Gifts for Nieces, Nephews and Godchildren: A Book They Star In

The best gift for a niece, nephew or godchild who has everything is a book they star in. A personalized Magic Story hardcover turns one photo of the child into the illustrated hero of the story, with their name in the text, for ages 2 to 10. There is one step aunts, uncles and godparents need that parents don't: a photo their parent is happy for you to use. If you can't get one, or would rather let the family choose, a Magic Story+ gift subscription lets them personalize the books themselves (US delivery). Either way, the child gets a story starring them. For US delivery by Christmas Eve, order a book by December 10 with Standard shipping or December 14 with Expedited (2026 estimates, not guarantees).

This is our guide to our own books, written for the relatives who love these kids from one step away.

Quick picks: books for nieces, nephews and godchildren

The standard US one-time hardcover price is $44.99, plus shipping and tax. Shoppers in other countries see their own price at checkout.

Two ways to give a book they star in

Our gifting page starts with the same choice:

• I'll Personalize It. You have a photo the parents are happy for you to use. You make the character, see the free preview and send the finished book to their address.
• Send A Gift Subscription. You don't have a photo, or the parents would rather choose. You pick 1, 3, 6 or 12 months, one personalized hardcover a month, write a message and choose the day the gift email goes out. The family creates the character. Shipping is included, and gift subscriptions are for US delivery.

How to ask for a photo without spoiling the surprise

• Ask the parent first. If you aren't the child's parent or legal guardian, our Terms of Service require their permission to use the photo. Most parents love being in on the surprise.
• Ask for the original photo. A clear, well-lit photo of the child looking toward the camera, with no one else in the frame. The original file works better than a screenshot or a copy saved from a messaging app. Our photo tips have more.
• Check the name. Ask how they spell it, and whether the child goes by a nickname.
• Keep it a surprise. Ask the parent, not the child.

How it works when you're the aunt, uncle or godparent

1. Choose the book and upload the photo. Start from the gifting page or the book's page, and enter the child's name.
2. See the free preview. Creating the character and the preview needs no credit card. The preview shows the child's illustrated character in a scene from the book you chose, not every page, so you can also look through the sample pages, which show our example child.
3. Ship it to their door. Enter the family's address at checkout. Each book is printed to order after you buy, then shipped.

Our Help article on buying a book for someone else walks through each step.

Books nieces and nephews ask for again

The Night I Saved Christmas: for the child who can't wait for Christmas Eve

Santa's sleigh has crashed, Donner is missing in the snowy forest, and Christmas Eve can't go on without your niece or nephew. Rudolph taps at their window to ask for help, and a band of woodland friends joins the rescue. It's for the child who loves Santa, reindeer and a little suspense.

See The Night I Saved Christmas, or read more about the story and a rescue game to play afterward.

The Magic Baseball: for the sporty kid who worries about striking out

Before Little League practice, your nephew or niece finds a baseball named Homer with plenty to say about doubt, courage and taking the next swing. Homer can't promise a perfect game, but he can help them notice what confidence looks like before the score is settled. It's for the child who loves baseball but worries about letting the team down.

See The Magic Baseball, or read our guide to the book.

The Princess Within: for the child who loves sparkle

A secret door opens onto a hall of gowns, and each one your niece tries on reveals a strength that was already hers: a ruby gown of courage, a green gown of kindness, a golden gown of joy. It's a princess story about recognizing what you carry inside, with or without a crown.

See The Princess Within.

Christmas gifts from godparents: faith books with your godchild in them

For a family of faith, the Theo collection has personalized Christian books, so your godchild hears the story with their own name and likeness in it. Each Theo book can be bought on its own as a hardcover.

God Called Me By My Name

As bedtime grows quiet, your godchild hears that God knew their name before they were born. Their name is sung in the morning, whispered in hard moments and carried like a lullaby at night. It's a bedtime blessing for a child to know they are seen, loved and never unimportant.

See God Called Me By My Name.

When You Only See Footprints

Your godchild walks beside Jesus on a glowing shoreline as scenes from their own life appear across the sky. Two sets of footprints follow every happy memory, but the hardest days show only one, until Jesus reveals those were the days He carried them. It's a picture of being held that a child can keep through fear, change or loss.

See When You Only See Footprints.

A keepsake idea for godparents: write a short blessing and the date inside the front cover. If you give a Theo book each Christmas, the inscriptions become a record of the years. Our Theo guide tours all twelve books, and the Theo page explains the monthly faith journey.

What makes a cool aunt or uncle gift?

The cool-aunt gift isn't the loudest one. It's the one that makes a child feel noticed. A book where they're the hero says "I know what you love," whether that's reindeer, baseball or gowns, and it gives the two of you something to share: they'll want you to read it to them, and they'll point out themselves on every page.

• Pick their thing. Choose the book that matches what they're into right now.
• Make it yours. Write a note inside the cover only you could write.
• Read it together. On the next visit, ask them to read their own name aloud.

How much should an aunt or uncle spend?

There's no rule, and families vary a lot. If you're unsure, ask the parents what they'd welcome, and if you have several nieces and nephews, pick an amount you can repeat for each of them. For reference, the standard US one-time hardcover price is $44.99, plus shipping and tax. See how much a Magic Story book costs for shipping costs.

Can I ship it straight to them?

Yes. Enter the family's address as the delivery address at checkout, and check the delivery estimate for that address before you pay. If you'd like it wrapped, look for the gift-wrap option at checkout and confirm it shows in your order summary; for an order with several books, contact support first, because wrapping isn't always available. Our gift wrap guide has the details.

When to order for Christmas

Every Magic Story book is printed to order, so it needs time to be made before it ships. Here are the 2026 dates for US orders.

From order to arrival, Standard delivery takes 5 to 10 business days and Expedited takes 5 to 8. These dates are estimates, not guarantees, and checkout shows the estimate for the delivery address. We have not published Christmas dates for Canada, the UK or Mexico. Missed the date? In the US, a gift subscription sends its gift email on the day you choose, so it can still arrive on Christmas Day. The Six Days Until Christmas set, for ages 3 to 10, is sold only as a set of six, and our Christmas gift guide compares the Christmas books.

Find their book

• Start on the gifting page: personalize a book yourself, or send a gift subscription.
• Christmas: The Night I Saved Christmas and Six Days Until Christmas.
• For godchildren: the Theo collection.
• Browse every personalized book.