Picture book review : Prince Pierre Won't Go To Sleep (Personalised CreateMeBooks)

Pierre is turning into a very good little reader, but he still loves snuggling up with me for a few special moments together at the end of the day while I read him a bedtime story. There's nothing he likes more than reading a story that features him (or someone called Pierre), by chance or design. When I was given the chance to review a personalised story from CreateMeBooks, I knew he'd love it. I decided to get Pierre in on the creative process so he helped me choose the hair style and colour, skin colour and clothing colours. You also select the name and gender and can even write a personal message to go at the front of the book. It literally takes a couple of minutes to place the order.

Pierre was delighted to see the character that we had created to represent him coming "alive" in the book after being created on screen.

It's a fun story with Prince Pierre unable to go to sleep and desperately searching for the Land of Nod, helped on his way by a variety of fairtyalesque characters.

The short texts are ideal for beginner readers and rhyming couplets always make it more fun when reading aloud.

The teacher in me did wince a few times at the slightly haphazard use of punctuation (in particular full stops, capital letters and question marks) but Pierre didn't bat an eyelid ! 

Prince Pierre eventually manages to find the Land of Nod ...

... and so did Pierre ! Oh OK, he was just pretending for the photo !

Create Me Books is the brainchild of mum and foster mum Lisa Wilson, who created the first books for her own children. You can find out all about how they came to be and how to buy one for yourself at www.createmebooks.com.

It's a paperbacked A4 sized book with lovely thick paper and brightly coloured illustrations throughout. You can preview your whole book before ordering. At £17.99, they do work out much more expensive than mass produced books, but you are getting something personalised that makes it an extra special keepsake to be treasured.

If you like the idea, don't go away - I have a giveaway coming up in just a moment where you will be able to win a code to create your own personalised book.

Disclosure : We received the book in order to write an honest review.