How to create a storybook with AI: meet Gemini Storybook

Have you ever wanted to create a storybook for your children with characters that resemble them, or relive a family memory narrated in a classic storytelling style? Google has just made this possible with a new—and rather impressive—feature: Gemini Storybook.

What is Gemini Storybook?

Storybooks is a new feature within Google’s AI, Gemini, which transforms your ideas into illustrated books, complete with voice narration. The best part is that you do not need to be an expert in anything; all you need is a good story.

Or simply a good idea.

How does it work?

You can access this feature through the Storybook “Gem”. To do so, open the Gemini app on your mobile device or visit gemini.google.com in your browser. At the top left, look for the menu: from the available options, find the “Gems” section and select “Storybook.” If you do not see it at first glance, click on “Discover Gems” to view the complete list.

The process is quite simple:

1. To begin, you simply need to tell Gemini the story you have in mind. It can be about anything you wish: from classic tales adapted to your needs, to brand-new stories you imagine. The level of detail is entirely up to you: naturally, the more freedom you give Gemini, the less control you will have over the final result. You might start with something like: “Create a book about a cat that travels to space” or, “Storybook about a girl who discovers a treasure in the garden.”
2. Customize as much as possible: You may request Gemini to use photos from your gallery to create the characters, ensuring that the protagonists of the storybook are those you love the most. To do this, in the text box, look for the option to “add files” and select the photos you wish Gemini to use for the story. Once the images are uploaded, find the “Create a book” option and click on it. Gemini will handle the rest, using your images as inspiration for the story.
3. Choose your style: Do you prefer a story with comic-style illustrations, or perhaps with pixel art or crochet aesthetics? Storybook offers a wide variety of visual styles so that you may choose the one that best suits your story.
4. Each story comes complete with voice narration, and you may select from a range of different tones to bring your story to life. This is the perfect way for children to enjoy the book while listening to it.

Once created, Gemini also provides the option to download the book so you can print it and have a physical version. You may do this from the same share button, located at the top of the storybook (please remember to allow Gemini’s pop-ups in your browser). Generating the PDF for printing may take a little time, but there is no need for concern.

For example, here is what we requested so that you can see how it works:

In less than a minute, the book was ready:

And the development of the book is quite charming.

What can Gemini storybooks be used for?

As you may imagine, this feature can serve as a way to teach values by creating stories that address important topics such as empathy, teamwork, or friendship in a manner that children can easily understand. Moreover, it will also allow you to create cherished family memories, such as a narrative about the family’s most recent vacation, complete with illustrations of the places you visited and the real-life protagonists.

And, of course, it can also bring moments of laughter with friends.

Image: Gemini