#645: What Children’s Books Do and Do Not Teach About AI: An Analysis Using the AI4K12 Framework

Although many storybooks introducing artificial intelligence (AI) to young children are now available, their quality and educational value have not been systematically or empirically examined. This study addresses this gap by analyzing how AI-themed storybooks conceptualize and communicate foundational AI ideas, practices, and values to young learners. Guided by the AI4K12 framework, this study shows that while most books make AI approachable through friendly robots and playful visuals, they rarely explain how AI actually works. Concepts such as representation, reasoning, and learning were largely introduced as vocabulary rather than as processes, and ethical or responsible AI use was largely absent. These portrayals risk reinforcing AI as magical or infallible. The study offers implications for designing AI literacy materials for young children that balance engagement with conceptual transparency and critical awareness.