What is the Lost My Name book?
Lost My Name is Wonderbly’s original hit. The story follows a child who has lost their name and goes on a journey to find it, meeting characters along the way whose names start with each letter. A child called “Leo” meets a Lion, an Elephant, and an Octopus. It’s a clever concept and the illustrations are good.
The book has sold over 4 million copies and was recently renamed to “The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home.” The quality is consistent. It’s a reliable gift. But it is a template. Every child named Leo gets the same book as every other Leo. The story is built around the letters of the name, not around the child.
Why people look for alternatives
The most common reasons: the child already has a copy. Or the buyer wants something more personal than a name-spelling adventure. Some parents want the child’s actual photo in the illustrations. Others want a story about a specific topic like a birthday, new sibling, or starting school, rather than a letter-matching journey.
Lost My Name is personalised by name. The alternatives below are personalised by more: the child’s face, their interests, their situation, and in some cases, a completely original story.
5 alternatives compared
| Book | Type | Price (AUD) | What makes it different |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper Lake | Fully custom | $69–119 | Every word and illustration created from scratch. Photo-based character. Choose art style and story theme. |
| Imagitime | Photo + template | ~$90 | Child’s photo in illustrations. Template stories. Prints locally in AU. |
| Hooray Heroes | Hand-drawn template | ~$73 | Hand-illustrated, no AI. Family members as characters. Birthday and adventure themes. |
| Dinkleboo | Budget template | From $15 | Affordable. Avatar customisation. Wide theme range. Quick AU delivery. |
| Wonderbly (other titles) | Template | $40–65 | Same quality as Lost My Name. Birthday, Christmas, and fairy tale themes available. |
When to stick with Lost My Name
It’s a great book. If the child hasn’t received one yet, it’s a safe first choice. The name-spelling concept is unique and kids genuinely love finding “their” letters. For a quick, reliable gift under $70 delivered, it’s hard to beat.
It also works well for younger children (ages 1-3) who are learning their letters. The educational angle is real. And the production quality is proven across millions of copies.
When to choose something different
- The child already has a Lost My Name book
- You want the child’s actual face in the illustrations, not a generic character
- You want a story about something specific: a birthday, a fear, a new sibling, starting school
- You want to choose the art style (Pixar, watercolour, Disney)
- You want a story that could not exist for any other child, not just a name-swap
- You’re buying for a milestone occasion (christening, first birthday) and want a true keepsake
The real question
Lost My Name is personalised by name. Custom books like Paper Lake are personalised by everything: the child’s face, personality, interests, and situation. It’s the difference between “a book with your child’s name in it” and “a book about your child.”
Both are good gifts. Which one you choose depends on how personal you want to get. For a casual gift, Lost My Name is reliable and well-priced. For a keepsake that captures who this child is right now, a custom book is worth the extra investment.