Custom Photo StorybooksA host of Web sites will help you tell your child’s story in a beautiful, hardcover storybook. In this new column, we rate the top options.
 Site: MyPublisher.com
Reviewer: Sara K. Parker, mother of Noah and Kai, adopted from Ethiopia
Software required: BookMaker, downloaded from site
Price of a 20-page, hardcover book: $29.80 for a linen cover; $39.80 for leather
Cover options: 14 color/material options
Reader review: Overall, I was pleased with the photo book I created, and I loved how simple BookMaker was to use. All I had to do was drag, click, and type in my captions. In fact, the hardest part of the project was writing the story itself! But the design options were a bit limited: All of the page layouts are quite boxy, white was the only background option, and there were only seven fonts available—and only black type.
Site: Shutterfly.com
Reviewer: Becki Uccello, mother of Jack, adopted from Russia
Software required: None
Price of a 20-page, hardcover book: $29.99 for a satin or suede cover; $39.99 for leather
Cover options: 12 color/material options
Reader review: Shutterfly was very quick and easy to use to make a storybook, and I was impressed with the variety of page layouts (including those that didn’t include captions). I would much rather spend two to three hours creating a book online with Shutterfly than four hours in a scrapbook store, trying to create monumental pages with little talent and at great expense!
Site: Kodakgallery.com (formerly known as Ofoto.com)
Reviewer: Lisa Newcomb, mother of Ashlyn, adopted from the U.S.
Software required: None
Price of a 20-page, hardcover book: $29.99 for a linen or matte finish cover; $39.99 for leather
Cover options: 10 color/material options
Reader review: I liked the overall look of my final product, but it wasn’t extremely unique. I would have liked more cover choices, the ability to mix different page designs, and the ability to change and manipulate the fonts (there was only one font available, and you couldn’t bold or italicize anything).
Site: iPhoto/Apple.com
Reviewer: Lisa Milbrand, mother of Katie, adopted from China
Software required: iPhoto (part of Apple’s iLife software package)
Price of a 20-page, hardcover book: $29.99
Cover options: Four color options
Reader review: Apple’s iPhoto software is great for organizing hundreds of digital photos, but its photo books are definitely more about the photos than text. There are several different “themes” to choose from, from cute baby books to travel journals, but most of the innovative options don’t allow captions on the same page as photos, which limits its usefulness for this type of project.
Site: Snapfish.com
Reviewer: Cindy Swatek, mother of Jacob, adopted from Guatemala
Software required: None
Price of a 20-page, hardcover book: $19.79 for a fabric cover; $24.79 for leather
Cover options: 18 color/material options
Reader review: This was more like a regular photo album than a memory book. The only design options were the sizes of the photos and text boxes. There were no choices for the font, its size, or how the wording was spaced. That was a disappointment. And because it didn’t allow you to position the photo within the frame, I had to go back to Adobe several times to re-edit my picture, save it again, upload it again, and then see if the top of my husband’s head was still cut off—that was very time-consuming! Back To Home Page ©2013 Adoptive Families. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. |
Comments
I actually used shutterfly and had great success. It had several options for layouts. It only took me 2 hours to complete a 20 page book with great results.
Posted by: Patty Mavrich at 10:31am Nov 14
I loved using MyPublisher to make our twins' lifebook. The had a couple styles I really liked, but I really wanted this to tell a story and choose a very simple template to accomplish it. The photos were easy to add in, it even let me know when they were getting out of resolution due to size/zooming in. I copy and pasted the entries from my blog right into the caption boxes. Perhaps, the reviewer was using an older version of bookmaker as the version I had you could have white, black, or grey background. I liked it so much that I just started on new books to give as Christmas gifts to grandparents!
Posted by: Jenn at 10:33am Nov 14
Yes I believe this is an incredible way for the amazing kids to learn their stories. I made books for both the trips my husband and I made to Nepal and I just finished Sujina's First year in America book. She LOVES it. I had made books for my sons before and the kids all love them what great keepsakes they will be. And yes they are wonderful gifts for grandparents. Stephanie mom to Rowe, Beck and Sujina
Posted by: Stephanie Wilson-Scott at 7:07am Apr 11
I used Photomax at www.photomax.com. You sign up for a FREE account and get 24 free photos. Then the album was around $40 but you could choose any layout, page style, cover choice, etc. They save all your photos for you so even if your computer crashes or house burns down your photos are forever with Photomax. I kind of like that security net. www.everythingforadoption.com
Posted by: Debbie Mumm at 7:23am Apr 11
I loved using www.creativememories.com and their free Storybook Creator program. I can download it on my laptop and don't have to be online to work on it. I think it is great that one of the founders is an adoptive mom as well. The program was very easy to use, had lots of options and saved my book in a free account at www.cmphotocenter.com so I can order more copies if I wanted them.
Posted by: Ann Matuszak at 8:12am Apr 11
I've made a lot of these books (4 a year for the past three years) and I started with Kodakgallery and then switched to My Publisher because it was more flexible than Kodak and I'm about to switch again to Picaboo because it's more flexible yet. However, My Publisher often has 2 for 1 deals that lets me order two copies of the book for the same price as one and put one on the shelf to be kept safe and have one for my kids to read on a regular basis.
Posted by: Johannah at 8:31am Apr 11
I have found Blurb.com to offer extremely affordable options for printing. They have a wide variety of templates, and come in many sizes - including a 7x7 book that is perfect for little hands - and with the low price I don't worry about them tearing them up while they are looking at the books. Don't let the price fool you - the quality is fantastic!
Posted by: Nanc at 8:35am Apr 11
I used Creative Memories StoryBook Creator for my son's lifebook. They have a free versoin that you download to your computer from www.creativememories.com, plus 35 free templates you can choose from. In the free version you can change the font type to any that you have on your computer, but you can not move any of the other elements on the page. With the Plus verison, $60, you can move and rearainge anything on the page, text, photos, embellishments, even change templates within the book. The basic books come with 20 pages, but you can add pages up to 100 total. My book was 20 pages and cost $50 with a photo on the front cover. My older son wanted to know were his book was. I had done a traditional scrapbook for him, but it wasn't a REAL BOOK like his brother's. Oh well, now I'll have to redo a REAL BOOK for him too.
Posted by: Philip Griffith at 8:53am Apr 11
I just have to correct Cindy who used Snapfish.com. You can position photos within the frame as well as zooming in on the photo. I've used snapfish for a couple of photo books and love it. The only complaint I had is that my computer's virtual memory was rather limited and it took quite some time to build the photo books.
Posted by: Amy Murphy at 1:49pm Apr 11
I used SHUTTERFLY.COM to make both my childrens "The Story of Me" adoption books. Shutterfly was great! It was easy to use and very fun. I have since done a book for the nanny of our first year together also and all the books were quite impressive (if I can say so myself!)
Posted by: Lisa at 2:39pm Apr 11
I used www.onetruemedia.com for video montages put on DVD's for my parents for Christmas and will use it to do their Me Stories later this spring. Love the tools, cover & page layouts and ease of use.
Posted by: Beth at 4:56pm Apr 12
Just went to the Creative Memories website. Very difficult to navigate. Could not find cover examples. Not promising for the whole project!
Posted by: christine at 4:19am Apr 15
Christine - did you go to the CM website (www.creativememories.com) or the CM Photo Center (www.cmphotocenter.com)? In any case, try this link and see: http://www.creativememories.com/MainMenu/Our-products-and-services/Digital-Scrapbooking Then click on Storybook Creator and download it for free. The cover samples are inside Storybook Creator. You can see them then . . .
Posted by: Carol at 6:30pm Apr 16
I am an artist and can illustrate and help you write your families unique story, in the form of a childrens book, and for the young child's level. The above websites mentioned can print as many copies as you want for keepsakes for your children, birthmothers, etc. I can supply the digital art after your story, the illustrations and the layout, is approved by you! pilaria@aol.com
Posted by: shari pilaria at 4:15pm Oct 27
I used Walgreens and the process was so easy. The 20-page book is only $10, too! There are several layout choices, and rearranging the pages is easy. There are several choices in covers and color themes. I made a book in about an hour, and ordered copies for Christmas gifts.
Posted by: Wendy at 7:45am Dec 3
If you want help making your child's lifebook, I work with parents who do not have the time, patience, or talent to create the type of lifebook they envision for their child. I custom create beautiful hardcover lifebooks using the pictures and information you provide. I also offer helpful outlines, and free photo and text editing for customers. You will find me at www.customadoptionbooks.com
Posted by: Sara Mayes at 11:35am Feb 12
Hi there, I am desperately trying to find the owner of www.customadoptionbooks.com, Sara Mayes. Her site it no longer up :(....do you have any informtion at all on her by chance? She was helping me create a lifebook for my son and I am lost without her. I so appreciate any information!! Best Regards, Samantha
Posted by: Samantha Moses at 2:18pm Jan 6
I am also looking for www.customadoptionbooks.com Sara Mayes. I loved her site and was hoping to have her help me write my daughter's lifebook for her "Gottcha Day"...any information would be great...Thank you, Karen
Posted by: Karen at 12:34pm Jan 11
Please check out my website at www.mycreationsbooks.com. We create personalized adoption stories as well. Adoptive Families has written several positive reviews about our storybooks!
Posted by: Eve Wierzbicki at 3:48pm Mar 1
We are in the middle of building our book - but this book is meant to show prospective birth moms who we are so she can decide on an adoptive family. We are using snapfish, and so far, so good. I wrote a blog post about the process it here: http://babyadoption.wordpress.com
Posted by: Ann at 10:40am Aug 5
Visit ellybdesign.com - They offer customizable lifebooks and other adoption specific photobooks. Their art and text is adoption focused with fresh and modern designs. They also offer adoption approved books to send to your child who is waiting to come home and parent/grandparent brag books. A very user friendly bookmaker! Also,a digital version can be shared for free with family and friends.
Posted by: Shelly Norton at 6:35pm Oct 30
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