Artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to reshape the world of children's publishing. From writing stories and creating illustrations to developing interactive reading experiences, the technology offers exciting opportunities. But could it also change what it means to be an author, an illustrator or even a reader?
A new generation of authors?
AI can now produce stories, characters and illustrations in minutes. One early example was Alice and Sparkle, a children's book created by Ammaar Reshi in 2022 using ChatGPT for the text and Midjourney for the illustrations. More recently, South African author Coral Hart has attracted attention for publishing hundreds of AI-assisted books, claiming considerable commercial success.
These examples raise an interesting question: if AI can write a story, does that make it an author? Perhaps the more important question is whether the resulting book is imaginative, engaging and worth reading.
The positives: opening up possibilities
For independent authors and smaller publishers, AI can make book production quicker and potentially more affordable. It can help develop story ideas, generate early illustrations, translate books and assist with editing.
There are also exciting possibilities for young readers. AI could create personalised stories featuring a child's interests, vocabulary and reading ability. A reluctant reader who loves dinosaurs, football or space might be encouraged to read through stories designed around those passions.
AI-powered reading tools could also provide pronunciation help, explain unfamiliar words, ask comprehension questions and offer encouragement. For children with dyslexia, visual impairments or English as an additional language, carefully designed technology could make reading more accessible.
But what might we lose?
There are significant concerns. AI-generated books can lack the emotional depth, originality and subtlety that experienced human writers bring to storytelling. There are also questions about copyright, the use of artists' work to train AI systems, accuracy and the risk of flooding online bookshops with poor-quality publications.
Perhaps the biggest concern is that children might become consumers of instant, personalised content rather than developing the patience, imagination and concentration that come from reading a good book.
The National Literacy Trust's 2026 research found that 79% of young people aged 13–18 had used generative AI. It also highlighted concerns about over-reliance and the importance of critical thinking.
The final chapter?
AI is unlikely to replace great children's authors, illustrators or the magic of a beautifully told story. However, it will almost certainly change how books are created and how children discover and experience them.
The opportunity is to use AI as a creative assistant and reading companion, not a replacement for human imagination. After all, technology may help tell the story, but inspiring a child to fall in love with reading is still the real achievement.