents Day specifically, our Grandparents Day answer covers dates and order-by timing, plus the reverse gift — a book for the grandparents from the grandchildren. If you and the grandchild do not share a first language, a bilingual edition puts both languages on every page for $10 more.
Sign their first page
Their name and one photo is all it takes. You will see the signed dedication in the free preview before you decide anything.
Make a book from GrandmaIf the child does not light up when they see themselves in the book, email us within 30 days of delivery and we refund you in full — and they keep the book.
Frequently asked questions
How does the grandparent’s name appear in the book?
On the create page there is an optional field: "Who’s this book from?" Whatever you type there — Grandma, Grandpa, Nana and Papa, Grandma Vee — is printed on the dedication page beneath the dedication itself, so the page reads "For Maya, with love. From Grandma." The dedication page is the first page of the book, and it shows in the free preview before you pay.
Does the signature appear in the digital version too, or only in print?
Both. The dedication is a single piece of text used everywhere the book appears — the online reader preview, the digital PDF, and the printed book — so it is the same signed first page in every format.
What does a grandparent need before starting?
Three things: the grandchild’s first name, their age (anywhere from 2 to 10), and one photo — JPG, PNG or HEIC. A clear, front-facing photo of one child’s face in good light gives the best likeness. Everything else, including the theme and the art style, is chosen on the page.
What if I cannot get a photo without spoiling the surprise?
There is a "Don’t have a photo? Choose a character instead" option that lets you pick an illustrated character rather than uploading a photograph. The name, age, theme and signed dedication all work exactly the same way.
How much does it cost and how fast does it arrive?
A digital PDF is $9.99 and is ready in about a minute. An 8 × 8 inch softcover is $29.99 and a hardcover is $39.99; both include the digital PDF, ship free, and arrive in 5–7 business days. Adding a second language is $10 more on any format.
Can I add a longer message, not just my name?
The "from" field takes up to 60 characters, which is enough for "Grandma and Grandpa Adeyemi" or "Nana, Christmas 2026" but not a paragraph. Printed books also include a bookplate page with blank to, from, date and location lines, which is where a longer hand-written note usually goes.
Can I send it straight to the grandchild?
Yes. Printed books are shipped to whatever address you enter at checkout, so you can ship directly to the child’s home. Akoni ships to 55 countries with free shipping.
What if the grandchild does not like it?
You see the illustrated cover, the signed dedication and the opening pages free before paying, so most of that risk is gone before you spend anything. After purchase, email within 30 days of delivery for a full refund — and the child keeps the book.
Last reviewed July 2026. Prices, formats and turnaround times on this page are checked against the live Akoni Books product.