Book dedication examples for your brother
Dedications to brothers tend to work best when they mix affection with a little teasing, because that is how most brothers talk to each other anyway. Below are examples sorted by tone. Choose one to see it on the page, or write your own.
By the Proselis team · Updated
Short dedications to your brother
For Sam, my brother.
To my brother, who always had my back.
For Sam. Still the tallest, still the loudest.
To S., who went first and waited for me.
Heartfelt dedications to your brother
For Sam, who taught me to ride a bike and then taught me to get back on.
To my brother, who sat through every one of my school plays and clapped the loudest.
For Sam, who believed I could write a book long before I did.
To my big brother, who made the world feel smaller and safer.
For Sam. We grew up in the same house and remember it completely differently. This is my version.
Funny dedications to your brother
For Sam, who said I would never finish this. I finished it.
To my brother, who still owes me twenty dollars. Consider this a reminder.
For Sam, who got the bigger bedroom. I got a book out of it.
To my little brother, who is not in this book, no matter what he tells you.
For Sam. Mom says I have to be nice to you, so here you go.
Dedications for a younger brother
These suit a brother who followed you everywhere growing up.
For Sam, who followed me everywhere. Follow me here too.
To my little brother. I hope this is the book you reach for when you’re old enough.
How do you write a dedication to your brother?
Choose between sincere and teasing, or let the second line undercut the first. Brothers often prefer a joke to an outpouring, but a single honest line can land harder because it’s rare. Mention a shared memory, such as a bike, a bedroom, or a road trip, to make the line his.
What if you and your brother aren’t close?
You don’t have to dedicate the book to him at all. If you want to acknowledge him anyway, a short, simple line such as “For my brother” is kind without claiming more than you feel.
Where does the dedication go?
In a printed book, the dedication gets its own right-hand page after the copyright page, usually centered about a third of the way down. Some books share that page with the epigraph. In an ebook, it comes right after the copyright page.
How long should a dedication be?
Most are one or two lines. Anything longer usually belongs in the acknowledgments at the back, where you can thank everyone by name.
Questions
Can I dedicate a book to my brother and his family?
Yes, name him first, and add his family in the same line, such as “For Sam, Lucy, and the boys.”
Should I tell my brother before the book comes out?
That depends on him. Some people love a surprise in print, and others would rather know first. If the dedication mentions a private memory, ask before you publish.
Can I dedicate a book to more than one person?
Yes. Name them together, as in “For Maya and Leo,” or give each person a line. If the list grows past three or four names, move your thanks to the acknowledgments.
Do I have to include a dedication?
No. Many books have none. Leave it out if nobody comes to mind, because a forced dedication shows.
Should the dedication be in italics?
It’s common but not required. Most dedications are centered and set in italic or small type so they stand apart from the text.
Give your dedication its own page
Proselis has a dedication page ready in its Front Matter menu, so your dedication lands in the right place in your EPUB and print PDF. Writing is free. Publishing a book as an EPUB and a print-ready PDF is a one-time $20.