There's a moment, usually around four or five, when a child asks: “where was I, before?” Our Story, Before You is the book that answers that question. You tell us your story — how you met, where you lived, what you were waiting for — and we turn it into an illustrated book for them, one that ends on the day they were born.
A book where the child arrives on the last page
That's what makes this book different from any other. For twenty pages, you are the heroes. We follow your first meeting, your first home, the dog you adopted, the trip you still talk about. And then, at the end, they arrive. That's not an oversight: it's exactly what the book is about — that they were born into a world that was already waiting for them.
What you tell us
Nothing is invented for you. You tell us where you met, which milestones matter to you, and what you want to pass on to them. The rest — the writing, the pacing, the illustrations — is our job. You can do this by chatting with us online, or by filling in three simple fields if you'd rather write it in your own time.
What the contents might look like
Every book is different, because every story is. Here's an example of the shape it can take:
- The evening you met
- Your first flat together
- The trip you still talk about
- The day of the test
- The day you arrived
Your photos, not your baby's
Here's the good news when you've just given birth: this book doesn't need any perfect photos of the newborn. The main characters are you — and of yourselves, you already have dozens of clear photos. Your child is illustrated for the final page based on your description.
What if our story isn't all sunshine?
Real family stories have their hard moments too: a pet who's no longer around, a wait that felt endless. We talk it through with you before writing. Nothing medical, nothing frightening, nothing that would scare a child — but nothing untrue either.
This isn't the same book as *Welcome to the World*
Looking for the book about their arrival into the world — their first breath, their first look around? That's *Welcome to the World*. This one tells everything that came before them. The two work beautifully together — many families give one at birth and the other for the first birthday.
What's included in every copy
- A story written entirely from your own, never recycled
- A choice of 10 to 20 illustrated chapters
- 28 or 48 pages, landscape A4 format, premium hardcover
- Delivered in print and digital (PDF) versions, approved by you before printing
The starting price is shown at the top of this page, and adjusts based on length and number of characters — you'll see the total update as you build your request. Tell us how it all began: it's the most personal birth gift you can give.
