How Long Does a StoryStars Book Take? Delivery Times Explained
The short answer: 2 to 4 weeks from order to doorstep, wherever you live. Here’s how it breaks down. If you already know your date, you can start your order now and we’ll confirm your timeline.
Two phases: personalisation, then print and ship
Every StoryStars book goes through two stages before it arrives at your door.
Phase 1: personalisation (1-2 weeks). After you order, we illustrate the book around your child. Simpler tiers land at the fast end of that window because there’s less to draw. More involved tiers (illustrated likenesses, additional family members, a custom storyline) sit at the slower end, because every page is checked by a human before it goes to you.
Phase 2: print and delivery (1-2 weeks). Once you approve your preview, we send the book to print. You’ll get a tracking number when it dispatches. Most orders arrive within 1-2 weeks of dispatch, wherever you are. International shipping is already inside that window, so an address in Sydney or London is on the same timeline as one in Singapore.
Add the two together and you get the headline number: 2 to 4 weeks, worldwide.
Time by tier
The only thing that moves within that window is how much illustration work your book involves. A name-and-gender story needs far less drawing than a fully custom storyline with four look-alike characters in it, so the simplest tier lands near the fast end and the flagship near the slow end.
| Tier | What’s included | Typical total time |
|---|---|---|
| Story Starter ($39) | Name and gender as the main character | ~2 weeks |
| Look Like Me ($59) | Your child’s illustrated likeness | ~2-3 weeks |
| My People My World ($75) | Likeness plus family members or pets | ~3 weeks |
| One-of-a-Kind ($108) | Fully custom storyline and characters | ~3-4 weeks |
These are typical windows, not guarantees. We’ll confirm your estimated timeline when you place your order. Want to compare what’s included at each level? See delivery-ready tiers before you decide.
When to order for common occasions
- Birthday: at least 4 weeks ahead. That covers the full 2 to 4 week window with room to spare.
- Christening or baby shower: 4 weeks. The date is fixed, so don’t cut it close.
- November to January: add about a week to any of the above. Peak-season carrier delays are the one exception to our normal timeline.
- Christmas: order by mid-November to be safe. Our Christmas gift page carries this year’s order-by date and the peak-season allowance.
- “Just because”: order whenever. There’s no rush on a gift without a fixed date.
✨ See Our Stories in Action
Every StoryStars book makes your child the hero of their own adventure. Here are some of our most loved stories:
Ready to create your child's personalized adventure?
Choose from our collection and make your little one the star ⭐
What to do if your occasion is soon
If your occasion is less than 3 weeks away, WhatsApp us before ordering. We’ll tell you honestly whether we can hit your date and which tier is realistic given the time available. A Story Starter ($39) is achievable in a tighter window; a fully custom book needs the full runway.
The preview step
Before anything goes to print, you’ll see a full digital preview of your book. This is your chance to request changes: wording, character details, anything that doesn’t look right. We don’t move to print until you’re happy. This step adds a day or two but means the book that arrives is exactly what you approved.
Ready to order? Most families start with Look Like Me. It’s the tier where the “that’s me!” reaction reliably happens, and it arrives in about 2 to 3 weeks. Start your order today.