03.25.08

If you asked me to name my very first friend I would simply answer "my book"; I could always depend on The Fuzzy Wuzzy Bunny. Even though bunny's fuzz wore off from my busy little fingers, each time I heard the story I was content. In a recent search for a special gift for a very special little girl I discovered Flattenme, a wonderful company that designs personalized story books.

My gift to Lilly is a beautifully written book by Michael Titus, Lilly and the Tuesday Mushroom King. Lilly's own face appears on the cover where she is captivatingly garbed in an embroidered green velvet tunic with beautiful gossamer wings. The magic of this story is enhanced with the fanciful and imaginative illustrations of Gayle Franey. Each time I read of Lilly's adventures in the forest I marvel at the professional way the Flattenme Company has added her precious face to this exciting character in her very own book.

At Flattenme they "seek not only to spark the imagination of a child, but to take a story which starts as a moment in time - a photograph - and then becomes something entirely new". These hardcover books are printed on a high quality paper with a wonderful layout and fantastic typeface. Once you submit the child's photograph to Flattenme they create the book for you. Their stories, designed for a boys and girls ages 4-7 are available in English, French, German and Italian.

Five percent of book sales is donated to literacy programs as their goal is to "give every child the chance to read". Flattenme also features a wonderful fund raising option where 25% of their profit goes to your non-profit organization.

If you want to add a something more check out the various accessories. There are fairy wings and fairy outfits, pirate costumes and pirate ship building sets, fairy music boxes and fairy boat lunch boxes.

Your child will always remember this best friend, their very own personalized Flattenme book.