12th birthday gift
A 12th birthday gift from everyone who has watched them grow
Before the teenage years
Twelve is the birthday where they start pretending not to care what anyone thinks. A book of memories says it anyway, in writing: what their grandparents saw in them at four, the things they’ve done that the family still talks about, what a godparent hopes for them next. Each piece carries the name of the person who wrote it.
It might sit on a shelf for a while. It will be read.
What to ask people for
- Something they did that the family still talks about
- What they were like at five
- Something they taught you
- What you hope the teenage years bring them
Twelve years, in chapters
The book starts with chapters made for a twelfth: The little years, School years, Friends, Family, Sport and hobbies, Holidays, and Now. Rename any of them, take out what doesn’t fit, and add the ones only your family would think of: the first day at secondary school, the cousins, the school trips.
How it works
You set the book up in a few minutes and share one link with your family. People write a memory, record one if they’d rather talk, and add photographs. Nobody needs an account. If a grandparent won’t go near a link, you can add their memory for them.
The book lays itself out as a first draft, chapter by chapter, with each person’s name beside their words. You move things, take things out and choose the cover, and nothing is printed until you approve it. The board is private unless you open it, so it can stay a surprise. More on how it works
Will it arrive in time for the birthday?
Start a few weeks before, so everyone has time to add something. Printing usually takes about 4 days, then delivery usually 3 to 5 working days in the UK and Ireland. You see the estimate for your address before you order. All questions