Buying guide for Best fill-in-the-blank books
Creating a personalized, sentimental gift that recipients can cherish for years to come can be a challenging process. If you don’t consider yourself to be a good gift-giver, you may want a little bit of help. That’s where the best fill-in-the-blank books enter the picture.
If you think of fill-in-the-blank books like those you had as a kid, where you asked people to give you random words to complete a funny story, understand that such books have undergone a revolution. Those joke books still exist, but the more popular types of these books involve creating sentimental gifts for relatives and friends.
Modern fill-in-the-blank books contain written prompts on some pages that help you to tell someone how you feel about them. The prompts may spark a special memory of a certain time you spent with the recipient of the book. They may also simply help you tell the other person how much they mean to you.
Such books appear with cute titles and colorful covers, making them something the recipient will cherish for a long time. These books are fun to fill out and fun to receive as gifts, all at a relatively low price point.
How to buy the best fill-in-the-blank book
Hardcover vs. paperback
If you want the book to be a cherished gift for years to come, consider buying a hardcover book. A hardcover book should last quite a bit longer than a paperback, allowing the recipient to read it again and again. Hardcover books tend to have better illustrations and more vibrant colors than paperback books, too, which is a nice touch in a book meant to be a gift.
If you want the fill-in-the-blank book to be more of a fun gift that you don’t think the recipient will want to keep for a long time, a paperback book is fine. The majority of kids’ fill-in-the-blank books that contain funny stories and jokes have paperback covers.
Book size
Fill-in-the-blank books are not as large as a typical fiction novel. They have fewer pages and a smaller overall size. Many of these types of books have a size similar to an autograph book. A size of four by six inches is about average for fill-in-the-blank books, although larger and smaller books are available.
Expert tip
Look into purchasing other materials like stickers, washi tape, and other scrapbooking supplies to customize the pages.
BestReviews Book Expert
Important features for fill-in-the-blank books
Cover artwork
When giving fill-in-the-blank books as a gift, you may want a cover that looks great. Many of these books have colorful covers, making them easy to spot in a collection of books stacked on a shelf.
Some books include foil stamping or glossy areas on the cover to enhance the overall design of the book. A book for you to tell your spouse how appreciative you are of your relationship may have glossy hearts on the cover, for example.
The title of the book typically appears in an attractive font that may resemble handwriting, creating a personalized feel.
Prompts
Fill-in-the-blank books rely on prompts to create the personalized aspect of the book. For example, you may have a prompt that says, “I love the way you,” followed by a blank that you can complete.
Some prompts may be part of a piece of artwork. Perhaps the illustration is a trophy, and you receive a prompt to fill in the nameplate on the trophy to explain why the book’s recipient deserves the trophy.
Some prompts may try to evoke emotions, while others may be silly. You can set the tone for the book by the types of answers you provide, whether you want to be romantic, sentimental, or playful — or all three.
Page count
Fill-in-the-blank books can range from around 40 pages to around 120 pages. Read through the product description to learn about the number of pages.
Some longer books may offer more blank pages that don’t contain prompts, so you can create your own notes and illustrations.
Expert TIP
If you are looking to gift a fill-in-the-blank book to someone, give yourself plenty of time to write thoughtful responses.
BestReviews Book Expert
Books similar to fill-in-the-blank books to consider
Baby memory books
Rather than using fill-in-the-blank books with prompts to create a record of how much parents love their babies, baby memory books can tell the story of a baby's first year in a more traditional way.
Baby memory books have places to list milestones, add photographs, and write down favorite memories. A baby memory book has a focus on recording the happenings in the baby's first year of life, while a fill-in-the-blank book aimed at a baby focuses more on feelings and sentimentality.
Kid’s journals
Let your child show a creative side by keeping a journal. Rather than receiving prompts on what kinds of things to write on every page, a kid’s journal may have a few pages with prompts. However, it also should have plenty of blank spaces for whatever the child wants to write or draw. A kid’s journal is something the child works on for their own benefit, rather than as a cute gift to give to a parent or grandparent.
Sketchbooks
For people who prefer to draw their ideas instead of writing them, a sketchbook is a nice choice. Although fill-in-the-blank books have some blank pages where you can include a photograph or a drawing, such books rely primarily on the written prompts. A sketchbook allows you to be a bit more creative, whether you want to write or draw. A sketchbook does not include prompts, however.
How much do fill-in-the-blank books cost?
Inexpensive
The least expensive fill-in-the-blank books are paperback books. Often, these books are funny fill-in books made for children. They may allow the children to use random words to complete a silly story or an adventure story. Such books may cost $3 to $7.
Mid-range
Some sentimental books with prompts that are paperbacks fit in the average price range of $7 to $12. Some Mad Libs-style, complete-the-blank paperback books also may carry an average price. Occasionally, a hardcover sentimental fill-in-the-blank book fits in this price point.
Expensive
The priciest sentimental prompt books cost $12 to $20. These are nearly always hardcover books. These books may contain 80 pages or more.
Expert tip
Fill up empty spaces with printed photographs that showcase memories between you and your special someone.
BestReviews Book Expert
Who are the best gift recipients of fill-in-the-blank books?
These books are available for giving as a gift to many different kinds of people. Make sure the book you select fits you and your relationship to the recipient.
Children
Parents might find a book they can fill out for their babies that the kids may cherish when they’re older. Children also may like books that allow them to fill in the blanks on silly stories, similar to the Mad Libs franchise.
Siblings
Older siblings can find these books for a newborn sister or brother. Some of these books are aimed at adults, where adults can let each other know how much they appreciate their siblings.
Spouses
You can purchase one of these books for your spouse, creating a personalized gift that can be sentimental or funny. The book works nicely as a gift for any special occasion or holiday.
Parents
Younger children can use these books as a personalized gift for parents. Adult children may use these books to show an older parent how much they appreciate their parent’s guidance over the years.
Grandparents
Grandchildren can show grandparents how special their relationship is through these books. These fill-in-the-blank books allow for personalization that grandparents appreciate.
Friends
Some books are specifically made for friends, mentors, and coworkers, showing appreciation for these relationships.
Tips for fill-in-the-blank books
- Test pens and markers before using them in the book. Colored markers can add to the overall look of the pages, but some markers will bleed through the pages of fill-in-the-blank books. Always test any markers you want to use in an inconspicuous spot before using the in the rest of the book.
- Consider the age of the person filling out the book. If a child is filling out the book, consider purchasing one that doesn’t include pre-drawn illustrations on some pages and let the child create drawings.
- Write what you want to write. If a prompt in the fill-in-the-blank book doesn’t seem to fit your situation, just cross out the prompt and write whatever you want.
FAQ
Q. How long does it take to finish filling out a fill-in-the-blank book?
A. There really is no specific length of time a person should devote to completing the book’s prompts. Many people can fill out fill-in-the-blank books in an hour or less. However, if you’re putting a significant amount of thought into each answer, don’t worry if it’s taking you longer. If you’re adding illustrations as you work through the pages, it may take far longer.
Q. Can kids fill out these books on their own without parental supervision?
A. Very young children may struggle to read the prompts to understand what they should write. If the child is filling out the book for a grandparent, parents may want to help to guide them on the prompts. However, it also can be cute if children interpret the prompts on their own, creating unexpected answers.
Q. Should I use a pencil or a pen to write in these books?
A. It’s really up to you. Young children who may need to erase a misspelled word may prefer to use a pencil. If you’re worried about poor penmanship or changing your mind about what you’re writing, a pencil may be the better choice. However, if the recipient will read the book frequently for years into the future, a pen won’t smudge as a pencil could.
Q. Do I really need one of these books to make a special personalized gift for a loved one?
A. Not necessarily. You could simply purchase a blank journal and create your own illustrations, add your own photos, and write your own sentimental messages. The prompts in fill-in-the-blank books work nicely for people who need some help deciding what to write.
