My child reads independently; is a personalised book not too easy then?

No, the story is pitched to their age, not just to a name. For a child of 7 to 9 there is a real plot with a secret or a twist, and sentences that move with what they can handle themselves. Being personalised makes it more gripping, not less: your child is the main character who works it all out.

Is it exciting enough for an 8 year old?

At this age we build a plot that is going somewhere: a secret, a plan, something that only clicks at the end. Exciting, but safe, because it ends well and there are no frightening details. You read the whole thing yourself before you buy anything, so you can see in advance whether it fits your child.

What if my child is not that keen on reading?

It often helps that the story is about your child themselves: the main character has their name and lives the adventure. You can also take turns reading, or you read it aloud. A plot with pace and a bit of humour pulls in a child who finds reading dull far more easily than a well-behaved little tale.

A story for the child who wants to read it themselves

These are the years when your child suddenly reads on their own, or when the two of you take turns, a page each. And it is no longer enough for a story to be sweet: it has to be genuinely gripping. A secret, a plan, something they did not see coming.

At this age your child wants a plot that holds up. Not too easy, not too tidy. A main character who wants something, gets stuck, and finds a clever way out. And feelings are allowed to run together now, happy and a little scared at the same time, which is exactly what makes a story land.

The story is written around your child, with their name, and with your child as the main character who uncovers the secret or comes up with the plan. You tell us in a sentence or two what is going on; the story fits itself to their age, in tone and in length.

And humour works well here. A story can be funny and still be about something. That is precisely what makes a child this age flip back to the first page and start again.

What makes a story right for this age

There is a real plot: something your child wants to know, a secret or a plan that only fully clicks at the end.
Feelings are allowed to be mixed. Your child follows a main character who is happy and nervous at once, just like in real life.
The characters talk to each other and have their own reasons, and not everyone knows everything. That is where the tension comes from.
There is room for humour and a small twist. A story that is funny and still about something stays with a child longer.
Reading alone or taking turns: the sentences move with what a 7 to 9 year old can handle, without ever turning babyish.

What that looks like

Nora sneaks up to the attic, where no one is meant to go. Behind an old box lies a letter with her own name on it, in handwriting she does not recognise. Her heart thuds, happy and scared at once. And then she hears the stairs creak.

Frequently asked questions

My child reads independently; is a personalised book not too easy then?: No, the story is pitched to their age, not just to a name. For a child of 7 to 9 there is a real plot with a secret or a twist, and sentences that move with what they can handle themselves. Being personalised makes it more gripping, not less: your child is the main character who works it all out.
Is it exciting enough for an 8 year old?: At this age we build a plot that is going somewhere: a secret, a plan, something that only clicks at the end. Exciting, but safe, because it ends well and there are no frightening details. You read the whole thing yourself before you buy anything, so you can see in advance whether it fits your child.
What if my child is not that keen on reading?: It often helps that the story is about your child themselves: the main character has their name and lives the adventure. You can also take turns reading, or you read it aloud. A plot with pace and a bit of humour pulls in a child who finds reading dull far more easily than a well-behaved little tale.

Other ages

Themes that suit this age

Make a story that fits your child's age

Make a personal story