Exploring the AI Jungle
Picture book, teachers’ guide, poster and scrollytelling site for children, teachers and families exploring generative AI in education.
Our picture book, Exploring the AI Jungle, uses the metaphor of an unexplored jungle where each creature represents an idea about AI and learning. This imaginative approach, developed with Prof. Judy Robertson and Dr. Laura Meagher, makes complex ideas accessible and engaging for children aged 7-12.
UPDATE: The project is growing into a wider journey. Our next picture book will invite children into a cold, quiet world inhabited by the BIGGEST, THIRSTIEST and MOST POWERFUL machines. They will learn about supercomputers through a metaphor of the tundra, climate and resource use.
University of Edinburgh · Bridging Responsible AI Divides
Judy Robertson · Laura Meagher
Book design · Illustration · Educational design · Scrollytelling site
2024
The Challenge
The challenge was less about translating policy insight directly and more about how to frame complex ideas and questions in a way that children, parents and policymakers could actually enjoy reading.
The team had gathered a wealth of perspectives on AI in education, but needed a way to spark understanding and curiosity across very different audiences, without oversimplifying or losing the richness of the ideas.
“The project wouldn’t have happened without Elspeth. She listens to my ramblings, somehow reads my mind, and turns ideas into something better than I imagined. Seeing the first draft of the images — I nearly fell off my chair!”
—Professor Judy Robertson, University of Edinburgh
—Professor Judy Robertson, University of Edinburgh
Our Approach
We began by creating a “visual map” based on the research Dr. Laura Meagher conducted. That soon became the classroom poster: metaphors, animals and places forming a miniature world of AI.
From there, we built a picture-book narrative that balanced humour and warmth with conceptual depth. Our guiding designing principle: take something complex and make it visually rich and accessible.