Imagine your child seeing themselves as the hero of a magical adventure — riding dragons, exploring space, or discovering secret forests. That’s exactly what happened one rainy Sunday afternoon with my four-year-old daughter, Amberle. We turned a simple photo into a Studio Ghibli-style storybook using AI. If you're curious about how to create your own AI-powered story adventure, this guide is for you. Explore our how-to here.
What Is an AI Storybook?
An AI storybook is a personalized children's book generated with the help of artificial intelligence. Parents upload real-life photos or prompts, and the AI creates a fully illustrated, custom tale with your child as the main character. Tools like OpenAI’s DALL·E and ChatGPT are great platforms to bring these magical stories to life. Learn more about DALL·E.
Why It’s a Meaningful Activity
Personalized storybooks are not just fun — they strengthen emotional bonds, build literacy skills, and boost creativity. For example, when my son Allanon (age 2) saw himself as a jungle explorer, he couldn’t stop giggling. These storybooks also become keepsakes your family can treasure forever. See why reading with toddlers matters.
Step-by-Step: Create Your AI Storybook
1. Take a photo of your child doing something fun (e.g., playing at the park).
2. Choose a theme: fantasy, space, animals, etc.
3. Use an AI image generator like DALL·E to transform the photo into a storybook-style image.
4. Ask ChatGPT to write a short 3–5 sentence story per image.
5. Compile into a PDF or print as a softcover book.
Try our Storybook Maker here.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Experience
• Let your child co-create the plot — ask them what happens next.
• Use the opportunity to teach new words and sentence structures.
• Add personalized elements like your child’s favorite toy or pet.
• Encourage your child to draw or color additional scenes based on the story.
How We Are Using It
Parents across Singapore are embracing AI storytelling. One mum shared how she made a birthday storybook featuring her daughter’s favorite unicorn. I used AI to my trip to the Zoo into a magical story with adorable animals in it. AI storybooks can also be a thoughtful Teachers’ Day or family gift. Check out this CNA article on how families use AI at home.
Final Thoughts
Storytelling is a powerful way to connect with our children. With a little help from AI, you can now create unforgettable adventures that are uniquely theirs. Give it a try — you might just discover a hidden writer or artist in your family. For more creative parenting ideas, visit our blog.