Make their book
Birthdays

Funny birthday gifts

The funniest birthday gift is the one that could only have come from you. Send one photo of the birthday person and a few true things about them, and we print a picture book for adults starring them. The face is the part we get right; the hands are the part we don’t.

Everyone else is bringing a card. You’re bringing a bound, full-color book about them.

Make their book

A birthday cake with far too many candles, held up by two hands with an extra finger each

The book to blame

See every book

A sample spread

FOUR! Little Denise adds a mark to Gary’s tally on the fridge while every kitchen cabinet hangs open.

Gary leaves a cabinet open.

Denise makes a mark.

Gary leaves another one open.

Denise makes another mark.

That is four before breakfast.

Ten Little Fingers: Denise’s First Counting Book, pages 12–13. Finished art, printed as drawn.

How it works

  1. A hand drops a printed photo into the slop machine’s hopper.

    Feed it one photo.

  2. The slop machine shakes and steams, rivets popping off.

    It does its thing.

  3. A finished picture book pops out of the slop machine’s chute.

    A real book comes out.

The whole process

Questions

What’s a good funny birthday gift for an adult?

One nobody else could have given. A book starring the birthday person, with their name on the cover and the details you sent. It’s written for adults, not for children.

Does it work for a milestone birthday?

It works for any of them, and three have their own pages: the thirtieth, the fortieth and the fiftieth.

Can I give one to someone who hates being the center of attention?

They’ll be the only person in the room holding a book about themselves, so no. Give it to the one who tells the same story at every birthday.

How does it work, and what do you need from me?

You pick the book, send one clear photo of them and a few true things about them. We write and illustrate the book from that. You must confirm they’re an adult (18 or older), they’re willing to star in a gag book, and you have permission to share their photo.

Will it arrive in time?

We print and bind the book after you order it, so it isn’t instant — and we won’t promise a date here that we can’t keep for your address. Order with room to spare. If the day is close, write to hello@hellosorry.com first and we’ll tell you honestly whether it can make it.

Who it’s for

A hand holds out a single red rose wrapped in a gas-station receipt, its price sticker still on; the other hand keeps hold of a game controller

Boyfriend

He’ll say he hates it. He’ll also keep it where people can see it.

A hand in rings slides a tray of eight bright shots with paper umbrellas toward a hand holding a glass of water; the napkin reads “just one”

Best friend

You’ve been saving these stories for years. Here’s somewhere to put them.

A hand rests on a thermostat locked inside a clear plastic box, the key hanging from one finger

Dad

He said not to get him anything. This is nothing, bound.

A hand opens a butter tub full of thread, buttons and pins, beside a cookie tin full of sewing supplies

Mom

She’ll show it to her friends, her neighbors and the pharmacist.

More occasions

A gold watch in a velvet box, presented by a hand with six fingers; the watch hands are tiny hands

Retirements

Thirty years of loyal service. Finally, some recognition.

Blame: coming soon

All occasions

Somebody you love deserves this. We’re so sorry.

One photo. One real book. A lifetime of them bringing it up at dinner.

Make their book

From $19.99 · Character redraws: free, up to six a day · Digital copy with every printed book