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The Great River Race
Your child builds and rebuilds a racing raft, discovering that mistakes can lead to better ideas.
stacytheteachermom
@emberlybooks they loved them!!! Isla carries her around and won’t let anyone else see it.
Cheer your child on as they take on the Great River Race, building a raft from a heap of riverbank junk with nothing but a sketchbook full of ideas and a heart set on winning. When the first proud raft sinks and the second one only spins in circles, your child discovers that real success comes from failing, looking closely, and building it better. This warm, beautifully illustrated adventure celebrates resourcefulness and hard work, carrying your child from a muddy setback all the way to a roaring finish line. Perfect for inspiring young builders, makers and tinkerers to keep going when things go wrong.
- Recommended for ages 6-8
- Their name throughout the story
- Personalised with their own illustrated character
- Upload your child's photo - We'll transform them into the main character of the story.
- Add their name - It will appear on the front cover and throughout the book.
- Include a personal dedication (optional) - Your heartfelt message will be printed on the opening page.
- Choose your cover - Select between a softcover or hardcover edition.
Just upload a photo, enter your child's name, and see a personalised preview in seconds.
100% free - no payment required.
Preview is draft quality. Every illustration is professionally refined before printing.
You can also view a full example book here
Your child's face appears on every page, brought to life through beautifully illustrated artwork created from their photo.
This isn't just a story featuring their name - they are the hero of every adventure.
Each book is printed as a unique, made-to-order edition, ensuring every copy is created especially for you. We use premium, thick paper sourced from responsibly managed FSC-certified forests, creating books you'll love while helping care for our planet. Available in your choice of softcover or durable hardcover.
20 × 20 cm (8 × 8 inches)
28 story pages
Softcover
Cover: 250gsm coated silk with a matte laminate finish.
Inside Pages: 170gsm premium coated silk paper
Hardcover
Cover: Matte-laminated hardcover wrapped in 150–200gsm coated silk paper.
Inside Pages: 170gsm premium coated silk paper
stacytheteachermom
@emberlybooks they loved them!!! Isla carries her around and won’t let anyone else see it.
How It Works
Upload a Photo
Share a clear, well-lit photo of your child's face.
Preview
See your personalised storybook come to life before you order.
Order
Checkout securely. Optionally add a heartfelt dedication message.
Printed & Delivered
Your hardcover book is printed and delivered to your door.
Don’t Just Take Our Word For It… Watch Theirs
Loved by Families
“The illustrations are beautiful, but what impressed me most was how much it actually looked like my son. I'd expected something quite generic, but it genuinely felt like he was part of the story.”
David C.
son, age 6
“My daughter has asked for this book every night since it arrived. She loves finding herself on each page, and I love that it's become part of our bedtime routine.”
Priya P.
daughter, age 5
“The ordering process was much easier than I expected, and the finished book feels high quality.”
Tracie K.
daughter, age 2
“Bought this for my nephew's fifth birthday instead of another toy. His mum messaged me later saying it was the first thing he wanted to show everyone. Definitely a gift I'll use again.”
Tom W.
nephew, age 4
“I wasn't sure how well they'd manage to make it actually look like my grandson, but they really nailed it. He spotted himself straight away! Such a lovely keepsake.”
Margaret H.
grandson, age 5
“Bought this after seeing an ad and wasn't sure what to expect, but it's actually gorgeous. My little girl hasn't stopped talking about it since it came.”
Amy R.
daughter, age 3
See the Magic
Got Questions?
Everything you need to know about Emberly Books.
Your child builds a raft out of riverbank junk for the Great River Race in the town of Willowbend. The first raft is too tall and sinks, the second floats but only spins in circles, and the third, with a rudder cut from an old oak door, is the one they race.
That getting it wrong is part of getting it right. Each time the raft fails, your child looks at what happened, goes back to the sketchbook and builds it better.
Yes. Your child designs each raft in a sketchbook and builds it from barrels, rope and an old oak door. The story shows real problem-solving: why a tall raft tips over, why a wide one floats, and why it needs a rudder and a keel to steer. It's written for the sort of child who can't walk past a broken thing without wondering how to mend it.
Yes. It's told in full paragraphs with a short builder's chant that returns along the way, so it works as a longer story to read together.
The Great River Race is written for children aged 6 to 8. It has more words on each page and a longer plot than our books for younger children, so confident readers can read it alone, and it's a good one to read together with children who aren't there yet.
The Great River Race has one hero, so each copy is personalised for one child. Some of our other books let you add more characters, such as additional children, a parent, a grandparent or a pet. Each book's label shows who can be added.
Your child becomes the hero of the story. We create an original illustrated character based on your photo, drawn in the book's style, and weave their name and details throughout. Because it's an illustrated character, it's an artistic interpretation rather than an exact photographic likeness, and that's part of the magic.
Yes. For each book, you can browse sample illustrations and a full example book so you can see exactly what the finished product looks like before ordering. You'll also see a preview image featuring your child. Once you place your order, your child's personalised version is then created just for you.
Your child's privacy matters to us more than anything. We use the photo for one purpose only, to create your child's character, and the moment that's done, the photo is deleted immediately. We don't store it, archive it, or use it for anything else.
One clear, well-lit photo where your child's face is fully visible and facing the camera. Avoid sunglasses, hats, or anything covering the face. A bright, sharp, front-on photo gives the best result.
Your personalised book is printed and dispatched within 3–5 business days. Delivery time is additional and depends on your shipping destination. You'll see an exact estimated delivery date and cost at checkout before you pay.
Of course, our books make a lovely gift. We never include prices or invoices in the parcel, you can add a personal dedication, and you can ship the book straight to the recipient.
