Sagalino

Personalised children's books: compared

The 7 other brandsSagalino
Whole book before buyingConfirmed for 3 of 7Yes, free, changeable before you buy
Hardback price in Ireland (euro)Shown by 2 of 7€34.90 plus €4.90 delivery
eBook price in Ireland (euro)No price found€5.00, credited against the hardback
Read my story for freeSee the full table

Checked on 26 September 2026; MyOwnChildbook, Letterfest and MyStoryTale on 2 October 2026. Every figure has its source; where none was found, the cell says “n/k” (not known). The brands' offers can change at any time.

The figures

8 brands, one table

Scroll right to see every column. Sagalino stays in the first column to make comparing easier.

CriterionSagalinosagalino.com/enWonderblywonderbly.comHooray Heroeshoorayheroes.comLibriouk.librio.comDinklebooie.dinkleboo.comMyOwnChildbookmyownchildbook.com/gbLetterfestletterfest.comMyStoryTalemystorytale.com/en-gb
Story and picturesStory written from the parents' idea: plot, characters and every picture are made new for this book, in one of 21 styles. No fixed storyline.A fixed title from a catalogue; name, chosen features and a dedication are filled in.Pre-written stories: you choose which go in the book and in what order, and design the hero's looks and names.A fixed title from a catalogue; name, looks and language are personalised.Fixed titles by theme (adventure, animals, dinosaurs, princess, unicorn …): the child's name is added, optionally gender, hair, eyes and skin tone.A story and pictures created with AI for each child; the text and pictures can be adjusted before ordering.A fixed title from a catalogue, personalised with the child's name and details such as the date of birth.A fixed title from a catalogue, personalised with the child's name and options such as skin tone.
Full preview before buyingYesThe whole story, the hero, the cover and the first scenes, freeYes“Preview all 44 pages before buying”n/kNot mentioned on the product page or in the FAQYesConfirmed for the platform in earlier research, not rechecked on the UK or US siten/kNot mentioned on the UK overview pageYesThe page says you can read the whole book and adjust text or pictures before orderingn/kNot stated on the pages we checkedn/kThe page says you can “fully preview” your book before ordering; we didn't open a preview to see how much it shows
Photo of the childOptionalA description is enough, for one or several charactersOptionalChosen features; a photo upload for at least one titleNot usedAvatar built from features (skin tone, hair, eyes, glasses, freckles)Not usedDetailed choice of featuresn/kChosen character features; a photo isn't mentionedn/kUp to 5 photos can be added; whether one is required isn't statedn/kn/kFeatures such as skin tone are chosen; whether a photo can be added isn't stated
eBook, Ireland€5.00n/kn/kn/kn/kn/kn/kn/k
Printed book, Ireland€34.90hardback, plus €4.90 delivery€34.99“What Kind of YOU Will You Be?” in the Irish shopn/kn/kfrom €16.99shown as reduced from €33.99n/kn/kn/k
Printed book, UK£37.90hardback, plus £5.90 delivery, import charges possible£19.99same title; softcover and hardback offered, separate prices not shown on the page£24.99shown as reduced from £39.99; hardback, “George Goes to School”£24.99every title checked; binding not shown on the overview£13.99 to £27.99mostly shown as 50% off£24.99hardback; delivery to the UK is included in the price on the pagefrom £24.95every children's title on the collection page is shown from this price; the binding isn't statedfrom £14.99“from” price on the UK page; the format it applies to isn't stated
Printed book, US$37.90hardback, plus $6.90 delivery, printed in the USfrom $39.99a different title, “Where Are You?”n/k$34.99 to $44.99by titlefrom $17.99shown as reduced from $35.99n/kn/kn/k
Delivery to IrelandPrinted in the Netherlands and sent within the EU, so no customsOwn Irish shop in euro; where Irish orders ship from isn't stated; delivery cost shown at checkoutYes, according to the FAQ, “printed and shipped fast from the UK”; no Irish price or delivery cost foundShips “to any country in the world”, Ireland not named; no Irish shop; shipping cost shown in the basketOwn Irish shop in euro, “Made in the EU for Faster Delivery”; free delivery from €80Worldwide shipping is mentioned; Ireland isn't named, and no delivery time or cost is statedNot stated on the pages we checkedThe site has an Irish page; delivery time and cost for Ireland aren't stated on the pages we checked
Delivery countries214 countries and territories, including the whole EU, the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore; not Australia yetWorldwide: the delivery-time calculator lists 214 countries and territoriesA separate shop per market, including the UK, the US, Canada and AustraliaAny country with a postal service, according to its help centreWorldwide, with rates for the US and Canada, Australia, the UK, Ireland and the rest of the worldWorldwide shipping is mentioned; no list of countries on the page we checkedn/kRegional shops, including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US
Pages2836 to 44on the two titles checked26on the title checkedn/k18on the US siten/kn/kn/k
Format21.6 × 28 cm23 × 23 cmfor “What Kind of YOU Will You Be?”21 × 21 cmon the title checkedn/k20 × 20 or 25 × 25 cmsoftcover and hardback21 × 21 cmhardbackn/kn/k
Characters in one bookup to 5n/kn/kn/kn/kn/kn/kn/k
PersonalisationFree description of how your child looks, photo optional; a story written for each book, in one of 21 styles; text and pictures created with AI.Name and chosen features (skin tone, hairstyle and more), photo optional for at least one title; a title chosen from a catalogue.Avatar built from set features, no photo; a title chosen from a catalogue; nine languages.Name and a detailed choice of features, no photo; a title chosen from a catalogue; over 30 languages and dialects.Name, dedication and chosen character features; other family members or friends can join the story.Looks such as hair colour, glasses and expression are built into the pictures; the number of characters isn't stated.The child's name and details such as the date of birth in a catalogue title.The child's name and chosen features in a catalogue title; the number of characters isn't stated.
Stated delivery timeeBook: about half an hour after purchase. Hardback: printed as soon as you approve the book, delivered up to 13 working days after that.Printed and dispatched in 2 to 4 working days; delivery time calculated at checkoutUK: up to 10 working days standard (£3.99), up to 5 with tracked express (£7.99), production includedProduction 2 to 3 working days, then UK 4 to 7, US 7 to 10, Europe 7 to 14 working daysUK: 5 to 10 working days untracked (£3.99), 2 to 5 tracked (£4.99), 1 to 3 express (£9.99)UK: within 8 working days by Royal Mail, according to the pagen/kUK: generally 2 to 4 business days including making, according to the page; free shipping on 3 or more books
Made byPrinted in the European UnionWonderbly Productions Ltd, London; part of Penguin Random House since June 2025Hooray Studios, Ljubljana (Slovenia)Librio AG, Zurich; printed in the UK, US, Germany, Switzerland or AustraliaUK books printed in the UK, Irish books in the EU, US books in the USPrinted in the UKn/k“Crafted and shipped fast from the U.K.”; separate regional sites for Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US
Licensed characters (Paw Patrol, Disney …)No: only original characters and worlds, existing brands and characters are blocked.n/kNo: no licensed characters on the pages checked.Yes: for example Globi, with the Globi publisher (seen on the German site).n/kn/kn/kn/k
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Guide

Personalised books: what matters before you buy

The table puts the figures side by side. Here's what's behind them, from the preview to delivery to Ireland. Every finding is dated; if in doubt, the brand's own page is what counts.

The whole book before you pay

At Sagalino, you read the whole story for free before buying, with every character, the cover and a scene; the text, each character and the cover can still be changed. On 26 September 2026, Wonderbly, Librio and MyOwnChildbook also offered a full preview (Wonderbly: “Preview all 44 pages before buying”). For Hooray Heroes and Dinkleboo, the pages we checked didn't mention one.

The photo of your child

At Sagalino, a description is enough and a photo is optional. On 26 September 2026, Hooray Heroes and Librio built the hero from set features without a photo, and Wonderbly offered a photo upload for at least one title.

Delivery to Ireland, and customs

Since Brexit, a parcel from the UK to Ireland is an import. Printed books carry a 0% customs duty rate in the EU, but since 1 July 2026 every parcel worth under €150 from outside the EU, the UK included, carries a flat €3 customs charge, and Irish VAT applies. Whether a brand includes these at checkout isn't stated on the pages we checked, so it's worth looking before you pay. Sagalino's hardback is printed in the Netherlands and sent to you within the EU, so no customs charge applies.

The number of characters

Sagalino takes up to 5 characters in one story. For the other brands, our research on their UK, Irish and US sites didn't confirm a maximum; Dinkleboo lets other family members or friends join the story.

The price of a printed book

On 26 September 2026, displayed prices ranged from €16.99 (Dinkleboo, reduced) to €34.99 (Wonderbly) in the Irish shops, before delivery; delivery costs to Ireland appeared only at checkout. At Sagalino, for Ireland: €34.90 plus €4.90 delivery, €39.80 in total.

Template or freely written story?

A book with a fixed title can often be previewed in full before you buy, because it already exists; in return, the plot is the same for every child, and only the name, looks and a few details change. A freely written story is unique, but you judge it from the story text and the first pictures, not from a finished sample. At Sagalino the story is written from the parents' idea and every picture is made for this one book, in one of 21 styles. On 30 September 2026, Wonderbly, Hooray Heroes, Librio and Dinkleboo sold fixed titles; create text and pictures for each book, but from chosen steps. Licensed characters such as Paw Patrol or Disney were sold by Librio, which appeals to some families. Sagalino deliberately does not offer them: only original characters and worlds.

Six questions to ask before you buy

  1. Will I see my child's book before paying, or only sample pages?
  2. Do I have to send a photo, and what happens to it?
  3. How far does the personalisation go: just the name, a character built from options, or a story written for my child?
  4. Can brothers and sisters, friends or grandparents be in the book?
  5. How many pages are illustrated, and how big is the book?
  6. What does the book cost delivered to my country, where is it sent from, and how long does it take?

Most of the answers are in the table, for 8 brands, with a source for every figure. Ask them of us too.

Side by side

The detailed comparisons

For each brand, the comparison point by point, with what each does best.

Questions

Good to know

Which brands really write the story from scratch?

Sagalino writes the story from the parents' idea and makes every picture for that one book, with no fixed template. create text and pictures for each book, but from chosen story steps. At Wonderbly, Hooray Heroes, Librio and Dinkleboo the title is fixed: plot and pictures are set, and name, looks and details are filled in (checked on 30 September 2026).

Are there personalised books with licensed characters like Paw Patrol or Disney?

Yes, at some brands: Librio sell titles with characters from existing brands, a plus for some families. Sagalino deliberately does not: only original characters and worlds, existing brands and characters are blocked (checked on 30 September 2026).

Is there an alternative to Wonderbly?

Yes, several, and this comparison sets 6 of them next to Wonderbly. Like Sagalino, Wonderbly lets you preview the whole book before buying; its hero is built from set features. At Sagalino, the story is written for each child, in one of 21 styles, and the hero comes from a free description, with or without a photo.

Which personalised book brands deliver worldwide?

Sagalino delivers to 214 countries and territories, including the whole EU, the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore. Wonderbly, Librio and Dinkleboo also deliver worldwide; Hooray Heroes runs a separate shop per market (checked on 28 September 2026).

Where can I make a personalised book for a child?

With specialist brands, online. This comparison brings together 7, Wonderbly, Hooray Heroes, Librio, Dinkleboo, MyOwnChildbook, Letterfest and MyStoryTale, next to Sagalino. They differ above all in how deep the personalisation goes: from a name in a ready-made story to a story written for one child, with their own hero.

How much does a personalised children's book cost in Ireland?

On 26 September 2026, the Irish shops we checked showed prices from €16.99 (reduced) to €34.99, before delivery. At Sagalino, the hardback costs €34.90 plus €4.90 delivery to Ireland, and the eBook €5.00.

Do I pay customs on a book sent from the UK to Ireland?

Printed books have a 0% duty rate in the EU, but since 1 July 2026 parcels under €150 from outside the EU, the UK included, carry a flat €3 customs charge, and Irish VAT applies. Check at checkout whether it's included. Sagalino's books are printed in the Netherlands and sent within the EU.

Are the prices in the table up to date?

They were checked on 26 September 2026 on the pages given in the sources. Brands change their prices and offers regularly: if in doubt, the brand's own page is what counts.

What does “n/k” mean in the table?

Not known: the information wasn't on the pages we checked. Rather than guess, we leave the cell without a figure, and the note under a value says how far it goes.

Sources and date

Where the figures come from

All information was checked on 26 September 2026 on each brand's pages given below. Brands change their prices, formats and offers regularly: if in doubt, the brand's own page is what counts.

  • Wonderbly

    Checked on two product pages (UK and Ireland for the same title, one US title), the delivery information pages, Companies House, the Penguin Random House announcement and Trustpilot. Delivery costs by country appear only at checkout.

    wonderbly.com

  • Hooray Heroes

    Checked on a UK product page, the UK shipping page and the FAQ. Irish delivery confirmed in the FAQ, without its own price or delivery time. The company from earlier research (slovenia.si).

    hoorayheroes.com

  • Librio

    Checked on uk.librio.com, us.librio.com and the help centre (shipping destinations, costs, print locations). Shipping costs appear only in the basket.

    uk.librio.com

  • Dinkleboo

    Checked on the UK, Irish and US collection pages, the UK shipping page and Trustpilot. The Irish site gives only the free-delivery threshold, no base price.

    ie.dinkleboo.com

  • MyOwnChildbook

    Checked on the UK page of myownchildbook.com. No Trustpilot profile for the brand was found; the page itself shows a rating from Google reviews and “1000+ customers”, which we haven't verified.

    myownchildbook.com/gb

  • Letterfest

    Checked on the children's collection page of letterfest.com. The site has a separate delivery page that we didn't read, and it sells a wider range of personalised gifts, with children's books as one category. Trustpilot as of 26 September 2026.

    letterfest.com

  • MyStoryTale

    Checked on the UK page of mystorytale.com and the Trustpilot summary. Delivery cost per order, page count and format aren't stated on the pages we checked.

    mystorytale.com/en-gb

Also cited in the guide

  • Money Guide Ireland: Irish customs duty and VAT on UK online purchases since Brexit, and the flat €3 charge per parcel since 1 July 2026. moneyguideireland.com
  • Beautiful Books: The new EU customs charge on small parcels from outside the EU, from July 2026. beautifulbooks.info
  • European Commission, Taxation and Customs Union: The EU customs tariff, under which printed books carry a 0% duty rate. taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu

The brand and company names mentioned belong to their owners. This page is an independent comparison of public information: no brand commissioned or approved it.

The simplest way: read your own story

The whole story is free to read, no photo needed. eBook €5.00 in Ireland.

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