Book dedication examples for your nephew
A dedication to your nephew lands best when it sounds like you, whether that means a joke you share or a wish for the adventures ahead of him. 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 nephew
For Theo, my favorite adventurer.
To my nephew, the boldest reader I know.
For Theo, who asked for one more page.
For T., with a high five.
Heartfelt dedications to your nephew
For Theo, who wanted every story to have a monster in it. This one has three.
To my nephew. I wrote this for the day you go looking for adventures of your own.
For Theo, who reminds me that the best stories start with a question.
To my nephew, Theo. Wherever you go, there will always be a place for you at my table.
Funny dedications to your nephew
For Theo, who asked if he could be in the book. You’re in the book.
To my nephew, who wants it known that the dinosaur was his idea.
For Theo, who read the first chapter and asked when the explosions start.
To my nephew, my harshest critic and best fact-checker on sharks.
For Theo. No, the villain is not your dad.
Dedications for a grown nephew
These suit a nephew who is a teenager or an adult.
For Theo, who grew up faster than this book did.
To my nephew, now taller than me and still my favorite person to talk books with.
For Theo. You were six when I started this. Look at us now.
How do you write a dedication to your nephew?
Start with what the two of you share, such as a game, a favorite animal, or a story you tell every visit. Young readers love seeing their names in print, so a first name and one playful detail are often enough. For an older nephew, a line that marks how far he has come can mean a great deal.
What tone suits a dedication to a young nephew?
A playful tone usually works best for children because they read dedications the way they read jokes. Keep the words short and familiar so he can read it himself as soon as he is able.
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 nephew and his siblings?
Yes, name them together, such as “For Theo, Ava, and June,” so nobody feels left out. Many authors take turns, dedicating each book to a different child in the family.
Is it okay to use a nickname for my nephew?
It’s a good choice, especially for a young child. A nickname he knows will make him feel special, and it protects his privacy.
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.