A personalized book for grandparents, about their own story

A book about their life, not a picture book for kids

This is a book about them, not a storybook with a grandparent in a supporting role. Your grandmother or grandfather is the main character, and the story is theirs: where they grew up, the work they were proud of, the kitchen everyone still ends up in.

Fill-in memory journals ask a grandparent to do the writing. Here the family shares the memories, and we shape them into a connected story with artwork inspired by the people in it, as with every Chapters to Keep book: 15 illustrated story spreads, written for an adult who lived every page.

What we ask

On the order form, choose “Someone worth a book.” The story prompt asks: “Who is this book for? Share their story, favorite memories, and what you want them to feel.” Then come three questions:

• Who and what are we celebrating? Friendship, a parent, birthday, retirement, or family memories.
• Your favorite memories: Three little stories that show who they are.
• What you want them to know: The thank-you, the wish, or the words you want to keep.

A few notes are enough to begin. If you are unsure how the pieces fit together, the Creative freedom option lets us build the story from the people and details you have shared.

For grandma or grandpa

A personalized book about Grandma might begin in the town where she grew up and end at the table where she still feeds everyone on Sundays. A book about Grandpa might follow him from his first job to the workshop in the garage, with a detour for the fish that got bigger every time he told it.

Sweet and Reflective suit a book about Grandma’s life told with gratitude; Funny suits a grandpa who never tells a story the same way twice. Add everyone who should be in the book, people and pets. The grandkids and the family dog can be in it, too.

For mom or dad, from a son or daughter

A life story book for your parents doesn’t need to wait for a milestone. A personalized book for Mom from her daughter can be the thank-you you have never found the words for, and the third question, “What you want them to know,” asks for exactly that. For Dad, it might be the season he coached a team without knowing the rules.

Then choose the closing words. The “How should it end?” field takes up to 120 characters for the last story page, and for this book it suggests “Thank you for all the stories.”

For a friend, a birthday or a retirement

“Someone worth a book” isn’t only for family. From our FAQ:

Can you write about friends, family, or a birthday? Absolutely. Choose Someone worth a book for friendships, parents, birthdays, retirement, or family memories. Your own idea is for any other original story you have in mind.

Think of a best friend’s 60th, a favorite teacher’s retirement or the neighbor the whole street relies on.

Gathering the stories

Before you order, ask each relative for one story: a call to an aunt, a text to a cousin. “What is your favorite story about Grandpa?” gets better answers than “Tell me about Grandpa.” Write the family sayings down word for word and put them in “Any exact words, dates or inside jokes that must be in it?” For how your grandparents met, the prompts in our love story book ideas work for them, too.

Each person can have up to 8 photos. Clear face photos work best, and old prints photograph best flat, in daylight, without glare. Only upload images you have permission to use. If grandchildren are in the book, note: For children’s photos, a parent or guardian must place or authorize the order.

Parents’ 50th anniversary?

If the book is about a marriage rather than one person’s life, see our anniversary book, which covers 25th and 50th anniversary gifts for parents.

Timing

Birthdays, retirement parties and family reunions all have fixed dates, so plan backward from the day. Allow about 3 weeks for a printed book, including creation, your prompt approval, printing, and delivery. Dates are estimates. Allow up to 5 business days for the first proof.

Your occasion date is a request, not a guaranteed delivery date. If the date can’t move, contact us before ordering. Our order and delivery details have the specifics.