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Basbous, Teta’s Cat (Personalised)
$45 USD
Sale price
$45 USD
Regular price
Live cover preview
Their name on the cover and all through Basbous's winter, and Teta's real voice on the last page.
- Their name, in English and Arabic
- Your dedication on the first page
Personalise in about 3 minutes · We email you a preview of every page before we print
Hardcover · 11 × 8.3 in landscape (28 × 21 cm) · 32 full-colour pages · 170 gsm silk paper · matte-laminated cover
Price: $45 USD
+ shipping to the US & Canada: $6
Love it, or your money back. See the whole book before we print, plus a 30-day refund after it arrives.
Every winter, Basbous waits.
Basbous is Teta's cat: proud, a little grumpy, secretly soft, and (says Jeddo) the boss of the house. All autumn he watches for clues. Olive time, the first rain, the small bedroom aired out, and very small socks on Teta's knitting needles. Then one night, two headlights climb the mountain road, and out jumps your child.
Snow on the mountain, chestnuts crackling on the wood stove, za'atar flatbread "accidentally" dropped under the table, and New Year's Eve with the whole family squeezed round the table. Every page gives one new Lebanese word for the jar. And when the suitcase comes out again, Basbous sits in it. If he's in the suitcase, nobody can close it.
On the last page, your own Teta is waiting: scan the code and your child hears the message she recorded just for them.
Made for your family
- Your child's name on the cover and all through the story, in English and in Arabic script
- Teta's real voice: a QR code on the last page plays a message from your own Teta
- Your dedication on the first page
- The right words for a boy or a girl, and your own names for Teta and Jeddo
The illustrated characters are the same in every book.
The book
- Hardcover, 32 pages, about 11 x 8.3 in (28 x 21 cm) landscape, matte cover
- English first, then spoken Lebanese in Arabic script, on every page. You don't need to read Arabic to read it aloud.
- 18 Lebanese words from Basbous's winter, collected again in a Jar of Words at the back, plus a "Look again!" page
- Ages 2 to 7. No religion, no history, no politics. Just family, food and language.
- A companion to Maya Visits Teta in Lebanon. Each book stands on its own.
Price: $45 USD
Shipping to the US & Canada: $6 per order.
Timing: every book is made to order. We email you a digital preview of the whole book, usually within a day of your order. Once you approve it, we print it straight away. Delivered in about 7 to 12 days across the US and Canada.
Our promise
- You see the whole book before it's printed.
- Love it, or your money back. See the whole book before we print, plus a 30-day refund after it arrives.
- Arrives damaged or misprinted? Send us a photo and we'll reprint it for free.
Until 31 Dec
All 3 books for $109 instead of $135, until 31 Dec
$109 $135 · until 31 Dec
- Maya Visits Teta in Lebanon
- Basbous, Teta’s Cat
- Jeddo’s Olive Harvest
How it works
Three easy steps. Teta only needs her phone.
Choose
Pick your story, or both. Add to cart with just your child's first name.
1 minutePersonalise
Their name in Arabic and a dedication: now, or from the link we email after checkout. Teta records her voice from her phone.
2 minutesApprove the design before print
We email you a digital preview of the whole book. Ask for changes until it's right. Nothing is printed until you say yes.
Usually within a dayDelivered in about 7 to 12 days
Once you approve, we print your hardcover and ship it with tracking. $6 shipping to the US & Canada.
Delivered in about 7 to 12 days across the US and Canada
Order nowPreview sent to you before we printDelivered in about 7 to 12 days across the US and Canada
Our promise
Nothing is printed until you love it
See it first
We email you a digital preview of the whole book. Ask for changes until it's right.
Full refund before approval
Changed your mind? Full refund any time before you approve your preview.
Happy family guarantee
Love it or your money back, even after it arrives (30 days).
Arrives damaged?
Send us a photo and we reprint it for free. Misprints too.
Flat shipping, one price per order
Printed on demand and shipped with tracking. You'll see the exact cost at checkout before you pay.
🔒 Secure Shopify checkoutCards · Shop Pay · PayPal · Google Pay
| Ships to | Shipping |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | $6 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $6 |
Questions parents ask
Good questions
Will I see it before printing?
Yes, always. We email you a digital preview of the whole book, usually within a day of your order (or of sending your details). Ask for any changes until it's right. Nothing is printed until you approve it, and you can have a full refund any time before you approve.
When does it arrive?
Every book is made to order at $45. We email you a digital preview of your whole book, usually within a day of your order. Once you approve it, we print your hardcover straight away and ship it with tracking. Delivered in about 7 to 12 days across the US and Canada, once you approve your preview. These are typical times, not guarantees. If anything changes, we'll email you straight away, and you can choose a full refund.
Can I change details after ordering?
Yes. After checkout we email you a link to add or change their Arabic name and your dedication. You can also reply to your preview email with any change. If we don't hear from you within 48 hours, we use Teta, Jeddo, our standard dedication and our own Arabic spelling, and you still approve the whole book before we print.
Teta doesn't really use technology. Can she still record?
Yes. We send you a link; you forward it to her on WhatsApp or by text. She taps it, presses one big record button and talks. No app, no account. If that's still too much, record her on your own phone next time you call or visit, and email us the file.
How much Arabic is in it? I don't read Arabic.
Every page has the English line first, then the same line in spoken Lebanese (the way Teta talks, not formal Arabic) in Arabic script. You can read the whole book aloud in English, and Teta, or anyone who reads Arabic, can read the Lebanese. Your child hears both.
What ages is it for?
Ages 2 to 7. Little ones love hearing their name and Teta's voice. Older kids start reading the English on their own and collecting the words for their jar.
Will the child in the pictures look like mine?
No. The illustrations are the same in every book. What makes it yours is your child's name, the right Lebanese words for a boy or a girl, Teta's real voice, and your dedication.
Do we need Maya Visits Teta in Lebanon first?
No. Basbous, Teta's Cat is a companion to Maya Visits Teta in Lebanon, and each book stands on its own.
Can I give it as a gift?
Of course. Grandparents, aunts and godparents order it too. Write the dedication from you, and ship it to any address in the US or Canada. Teta can still record her message from wherever she lives.
Can I change something after I order?
Yes, until you approve your preview. Just reply to your order email.
What if I don't love it?
You're covered twice. First, we email you a full digital preview, usually within a day, and nothing is printed until you approve it. Not in love with it? Reply and we'll refund you in full. Second, if the printed book isn't what you hoped, email us within 30 days of delivery with a photo and a quick note on what wasn't right, and we'll refund you in full. You don't need to send it back. If it arrives damaged or misprinted, we'll reprint it for free, or refund you if you prefer.
Is it religious or political?
No. No religion, no history, no politics. It's about family, food and language, so every Lebanese family can share it.
How are the illustrations made? Are there reviews?
The illustrations are made with digital and AI tools under our art direction, and every page is checked and corrected by hand. There are no reviews yet: this is the very first edition, and you'd be one of our first families.
