A personalised book about camping

Sleeping in a tent means sleeping almost outdoors. The canvas is so thin that you can hear the rain, the birds and every twig that snaps. For a child, that's both exciting and a little bit scary, and it's exactly that mix that makes camping such a rewarding subject. In the book, your child carries the kit, finds the spot, pushes in the tent pegs and is the one brave enough to peek out when something rustles. The night in the woods turns out to be full of life, and the sleeping bag feels extra cosy afterwards.

A camping book can begin with the packing and end with the trip home. Your child can get the tent to stand up even though a pole is missing, cook on a camping stove with a grown-up, discover that the rustling in the night was a hedgehog hunting for worms, or fish out a bottle with a message from the other side of the lake. Rain can be part of the adventure: it drums on the canvas and becomes a sort of song. The morning can begin with hot chocolate from a flask on a sun-warmed rock.

The best starting point is a trip you've already taken or are planning. Write in where you camped, who snored, what you cooked over the fire and whether anything went wrong in a way that became a family story. If you've never camped, a night in the garden or a sheet tent in the living room works just as well. Bring along the dog, a brother or sister or the friend who always wants to come too. If your child would rather go walking than sleep outside, the forest has a theme of its own.

A night in the tent sounds different depending on who's listening. For a child under three, the book is about sounds and lights: the bird, the fire, the moon, an owl hooting. A four-year-old enjoys a whole day from packing to goodnight, with sausages on sticks in the middle. Around six, the hero can sort something out alone, like finding the way back to camp, and a twelve-year-old likes it when the night gets a little spooky before everything is explained.

Where you may pitch a tent depends on where you are. In Scotland you can camp wild on most open land if you follow the outdoor access code, while in most of England and Wales you need a campsite or the landowner's permission. Everywhere, the rule is the same: leave the place just as you found it. That can start a conversation after reading – what does it really mean? Then switch off the light and listen together for a minute. How many sounds can you hear? Take your rubbish home and put the fire out properly before you leave.

You fill in the child's name, age and what they like, and upload a photo. The story about camping is written for your very own child, and the thirteen pictures and the cover are drawn from the photo in the style you choose. Brothers and sisters, parents, grandparents or the pet can come along, up to five characters. If you would like to include something that has happened lately, a trip or a lost tooth, just write it and it is woven in.

The eBook is ready a few minutes after payment. Read it, change the text and ask for new pictures until you are happy. Then order it as an A4 hardback book, printed and sent to your door, or straight to the child as a gift. Do add the audiobook or the colouring pages. Start creating the book or read more about the prices. Would you like to see a finished book before you decide? Browse our example books.