Birthday gift for your mom: a book of your memories together

Moms often get things they put away: a scarf, flowers, a massage voucher. A book telling your story together is a different thing: she rereads it, shows it, keeps it on the living room table.

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.

• ✦ 50: the moment life reorganizes, kids gone, a new rhythm. Tell what she carried, and what opens up.
• ✦ 60: retirement often close, grandchildren sometimes, and a look back at what she built.
• ✦ 70 and over: passing things on. The recipes, the sayings, the family stories to write down before they're forgotten.

For more ideas by decade, see our page milestone birthday gift.

• ✦ The childhood years: Sunday meals, the car, the vacations, the way she said "go wash your hands".
• ✦ The times she was there: the graduation, the move, the 11 p.m. call.
• ✦ What she taught you: a recipe, a way to handle a fight, a sentence that stuck.
• ✦ What she doesn't know: what you understood later, what you never said.
• ✦ What's next: what you want to do with her in the years ahead.

If you have siblings, the book keeps two heroes: your mom and you. The other children are mentioned in the story, and the best answer is often one book per pair.

If you want to gather the siblings around the gift, one person places the order: they tell their story with mom, and slip the others' anecdotes into the story.

If the birthday falls near Mother's Day, the book can suit both: see our page Mother's Day gift. For more family ideas, see family gift and grandparents gift.

A mom often likes softness: watercolor works well, or vintage as a nod to old photos. 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.

1. Choose the style. The free preview shows the duo drawn before you order.
2. Add two photos: one of your mom, one of you, 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, with their names and running gags.

• ✦ 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 birthday, allow about ten days between ordering and delivery of the printed edition.