Iraya Personalised birthday gifts for children: who gives what, and when to order
At a children's birthday the same child gets presents from very different people: the class, their parents, their grandparents, a godmother, the uncle who lives far away. Here's who usually gives what and, after that, the practical side of a personalised gift: how much notice it needs and what to write in it.
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Who's giving changes the gift
| Who's giving | What's usually expected | Ideas that work | And a book with their face? |
|---|---|---|---|
| A guest from the class | A small token | A paperback, crayons, a card game | No: it's over budget and you don't have the photo |
| The class collection | Several families chip in | A big present nobody would buy on their own | Yes: 9 families at €5 make €45, which covers the book (€39.99) and delivery; whoever organises it asks the parents for the photo |
| Parents | The present on the birthday morning | Whatever excites them right now, and something that lasts | Yes: you have the photo and can dedicate it with the date |
| Grandparents and godparents | The present “to keep” | Something with their name on it, an experience together | Yes; the guide for grandparents explains how to order it without having the photo |
| Aunts, uncles and family friends | Something that shows who it's from | A day out together, a board game | Better not, unless you've talked it over with the parents |
For a first birthday, which is a different conversation, see the guide for 1-year-olds.
When to order: the countdown from party day
A personalised gift isn't something you buy the night before. From the day you pay to the day it arrives takes 7 to 9 working days: we check it by hand before printing and then it travels to the address in Spain you give us. With weekends and bank holidays that's about two calendar weeks, and before you pay you see the exact delivery date.
- Three weeks before, get the photo. If you're not the parent, ask for it now: it's the step that drags on longest.
- A few days later, create the cover, which you see free in a few minutes; if you're not happy with it, try another photo.
- Before you pay, write the dedication and choose which house it goes to: the child's, so they open it on the day, or yours, to hand it over in person.
- Two weeks before at the latest, pay. With less notice it may arrive just in time, or after the party.
- If the birthday falls in December, allow for bank holidays and the courier rush: dates are in the Christmas guide.
The birthday dedication: 140 characters to be read in ten years' time
At the start of the book, after the title page, comes a dedication you can change for free before paying: up to 140 characters, four lines at most and no emojis. Over the years, what's worth most is what seems obvious today: their age, the date and who it's from. Two examples that fit:
- “For Lucía, who turns 5 today and can already whistle. With all our love, Mum and Dad. 14 March 2027”
- “Mateo: 4 years old, a bike without stabilisers and a favourite dinosaur. Happy birthday from Grandma and Grandpa in Seville”
If the book is a present from the class, one line with the class and the school (“From Year 2B, 2026-27”) is worth more than a list of twenty names that won't fit.
None of our books is about a birthday: the dedication is what makes it the present for that day. Choose the story by age: from 2 to 8, Dinosaur Valley, The Sock Planet, Super Hero Saves the City or The Princess and Fumarola the Dragon; for two siblings, The Mystery of the Torn Map or The Magic Button. To narrow it down, there are age guides from 2 to 8.
What makes a birthday present outlast the party
At the party, presents are opened one after another and end up in the same heap. A book with a dedication can be given separately, in the morning or at bedtime, when there's time to read it together.
It can become a tradition: a different book every birthday, each with its own dedication. The first costs €39.99 and a second in the same order, €29.99. And if you don't like how it's turned out, we redo it free of charge once, before printing.
Our books
Dinosaur Valley
Super Hero Saves the City
The Princess and Fumarola the Dragon
The Sock Planet
The Mystery of the Torn Map
The Magic Button
The Day You ArrivedFrequently asked questions
Will it arrive in time if the birthday is in ten days?
Probably not: delivery takes 7 to 9 working days from payment. Before you pay we show you the exact delivery date; if it falls after the party, on the day you can give a printed copy of the cover with a note saying “coming soon”.
Can I give it if I'm a guest and don't have a photo of the child?
Only if the parents send you one, and then it's no longer a surprise for them. It works better as a present from the whole class, with someone asking for the photo on everyone's behalf.
Can I put the birthday date in the book?
Yes, in the dedication, which you write yourself before paying. We print the year on that same page.