Ask a child of the 1970s or 80s about the challenges of growing up with an unusual name, and she might tell you that she never had personalized pencils, the kind that Jennifer and Ashley always brought to class.

Not so in 2011. Or ever again, really. Clio might be a never-in-the-Top-1000 choice but thanks to clever, insanely cheap technology, the purple LeapFrog My Pal Violet knows how to say and spell her unusual name.

And then came Etsy. Aprons, notecards, lunchboxes, super-hero capes. You name it, and there’s a shop that can customize pretty much anything you can imagine.

Which brings me to those gorgeous images above. Those, dear reader, are custom bookplates, created by Kate of My Kids Eat Off the Floor, also the name of her blog and, speaking of names, she’s guest-posted here on Name Stories.

One lucky reader will win their very own set of 20 bookplates – four each of five designs in the collection of your choice: Woodland Friends, Modern Boy, or Whimsy. And, of course, the bookplates will be personalized with any name you choose.

Impatient? Don’t like your odds? You can also order any item for 10% off with discount code APPELLATION.

To enter, just leave a comment below with the name of your favorite children’s book!

Want a bonus entry? Just wait ’til Monday’s Nameberry post.

The winner will be chosen at random. Winners must have a US shipping address. The winner will be chosen at random, and be announced next Saturday, October 29, 2011.

Note: Comments are closed, and a winner will be announced later today.

About Abby Sandel

Whether you're naming a baby, or just all about names, you've come to the right place! Appellation Mountain is a haven for lovers of obscure gems and enduring classics alike.

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67 Comments

  1. My absolute favorite children’s book would have to be Chrysanthemum…although Wump World will always hold a special place.

  2. My daughter’s current favorites are the Pigeon series (Don’t let the Pigeon drive the bus! etc.) My favorite is Good Night Gorilla

  4. “Ernest and Celestine” and “The Box Car Children” are my favorite childhood series <3

  5. I must enter, since my daughter loves to write her name on all her books. Her current favorite is “the Story of Ferdinand,” by Munro Leaf.

  7. The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don & Audrey Wood

  8. I don’t have just one favorite — who could? — but The Ordinary Princess has always been high on my list. It has one of the best princess names ever in it: Amethyst Alexandra Augusta Araminta Adelaide Aurelia Anne (Amy for short).

  9. I don’t know what age u want exactly. I don’t think my mom ever had time to read to me when I was little, when I could read a bit myself I like the Mothers Goose Nursery Rhymes, and then later The Babysitter’s Club & Sweet Valley High were my obsessions.