A Special Edition of The AI Way:Discover the Magic of Wiz Island with John Moore

In this interview, I had the chance to chat with John Moore, author of The Wiz Wizards series. He shares how his passion for storytelling and education came together to create a world of magic, fun, and important life lessons for kids.

Can you tell me about yourself and how you started the Wiz Wizards storybooks?

My passion for writing and teaching children through reading enjoyable stories grew through my daughter's clay models she made during COVID.

I started to design pixel-shaped wizards on the PC for another project, and then a story came to mind. It just grew and grew into the creation of these magical books over time.

I'm John Moore, a semi-retired engineer of 48 years who is the author of The Wiz Wizards series.? I have valuable experience in writing technical procedures and work instructions, so writing kids books would be a doddle, or so I thought!!!

Oh No! it has taken me an absolute age to get the format right (hopefully) and now I have the template in a format I can work with, so it should get a little easier with every book, but I keep thinking of new ideas, and wished I could go back and add them all into the published books (roll on revision two – not yet though for a year or so, I need to establish the brand first.)

The series is set on an uncharted Island in the vast ocean called Wiz Island, where nine Wizards, nine Witches, and nine Warlocks were banished there, by The Grand Sorcerer they did not know why.

Soon it comes to pass that this very special Island’s ecosystem is failing, and the Grand Sorcerer hoped that these special wizards he know calls Wiz Wizards, Wiz Witches and Wiz Warlocks, would heal and save the island. But in fact, that backfired as they are depleting the island of its natural resources, and it’s gradually getting worse, and just maybe irreversible. (You have to read the books to find out)

What was the idea for The Wiz Wizards Storybooks.

The idea of The Wiz Wizards storybooks was born out of a desire to make learning engaging for kids, offering them a fun, magical adventure that also teaches important lessons about the environment, teamwork, and problem-solving.

These are hopefully engaging stories that teach young readers valuable life lessons and to think critically and creatively. Each book is filled with fun stories, moral values, and educational activities, designed to both entertain and enrich children’s minds.

Your books include both fun stories and learning activities like the Wiz Dictionary along with Puzzles & Quizzes. How do you think this helps kids learn new words and think more deeply?

The Wiz Dictionary helps them understand highlighted words in the text right at the crucial point in each chapter before they move along to the next chapter.

The puzzles & quizzes are designed to make learning feel like part of the adventure. By incorporating vocabulary and educational content into the stories, children can engage with new words and ideas in a natural, enjoyable way. These activities challenge kids to think more deeply about what they've read, encouraging critical thinking and reinforcing new concepts.

How do you choose the learning activities, like the projects and facts about crystals, to go with your stories?

I focus on themes that align with the storyline and the magical elements of Wiz Island. For example, crystals are a key part of the magical world in The Wiz Wizards, so including facts and projects about real crystals helps bridge the gap between fantasy and reality.?

I also choose activities that are both fun and educational, aiming to spark curiosity and encourage hands-on learning.

Did you use AI in helping you write the books?

I use AI for research in writing The Wiz Wizards stories. For example, I have to come up with about 30 or so plot lines for the stories, I used it to come up with character names, which I would never have thought of.??

How Do you think AI can help Authors in the future?

I also believe AI can potentially assist authors in generating ideas and to use it for research or organizing content. In the future, AI could become a powerful tool for writers, especially in educational fiction, by creating tailored experiences for readers.

Do you think AI could help make educational stories in the future?

Absolutely. AI could revolutionize educational storytelling by personalizing content for each child. It could adapt the story’s difficulty based on the reader’s age or learning pace, making the experience more interactive and responsive.?

It is imperative that all children no matter where they are should be given the chance to read either with a hard copy book or via an electronic device,

Just imagine 2 children both aged 10 years, One of them has learning difficulties, and the other is more advanced in his reading ability. AI could tailor two entirely different reading experiences so both children can enjoy the same story at their own reading level.

This could be especially helpful in enhancing learning outcomes. Specially written stories could be the way to go with Print-on-demand copies now freely available, all you would need to do is write a specific storyline and get the AI software to add in the child's name in various places in the book. How fantastic would it be for the teacher in class to add a pupil's name to the story, each child could be added to their reading class throughout the term.?

I know that books have been printed with children's names built into the story in the past,? but with AI it will have been brought right up to date.

The other way to personalize a book is to have a dedication page at the start of the book, this is ideal when attending book fairs, book signing events etc., a dedication within the book can be written on the spot, or a parent or grandparent can complete the dedication page if they buy a book.

I have seen plans for using AI to create more personalized learning experiences in books? What do you think of this idea, and have you tried it yourself?

I think it’s an exciting concept! Personalizing learning through AI could make education more engaging and effective, catering to the unique needs of each reader. Although I haven’t implemented AI in my current series, it’s something I would explore for future projects.

Your books have quizzes and projects. How do you think these activities help kids learn beyond just reading the story?

The quizzes and projects give kids a chance to reflect on the story and apply what they’ve learned. These activities reinforce comprehension and encourage hands-on learning, which helps solidify the knowledge in a fun, practical way. It transforms passive reading into an active and interactive learning experience.

Have you thought about using apps or AI-powered quizzes to add more interactive features to your books?

No, not yet I need to complete the series, first and maybe look into this in the next issue/revision.

I’ve considered integrating the books into audio and interactive electronic books, but I am not so skilled at doing that at the moment. Although I am in talks with a voice-over guy who is looking at one of the books to try and get a format down so if it works it could be used for all books. This is a direction I’m interested in exploring. The characters in your series face tough problems, like saving the ecosystem on Wiz Island. How do you hope these challenges teach kids to solve problems and think critically?

The challenges my characters face are designed to mirror real-world issues, like environmental conservation and teamwork. I hope these stories encourage kids to think critically about their own surroundings and inspire them to become problem solvers in their own lives. By watching the characters work together to solve problems, kids can learn the value of collaboration and persistence.

In Book 4 The Green Wiz Wizards, I have teamed up with a company that sells Magic Seeds to accompany a storyline to sow seeds just like the Green Wiz Witch ‘Emerald’ sows in her journey, I have checked this out and have grown my own Magic Seeds this summer, so the kids can have a little piece of Wiz Island in their own gardens.

Hopefully, there will be more projects to come.

Your series blends magic with real-world learning, like facts about crystals and the environment. How do you think this mix of fantasy and facts keeps kids interested in learning?

The magic draws kids in, what child doesn’t love a bit of magic? while the real-world facts give them something to take away. Blending fantasy with educational content helps maintain their interest because they’re learning without realising it. That’s why I have branded my books “The Wiz Wizards Read’n’Learn Books”

The wonder of magic keeps them engaged, and the facts make the learning feel natural and exciting. I also give away a crystal with each book purchased at book fairs and readings with any book purchased, to see the look on the child's face when I tell them to have a ‘Lucky Crystal Dip’ is so rewarding. The crystals will be of the same colour as the book and hopefully encourage them to collect crystals as a hobby and learn more about them.

You’ve planned 10 books, with a special ending in the last one. What do you hope kids learn by the end of the series?

By the end of the series, I hope kids walk away with a deeper understanding of how their actions can impact the world around them. I want them to feel empowered to make a difference, to work together, and to solve problems creatively. The journey on Wiz Island is one of growth, and I hope my readers grow alongside the characters. If they learn just one thing from the books, I will feel as though it has been all worthwhile. If their parents buy a copy of each of the books and the Final Book 10 they will have learned such a lot, and hopefully, it will be enjoyable, and fun along the way. Did I tell you there are also some Jokes in the books, to keep it as light-hearted as possible? The books can also be handed down to other members of the family as they grow up.

What’s next for you? Do you think AI or other new technologies might play a role in your future projects??

I’m always looking for ways to innovate. While The Wiz Wizards series still has a few books to go, I’m definitely interested in exploring how technology like AI could enhance storytelling and learning in future projects. Whether it’s through personalised reading experiences or interactive learning tools, the possibilities are exciting.?Just imagine my book on a tablet and just by pressing an on-screen button:

• every highlighted word can be explained in a pop-up box when touched right there in the story.
• the speech of every character can actually be heard in their character voice as well as being read!
• fun facts could be built into the story pages instead of at the end of the book

The list of things is endless really.

How do you see educational fiction changing in the future, especially with technology becoming more important? Could AI help shape this change?

Educational fiction will likely become more interactive and personalized that’s why I want to be at the forefront with my books, with AI playing a major role in shaping that experience.?

AI could adapt stories to the reader’s level, making learning more engaging and tailored to individual needs. I believe this will lead to deeper learning and a more immersive reading experience.

Imagine this scenario A classroom full of kids with a teacher streaming the electronic version to a big TV screen going through the story, asking the kids if they know what the difficult word means, getting interaction from them and then pressing the word to pull up a box with the explanation right there and then. This could be invaluable info for the teacher.

Can you imagine their faces when the character’s voices boom out from the TV?

Even the end of the chapter summarizing poems is read out to aid the children’s memory the teacher could ask questions about the story. The teacher could even ask the class to read it out.

Could AI be used to help kids write their own stories or explore the Wiz Wizards world in a more interactive way?

Yes, AI could be a great tool to help kids create their own stories or even explore the world of The Wiz Wizards in new ways. I am looking at building a Wiz Island Interactive Map. Imagine an AI program that helps them generate their own characters or plot twists—it would not only make reading more interactive but also foster creativity and critical thinking in a unique way.

Our conversation with John gave us a peek into the magic behind The Wiz Wizards. If you want to explore the series, you can check out the books on Amazon.

The Wiz Wizards