Are you searching for a special gift that will make the little ones in your life feel like the star of their own story? Look no further than Wonderbly, the leading publisher of personalized children‘s books adored by over one million families worldwide.
In this comprehensive Wonderbly review, I‘ll give you an insider‘s look at what sets this brand apart, from their high-quality craftsmanship to their heartwarming stories that incorporate each child‘s name, likeness, and unique details. We‘ll explore the ordering process, pricing, and real customer experiences to help you decide if a Wonderbly book is the perfect present for the young readers on your list.
As a mom and avid collector of children‘s books, I can honestly say that Wonderbly has become my go-to gift for birthdays, holidays, and special occasions. The joy and wonder on a child‘s face as they flip through the pages of a story created just for them is absolutely priceless! So let‘s dive in and see what makes Wonderbly such a magical brand.
The Wonderbly Story
Wonderbly was founded in 2012 by four dads on a mission to create meaningful, personalized books that would inspire children to love reading. Asi Sharabi, one of the co-founders, came up with the idea for the company‘s first book "Lost My Name" after watching his own daughter flip through a picture book and ask "where am I in this story?"
He teamed up with friends Tal Oron, David Cadji-Newby, and Pedro Serapicos, who shared his vision of leveraging technology and storytelling to make children the heroes of their own narratives. They launched a Kickstarter campaign for "Lost My Name" which quickly went viral, becoming the most funded children‘s book in the platform‘s history at the time.
Since then, Wonderbly has grown into a global brand with over 40 titles published in 12 languages, delighting kids in more than 200 countries. In a 2020 interview with TechCrunch, CEO Asi Sharabi shared:
"What started as a personal project to make my daughter feel special has become a mission to create magical moments of self-discovery for children everywhere. We‘ve seen firsthand the positive impact personalized stories have on kids‘ self-esteem, imagination, and love of reading. It‘s incredible to hear from parents how much these books mean to their families."
Wonderbly‘s success lies in their unique blend of creativity, innovation, and customer focus. They collaborate with celebrated children‘s book authors and illustrators to craft original, enchanting stories that empower kids to be the brave protagonists of their own adventures. The brand is also constantly pushing the boundaries of personalization, from customizable avatars to hidden details woven throughout each story.
Wonderbly Personalization Options
One of the coolest things about Wonderbly is how easy they make it to create a one-of-a-kind book tailored to each child‘s name, appearance, and interests. Here are just some of the personalization options you can choose from:
Name: The child‘s first and last name is seamlessly integrated into the story, appearing on the cover, dedication page, and throughout the text and illustrations. Depending on the story, the name may influence the plot, rhyming scheme, or character interactions.
Avatar: You can customize your child‘s storybook likeness by selecting their preferred gender, skin tone, hair color and style, and eye color. Some books even let you add glasses or freckles!
Personal Details: Make the book extra meaningful by adding the child‘s birthday, hometown, favorite color or animal, and heartfelt dedication message. Certain titles weave in these details in clever ways, like a secret map of their neighborhood or a special cameo by their beloved pet.
With thousands of possible combinations, each Wonderbly book is as unique as the child it‘s created for. And the best part? You can preview every page before ordering to ensure it‘s absolutely perfect.
Best-Selling Wonderbly Books
Not sure which Wonderbly story to choose? Here‘s a quick overview of some of their top-selling titles:
| Book Title | Age Range | Personalization Options |
|---|---|---|
| Lost My Name | 0-8 | Name, Avatar, Dedication |
| The Birthday Thief | 3-10 | Name, Birthday, Avatar, Dedication |
| The Little Boy/Girl Who Lost Their Name | 0-8 | Name, Avatar, Dedication |
| The Fantastic Favorite Things of (Name) | 0-3 | Name, Dedication |
| Where Are You? | 0-8 | Name, Avatar, Hometown Map, Dedication |
Wonderbly is constantly expanding their collection with fresh stories and themes, so there‘s always something new to discover. From space adventures to dinosaur quests to fairy tale twists, these books spark kids‘ imaginations and entertain grown-ups too.
"We have a whole shelf dedicated to our son‘s Wonderbly books," one mom gushed on the brand‘s Facebook page. "He never gets tired of reading them and always finds new details he didn‘t notice before. The quality is incredible and the stories are so clever. Worth every penny!"
Pricing and Value
There‘s no denying that personalized books cost more than your average paperback. But when you factor in the superior quality, custom details, and potential to become a cherished keepsake, many Wonderbly customers find the price justifiable for a special occasion.
Wonderbly prices vary depending on the book format and amount of personalization. Here‘s a general breakdown:
Softcover:
- 1 character: Starts at $29.99
- 2 characters: Starts at $39.99
Hardcover:
- 1 character: Starts at $35.99
- 2 characters: Starts at $45.99
To put this into perspective, let‘s compare the cost per page of a personalized vs. non-personalized children‘s book:
| 34-page softcover book | Cost | Price per page |
|---|---|---|
| I Am Busy (Personalised) | $29.99 | $0.88 |
| The Very Hungry Caterpillar | $5.76 | $0.13 |
As you can see, a personalized Wonderbly book costs about 6 times more per page than a classic children‘s paperback. However, most parents would agree that watching their child‘s eyes light up as they see themselves in a story is worth the extra expense.
It‘s also important to note that Wonderbly runs frequent promotions and offers bulk order discounts. You can often find coupon codes for free shipping or 15-20% off, especially around the holidays. Signing up for the Wonderbly newsletter is a great way to stay informed about sales.
User Experience and Reviews
Ease of ordering, timely shipping, and responsive customer service are essential when purchasing a personalized gift online. Thankfully, Wonderbly excels in all of these areas according to thousands of glowing user reviews.
The Wonderbly website is sleek, intuitive, and easy to navigate from both desktop and mobile devices. The personalization process is broken down into simple steps with helpful explanations and visuals along the way. You can save your project at any stage and return to it later, which is handy when creating multiple books.
Most customers report receiving their books within 7-10 business days of ordering (standard shipping). You can also select expedited shipping options if you need the book sooner. The books arrive in a sturdy, colorful box that doubles as a storage case – a nice added touch!
Wonderbly has an impressive 4.8 out of 5 star rating on Trustpilot based on over 25,000 reviews. Here are some common praises and positive experiences shared by verified buyers:
- "The personalization was spot on and integrated so naturally into the story."
- "I was blown away by the quality – thick pages, vibrant colors, and a beautiful hard cover."
- "A wonderful customer service team that went above and beyond!"
- "My grandson asks to read his special book every single night!"
- "Ordering was quick and easy. My book arrived in less than a week!"
While no company is immune to the occasional misprint or delayed shipment, Wonderbly has a responsive customer support team that strives to resolve issues quickly and professionally. They offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so you can feel confident that your book will meet expectations.
To further put parents‘ minds at ease, Wonderbly takes privacy very seriously and will never share your child‘s personal information. The details you provide are used solely for creating the book and are never sold to third parties.
Awards and Accolades
Since bursting onto the personalized publishing scene, Wonderbly has racked up an impressive list of awards and recognitions, including:
- Rated 5 Stars by The Independent
- Junior Design Awards – Children‘s Book of the Year 2016
- Winner of The Chartered Institute of Marketing‘s Innovation in Personalization Award
- Featured in Forbes, The Guardian, TechCrunch, Mashable, and more
The brand has also garnered attention for its sustainability efforts and commitment to diversity and inclusion. All Wonderbly books are printed on sustainably sourced, FSC-certified paper using eco-friendly soy inks. The company has also partnered with Room to Read, a global nonprofit promoting literacy and gender equality through education.
Wonderbly‘s latest project is the Stories For All initiative, a collection of personalized stories featuring characters with disabilities, non-traditional families, and diverse backgrounds. By creating books that reflect and celebrate the full spectrum of human experiences, Wonderbly hopes to make every child feel seen, valued, and empowered by their own story.
Final Verdict
As a lifelong bookworm and mother of two, I know firsthand the magic of snuggling up with your little ones and getting lost in a good story. But what happens when the children in those stories start to look, sound, and feel a lot like your own? Personalized books turn an already intimate experience into something extraordinarily memorable and meaningful.
Wonderbly has mastered the art of creating high-quality, customized stories that engage kids‘ minds, tug at grown-ups‘ heartstrings, and become instant family favorites. From the moment you open the Wonderbly website to the final page of your book, it‘s clear that this brand deeply cares about bringing joy and wonder to small (and big!) readers.
Yes, a personalized book requires a bigger investment than your average bedtime tale. But can you really put a price on your child‘s self-esteem, sense of belonging, and love of reading? For a special keepsake that will be treasured for years to come, I wholeheartedly believe Wonderbly books are worth it.
To all the caregivers, grandparents, aunties and uncles searching for a thoughtful gift that celebrates the cherished little humans in your lives – look no further. With Wonderbly, you have the power to make a child the hero of their own story. And what greater gift is there than that?
