Children’s Nonfiction Illustration – AI & History for Honest History Magazine | by Yoko Baum
Client : Honest History
Art Direction: Brooke Knight
Deliverables: Spot Illustrations for Editorial Spreads (18 total)
Skills Used: Children’s Illustration, Editorial Illustration, Nonfiction Illustration, Historical Portraiture, Object Illustration, Conceptual Illustration, Visual Storytelling, Humor
Brief :
I had the joy of illustrating for Honest History magazine’s Issue 28, Electric Brain—a fun and fascinating issue all about the history and future of artificial intelligence. Aimed at curious young readers, the magazine explores how humans have imagined and built thinking machines throughout history.
I created 18 spot illustrations across two editorial spreads. The topics ranged from Leonardo da Vinci and early machine concepts to self-driving cars, vintage robots, and even a cat riding a Roomba. I also had the chance to draw Astro Boy—a moment that felt especially meaningful to me. As a Japanese illustrator, I was so honored to depict Atom, a character created by Osamu Tezuka-sensei, whose legacy and cultural impact I grew up admiring.
This project brought together so many things I love: playful nonfiction, big ideas, and fun visual storytelling. I always aim to create illustrations that help kids (and curious grown-ups) connect with the world through clarity, warmth, and a sense of wonder.
If you’re looking for illustration that supports educational storytelling—especially in science, history, or nonfiction children’s media—I’d love to hear from you.
Final Images
