Pick a starting person the recipient knows
For a parent, begin with that parent or one of their parents. For a grandparent, start with the grandparent and include earlier generations. For siblings and cousins, begin with a shared ancestor so the book has a clear center.
Living relatives can be included by default when they are available to your FamilySearch account. Turn that option off if the gift should focus only on earlier generations.
Check what the family has saved before the deadline
Open the most important profiles in FamilySearch and look for missing names, poor image scans, or stories that still need to be added. A short review before building can improve the book more than choosing a larger generation range.
Do this early for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and reunions. Print delivery takes additional time after the book is complete.
A digital copy can reach more relatives
Printed copies work well for the main recipient. A PDF is useful when cousins live in different places or when relatives want to read the book on a tablet. Premium includes PDF email and download.