Parents interviewed by WIRED described receiving the books from relatives as gifts but said their children quickly lost interest. One father said his children preferred returning to familiar titles after reading a personalized AI book once, while another said his family had received multiple nearly identical AI-generated books that differed only in which child appeared as the protagonist. He described using children's likenesses in AI systems as "morally reprehensible."
Researchers studying the category argue that personalization alone is not enough to create an engaging reading experience. Daozhi Xu, a fellow in the School of Humanities at Macquarie University who has analyzed the growth of AI-generated children's books, said successful children's literature depends on compelling storytelling rather than simply placing a child's name or image into a narrative.
"Children do not love a storybook simply because their name or image appears in the story; they love the book because the story itself is interesting," Xu said. She added that "characters, plots, and imaginative worlds" remain the qualities that keep young readers engaged, while AI-generated books "often lack humor, memorable characters, and dramatic tension."
Xu's research also identified technical issues common in AI-generated children's books, including spelling mistakes, inconsistent narratives, and mismatches between text and illustrations. She said those shortcomings reduce both the educational value and entertainment quality of the books, while raising questions about whether they are appropriate for children's developmental needs.
The discussion comes as broader reading trends among children have weakened. A January 2025 report found that about 40% of U.S. fourth-graders read below the National Assessment of Educational Progress' basic standard. Separately, a HarperCollins and Nielsen survey reported that reading aloud at home has reached an all-time low, with fewer than half of parents of children up to age 13 describing the activity as fun.
Privacy has emerged as another concern for families using AI storybook services. Some parents told WIRED they had explicitly asked relatives not to upload their children's photos or identifying information to AI platforms, only to see personalized books created anyway.
Xu said concerns about how children's images are collected, stored, and potentially shared are "entirely valid," particularly when consumers have limited visibility into how AI services handle personal data.
Among the companies mentioned, Imagitime said it uses "several security measures" to protect user information and stated that customer data "is neither shared with unauthorized third parties" nor used "for any promotional purposes or for any AI training." The company also said its books are "not simply AI-generated" and are edited by "a creative team of writers and illustrators." StoryWonderBook and Childbook.ai did not respond to WIRED's requests for comment.
The rise of AI-generated children's books has also prompted concerns about the broader publishing market. Lower-cost subscription services make it possible to generate dozens of books each month, significantly reducing the effort required to produce personalized content. As AI-generated titles continue to proliferate, parents and researchers alike are questioning whether personalization alone can replace the storytelling, creativity, and editorial quality that define books children return to again and again.
This analysis is based on reporting from Wired.
Image courtesy of Sojourners.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
