Bottom line
Magic Moon is the best personalised colouring book for kids who want a story as well as something to colour — your child is illustrated as a character and written into an original adventure, starting from £18.99 with free standard shipping included. Wonderbly makes excellent personalised storybooks, but they are read-only with no colouring. EverFold makes colouring books from your own photographs, which is the better choice if preserving specific real memories matters more to you than having a story.
Quick picks
In a hurry? Here’s the short version.
Magic Moon
Photo-based character illustration + colouring pages throughout. The most personalised and interactive option available.
Create your book →Wonderbly
The most established name in personalised books. No colouring, but a wide range of beautifully illustrated stories with name personalisation.
Etsy sellers
Wide price range and style variety. Quality varies, so research individual sellers carefully. Good for finding unusual or niche styles.
Full comparison
How the main options stack up across what matters most.
| Feature | Magic MoonUs | SKRIBL | EverFold | Wonderbly | Etsy sellers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starts from your photos | Yes | Yes | Yes | No — name + traits | Varies |
| Original story | Yes — 20 story pages | No | No | Yes — read-only | Rarely |
| Colouring pages | Yes — throughout | Yes — 15 + 10 blank | Yes — every page | No | Some sellers |
| Child as a character | Illustrated as a character | Photo redrawn | Photo redrawn | Name only | Varies |
| Preview before ordering | Yes | No | Not stated | Yes | Varies |
| Hardback option | Upgrade | Yes | No | Yes | Varies |
| Delivered price | £18.99 inc. UK shipping | £23.95 + £1.95 | From US$19.99 | From £24.99 + shipping | Budget to mid |
Each book in detail
Magic Moon
Editor's pickThe most personalised colouring book on the market
Best for: Children aged 3–8 who love colouring, creative families, multi-child households
Magic Moon takes personalisation further than any other book in this category. Rather than simply inserting a name, Magic Moon draws your child's actual likeness from an uploaded photo — giving you a character that genuinely looks like them.
Every page is a colouring page, which means children come back to the book repeatedly rather than reading it once and moving on. The combination of a personalised character, varied scenes, and colouring keeps engagement high well beyond the first sitting.
Siblings or friends can also appear as characters, making it a genuinely unique group gift.
Strengths
- Photo-based likeness
- Colouring + story combined
- Multi-character support
- Interactive and re-usable
Worth noting
- Newer brand
- Requires photo upload
Wonderbly
The best-known name in personalised storybooks
Best for: Classic read-aloud gifts, younger children, parents who want an established brand
Wonderbly is the most recognised name in personalised books, and for good reason. Their books are well-illustrated, thoughtfully written, and personalise the story using your child's name and selected appearance traits.
The books are read-only — there's no colouring or interaction — but the stories are genuinely engaging and the print quality is consistently high. Their range is wide, covering multiple themes and age groups.
If you're looking for a classic personalised storybook gift and recognisable brand name, Wonderbly is a safe, well-regarded choice.
Strengths
- Trusted brand
- Wide range of titles
- Consistent quality
- Easy to order
Worth noting
- Name-only personalisation
- No colouring or interaction
- No photo-based illustration
SKRIBL
Your photographs redrawn in a clean, bold line style
Best for: Mixed-age households, adults who colour, anyone who wants a hardback
SKRIBL turns 15 of your photographs into colouring pages and adds 10 blank pages to draw on, with a personalised cover, title page and dedication. The books are wire bound on 170gsm paper, single-sided so pages can be torn out and displayed, and made in Great Britain.
They market the book at universal difficulty — aimed at children and grown-ups alike — and the wire binding lies flat, which genuinely suits detailed colouring. A hardback option is available, which Magic Moon Books does not offer at the entry price.
Two things to weigh. There is no story, so it is a book to colour rather than one to read. And you do not see the pages before delivery — SKRIBL describes the reveal as part of the experience, which is charming unless you are buying for a fixed date and want certainty.
Strengths
- Hardback option
- Wire binding lies flat
- Made in the UK
- Works for adults too
Worth noting
- No story
- No preview before delivery
- £25.90 delivered vs £18.99
EverFold
Your own photographs, turned into colouring pages
Best for: Preserving specific real photographs — a holiday, a pet, a particular year
EverFold converts your own family photographs into colouring pages. You choose the images and the length, anywhere from 4 to 80 pages, and the book is printed single-sided and perfect bound.
If what you want is your real photographs — a holiday, a pet, a particular year — turned into something your child can colour, EverFold does that well and Magic Moon does not do it at all.
The trade-off is that there is no story. The pages are your photographs and nothing connects them, so it is something to colour rather than something to read.
Strengths
- You pick the exact photos
- Any length from 4 to 80 pages
- Genuine photo-based line art
Worth noting
- No story or narrative
- USD pricing
- No character illustration
Etsy sellers
Wide variety of styles at a range of price points
Best for: Budget-conscious buyers, parents looking for unusual styles, digital downloads
Etsy has an enormous range of personalised book sellers, from digital downloads to print-on-demand physical books. You can find unusual styles, character designs, and themes that aren't available from mainstream brands.
The key caveat is quality consistency. Unlike established brands, Etsy sellers vary significantly in production standards, illustration quality, and customer service. Reading reviews and previewing samples carefully is essential.
For budget buyers or those looking for something more niche, Etsy can be a good option — but it requires more research.
Strengths
- Budget-friendly options
- Wide style variety
- Can find niche or custom work
Worth noting
- Quality varies enormously
- Less consistency
- Customer service varies
What to look for
Level of personalisation
There's a big difference between a book that adds your child's name to a template and one that illustrates a character from their photo. The more genuinely personalised the book, the more it will feel special to your child.
Interactive vs read-only
A read-only storybook is finished when the last page is turned. A book with colouring pages gives your child something to do, and keeps them coming back. For younger children especially, interaction extends engagement significantly.
Repeat use vs one-time read
Most storybooks are read a few times, then put on the shelf. Colouring books are returned to repeatedly — children re-colour pages, show off their work, and spend time with the book over weeks or months.
Multiple children
If you have more than one child, or you're buying for a friendship or sibling pair, check whether the book supports multiple characters. Most don't. Magic Moon does.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best personalised colouring book for kids?
Magic Moon is the standout option if you want a personalised colouring book with a story. It uses uploaded photos to illustrate your child as a character and builds an original adventure around them, with colouring pages throughout. Wonderbly makes read-only storybooks with no colouring. EverFold makes colouring books from your own photographs, but without a story.
Do personalised colouring books use photos?
Most personalised books use name-based personalisation only. Magic Moon is the main option that creates a character illustration from an uploaded photo — drawing your child's actual face and likeness.
Are personalised colouring books good gifts?
Yes — personalised colouring books tend to be kept and used far longer than standard colouring books, because children are more engaged when they recognise themselves. A photo-based personalised book like Magic Moon can become a genuine keepsake.
What age are personalised colouring books best for?
Personalised colouring books work well from around age 3 (when children start to colour intentionally) up to age 8–9. The recognition element engages younger children; the story and detail engages older ones. Magic Moon is designed for ages 3–8.
Can siblings appear in the same personalised colouring book?
Magic Moon supports multiple characters from multiple photos, so yes — siblings, friends, or family members can appear alongside your child in the same book. Most other personalised book brands have limited or no multi-character support.