DECODE AI

Data scientist Brady’s alphabet picture book aims to introduce young kids to aspects of artificial intelligence.

Each page serves up a bite-sized concept with a description that’s engaging and surprisingly digestible for such complex material, such as “D is for DATA: a set of information (such as numbers, pictures or words) that can be used to study patterns or relationships.” Illustrations of sleek robots and a diverse group of children keep the tone friendly, inviting, and accessible throughout. The playful explanations introduce complicated ideas to youngsters while maintaining just enough subtle humor and cleverness (“like a robot zooming ahead on rollerblades”) to charm adults. The uncredited full-color cartoon artwork (which was created, like the text, with the assistance of AI tools) is not always technically impressive. However, it provides a clear visual foundation, giving readers an immediate sense of the futuristic world that the book explores. The book offers an understanding of AI with a combination of accessible visuals and thoughtful text, encouraging young readers to express their own curiosity about the topic. Overall, the execution is playful and polished, resulting in a lighthearted entry point into big ideas about technology.

A fun choice for parents and teachers hoping to spark a love of technological innovation.