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Digital or Printed Personalised Book: Which Should You Give?

When to read digitally, when to order print, and what to check first. Plan the format, costs and delivery around the gift.

By I Am In The Story Blog Editorial Team · Published · 2 min read
Page 1 of the public personalised peter pan sample book

Make and read the digital book first. Choose a printed copy when you are happy with the story and pictures and the delivery timing works for the gift. These are separate decisions: the digital book is the content you review; printing makes a physical keepsake from it.

When a digital book is useful

  • A family wants to read together while living in different places.
  • A child wants to see the story as soon as it has finished generating.
  • You want to check all the pages before ordering a copy.
  • You have left the gift late and are comfortable giving it on screen once it is ready.

A digital book still needs time to generate and a read-through. It is not a promise of instant delivery. Choose a comfortable screen size, read together, and keep the session about the story rather than the controls.

When a printed copy is useful

A physical book is easier to wrap, keep on a shelf and read away from a device. On I Am In The Story, printed copies are ordered from a completed book and paid for separately. The current print options, price and destination estimate are shown when you order.

Feature demonstration: ordering a printed copy from a finished digital book. Check the options and delivery estimate for your address at checkout.

Check these before ordering print

  1. Read every page, including the ending.
  2. Check every name, spelling and relationship.
  3. Look at the child’s face and clothes across different scenes.
  4. Confirm the print options, number of copies, delivery address and estimate.

If the book is a gift, ask whether the parent wants a printed copy before choosing the address. For several relatives, review one book carefully before ordering several copies.

Other ways to enjoy the finished story

The service also offers narration and a video version where those features are available in the book. They are separate choices and may have a separate credit cost. Check the current controls and price rather than assuming they are included in printing.

Feature demonstration: listening to a book read aloud. Availability and credit cost are shown in the book’s controls.

For a small child, a familiar adult reading aloud can remain the main event. Use our reading routine ideas to build a habit around the book.

Choose the format for the occasion

For Christmas, work back from the delivery estimate and leave time for review. For relatives abroad, a digital book can let you read together first, with print following when practical. See Christmas planning or gift ideas by occasion.

Before starting, read a complete example book and check the creation process.

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