Write a chapter-a-day adventure story starring your grandkids
Psychologist Martin Seligman writes in AARP that he had Claude write a serialized adventure starring his two young grandsons, set where the family spends summers, and had ChatGPT illustrate each chapter. Reading a new chapter each day, in person and over Zoom, became a ritual that won back the boys' attention.
What they did
Hearing and mobility limits had made it hard for him to keep up with his young grandsons. He asked Claude to start a book with the boys as the heroes, set in their Jersey Shore summer town, with every chapter ending on a cliffhanger. He then asked ChatGPT to create cartoon and painted illustrations for each chapter.
How it went
He writes that for the first time in months he had his grandson's complete attention. A new chapter each day turned into a family ritual, read aloud to one grandson in person and to the other over Zoom.
Worth knowing
First names and a favorite place are all the AI needs. Leave out last names, schools, and addresses. Read each chapter yourself before sharing it, and keep the chapters in one document so the story stays consistent.
Try it yourself
Copy this into Claude (or any AI assistant). Replace the parts in [brackets] with your own details.
I want to write a short adventure book for my grandchildren, [first names and ages]. Set it in [a place they know, e.g., our lake cabin]. Write Chapter 1 (about 600 words) in simple, lively language for a [age]-year-old, with the kids as the heroes and a suspenseful ending that makes them want the next chapter. Don't include last names, addresses, or school names. After the chapter, suggest three ideas for Chapter 2 and ask me which one I like.
Source: Martin Seligman, AARP, Mar 27, 2026. Read the original →
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