Quick verdict: Choose Dinkleboo for affordable, quick personalised gifts across a wide product range. Choose Paper Lake for a one-of-a-kind storybook where every word and illustration is created for one child.
At a glance
Dinkleboo and Paper Lake are both Australian. Both sell personalised children's books. Beyond that, they are very different products at very different price points.
| Feature | Paper Lake | Dinkleboo |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Fully custom AI story + photo-based illustrations | Pre-written template with avatar of your child |
| Price | $69–$119 AUD | $15–$50 AUD |
| Story | Written from scratch for each child | Pre-written template with name inserted |
| Illustrations | AI-generated from your child's photo | Pre-drawn with a template avatar |
| Art styles | Pixar, Watercolour, Disney, custom | Fixed per book |
| Product range | Books only | Books, puzzles, lunchboxes, labels, backpacks |
| Delivery (AU) | 5–6 business days | 3–7 business days |
| Track record | New (2026) | Established, strong AU presence |
What Dinkleboo does well
Dinkleboo has carved out a solid niche in the Australian personalised gift market. Their biggest strength is accessibility. Books start at around $15, which makes them one of the cheapest personalised book options in Australia. For parents buying in bulk (party favours, classroom gifts, sibling sets), that price point is a genuine advantage.
Their product range is wide. Dinkleboo is not just a book company. They sell personalised lunchboxes, backpacks, puzzles, labels, and more. If you want a matching set of personalised school gear plus a book, Dinkleboo can do that in one order.
Delivery within Australia is fast, typically 3 to 7 business days. They print locally and ship locally. No international delays or customs surprises.
Reviews are mixed. Dinkleboo has strong Google reviews, but sits at 1.9 out of 5 on some review aggregator sites. The negative reviews tend to focus on print quality issues and customer service. The positive reviews praise the affordability and the smile on a child's face when they see their name in a book. At this price point, expectations need to match the product.
Dinkleboo strengths
- +Very affordable entry point (books from $15 AUD)
- +Wide product range beyond books (lunchboxes, puzzles, labels)
- +Australian company with fast local delivery
- +Good for bulk orders: party favours, classroom gifts
- +Strong Google reviews and established AU presence
Dinkleboo weaknesses
- −Template-based: same story for every child, just the name changes
- −Fixed art style per book with no choice
- −Mixed reviews on some aggregator sites (1.9/5)
- −Limited customisation beyond name and basic appearance
- −Print quality complaints in some reviews
What Paper Lake does differently
Paper Lake is a different kind of product entirely. Every story is written from scratch. Not a template with a name swapped in, but a unique narrative generated for one specific child. The themes, the plot, the moral of the story. All of it is new every time.
The illustrations work differently too. Instead of selecting a pre-drawn avatar, you upload a single photo of your child. Paper Lake generates illustrations where the character actually looks like them. Parents choose from multiple art styles: Pixar-style 3D, soft watercolour, classic Disney, or a custom style. That choice carries through every page.
This level of customisation comes at a higher price. Paper Lake hardcovers start at $69 and go up to $119 for the gift edition. That is significantly more than Dinkleboo, but the products are not really comparable on price because they are not the same thing. A Dinkleboo book is a personalised gift. A Paper Lake book is a custom-made keepsake.
Paper Lake also prints and ships from Australia, with delivery in 5 to 6 business days.
Paper Lake strengths
- +Every word written from scratch, not a template
- +Photo-based illustrations that actually look like your child
- +Choice of art styles (Pixar, Watercolour, Disney, custom)
- +Deep customisation: theme, moral, multiple characters
- +AU-local printing with 5–6 day delivery
- +Cover preview with revision options before printing
Paper Lake weaknesses
- −Brand new with no long track record yet
- −Higher price point ($69–$119 AUD)
- −AI-generated content, which some parents prefer to avoid
- −Books only. No lunchboxes, puzzles, or accessories
- −Cover preview only (not full book) before printing
The real comparison
Honestly, these are not really competitors. They occupy very different positions in the market.
Dinkleboo is a personalised gift shop. Books are one product among many. The personalisation means your child's name appears in a pre-written story alongside a cartoon avatar that vaguely resembles them. It is fun, it is affordable, and kids enjoy it.
Paper Lake is a custom storybook studio. The personalisation means a story that has never existed before, with illustrations drawn from a real photo, in an art style you choose. No two books are the same.
Comparing them on price is like comparing a printed t-shirt with a name on it to a commissioned portrait. Both are “personalised,” but the word means something different in each case. A $15 Dinkleboo book and a $89 Paper Lake book are not competing for the same purchase. They serve different moments and different intentions.
Who should choose Dinkleboo
Dinkleboo is the right pick when the occasion is casual and the budget is tight. It works well for situations where the gift needs to be quick, fun, and affordable.
- Budget gifts where $15 to $30 is the sweet spot
- Party favours and classroom gifts (buying in bulk)
- Everyday personalised items: lunchbox and book combos
- Quick turnaround gifts when you need something fast
- Parents who want personalised school gear alongside a book
Who should choose Paper Lake
Paper Lake makes sense for the moments that matter most. The gifts you want a child to keep on their shelf for years.
- Special occasion keepsakes: christenings, milestone birthdays
- Gifts you want kept and treasured, not just enjoyed once
- When you want the child to genuinely see themselves in the story
- When art quality and style matter to the gift-giver
- Parents dealing with specific situations (new sibling, starting school, overcoming fears) where a template story does not fit
Can you get both?
Honestly, yes. A Dinkleboo personalised lunchbox for school and a Paper Lake storybook for their birthday. They serve different moments in a child's life, and there is no reason to pick just one.
Dinkleboo fills the everyday personalised gift space well. Paper Lake fills the milestone keepsake space. Most families will find a use for both at different times.