Baptism gift: an illustrated book of your bond with your godchild

A baptism is a day the child won't remember. The photos exist, but nobody tells them the atmosphere, the words said, the person who held them. A godparent's book does that job: it keeps the day, and says who this person is in their life.

The principle is simple: your two faces are drawn from two photos, and a story is written from your memories. It isn't a photo album where pictures are lined up.

• ✦ The day of the ceremony: the church or town hall, the family gown, the candle, the meal that lasted until evening.
• ✦ The first time: the day you held the child, what you thought, what you didn't say.
• ✦ What you wish for them: a world, a career, a sentence that will help them at 15.
• ✦ What you'll do together: the first ice cream, the first trip, the Sunday set aside just for the two of you.
• ✦ Your bond with their parents: what makes you the one they chose.

The book keeps two heroes: you and the child. Their parents, grandparents and the other guests are mentioned in the story.

If you're giving alone, you're one of the two heroes. If the godfather and godmother want a joint gift, only one of them is drawn with the child; the other is mentioned in the story. The other option is one book per pair, the godfather with the child, the godmother with the child.

If you're rather looking for the book to ask the question before the ceremony, see our page asking someone to be a godparent.

A baptism book has two readings. In the first years, it's the book read to them at bedtime: the child recognizes the two drawings, you, them, the names. Later, they read the page where you speak to them directly, the one you wrote without knowing what age they'd be.

For an even more personal approach, see our page letter to my child as a book. For everything around the child's arrival, see new baby gift.

For a child, watercolor is the softest, and 3D appeals to older kids. To compare all six, see which illustration style to choose.

A dedication can be added and printed in the book: just write to us after you order. See our book dedication ideas, like the baptism date or a sentence for later.

1. Choose the style. The free preview shows the duo drawn before you order.
2. Add two photos: one of you, one of the child, faces sharp and front-facing.
3. Tell the story. A questionnaire guides you: where, when, what makes you laugh, the moments to keep. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough.
4. Review. You have 48 hours to read the book and ask for changes. Nothing is printed without your approval.

The book always keeps two heroes; other people are mentioned in the story.

• ✦ Digital: €39, ready in about 2 hours (24 hours at most).
• ✦ Signature: €59, a 30-page printed book.
• ✦ Prestige: €129, a 40-page printed book.

You review the book for 48 hours with up to 10 free revisions, then printing and delivery take 5 to 7 days. Nothing is printed without your approval.

For a baptism, allow about ten days between ordering and delivery of the printed edition. If the ceremony is close, the digital one can open the same day.