The book that knows them by heart.
A one-of-a-kind story built around a child you love: their face, their quirks, and the values your family holds dear. Written and illustrated from scratch, and yours to shape at every step.
You approve every page
Nothing prints until you've seen and okayed the finished book.
A private studio
Your photos and memories are used only to make your book, never sold.
Grows with them
A keepsake library for every age, from 0 to 13.
See how it works → https://heartsurprise.com/how-it-works
Most personalized books just swap the name.
We write the whole story around them.
Tell us they wear a red firetruck t-shirt, love climbing trees, and hate loud noises, and those details don't just get sprinkled in. They shape the character, the plot, and the whole world of the book. This isn't find-and-replace. It's a story that could only ever be about them.
How their book comes to life
Tell us their story
Fill out a short design brief with up to four characters and three places that matter, with photos so we capture their likeness. Add the plot, theme, and any details you want woven in.
Shape the plan
Within minutes, we email you the cast, the settings, and the plot to review. Change anything you like before a single page is drawn.
We craft it
Your full book is written and illustrated from scratch, around the child at its heart.
Approve every page
Review the finished book, swap any image, and download your digital copy. Order a printed heirloom only once it's exactly right.
See full pricing & details → https://heartsurprise.com/our-books
A story that honors what your family holds dear
The best personalization isn't just a face, it's meaning. We weave the things that matter most to your family into the heart of the story.
Faith
From Christian parables to Buddhist mindfulness, we honor the spiritual language your family speaks at home.
Belonging
Every family is a whole family. Adoptive, blended, foster, single-parent, LGBTQ+, your child sees their own family reflected with pride.
Journey
Neurodiversity, health challenges, grief, disability, we turn the things that shape a child into milestones of strength.
Why this matters to us → https://heartsurprise.com/why-heart-surprise
One studio. A library that grows with them.
From a first board book at six months to a 165-page novel at twelve, Heart Surprise grows right alongside the child you love.
- Board Book · Ages 0–3
- First words, high-contrast art, and rhythmic read-aloud bonding. 24 pages.
- Picture Book · Ages 3–6
- Richer adventures about friendship, curiosity, and first milestones. 30 pages.
- Early Reader · Ages 5–8
- A bridge to independent reading, built around your family's values. 40 pages.
- Illustrated Chapter Book · Ages 7–10
- Longer, illustrated stories where your child is the hero. 70 pages.
- Middle Grade Novel · Ages 10–13
- A full 165-page keepsake novel, a lasting record of who they are.
Simple, honest pricing
Digital book — $10
This is where every book begins.
Create it, shape the plot, review every page, swap any image, and download your finished PDF.
Printed copies (ordered after you approve your digital book)
Paperback, black & white — $10
Paperback, color — $20
Hardcover, black & white — $20
Hardcover, color — $30
Taxes already included, and shipping calculated at checkout. Your $10 digital book is a separate purchase from any printed copies. The Middle Grade Novel is only available in black & white.
Your story stays your story
We're a private studio, not a big publisher and the photos and memories you share are used only to create your book. Never sold, never traded, never used to advertise.
Give the most personal gift they'll ever open. A few minutes to start. You approve every page before anything prints.