Getting Found in the Age of AI-Powered Search

The KidLit Creator’s Chronicle – Issue #23

On my side of the world, we’ve just passed the winter solstice. Yay! We’re back on our way to summer. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, enjoy your last half of summer and send some toasty weather this way, please!

I’ve been researching the effects of AI on Google search results for a while. Initially, I found out AI had an impact on SEO (search engine optimisation), and that’s what got my research going.

For example, if you type a specific book request into Google, like “character-driven picture books for five-year-olds who love animals,” you’ll notice the search results look different.

I input this search term, and instead of a list of links, Google gave me an AI overview with some detailed paragraphs first. It recommended several titles that matched what I’d searched for, then gave more detailed recommendations and then, “why these books work for animal lovers.

Google’s AI Overview generative search results

You may have noticed these AI overviews. These generative search results are definitely changing online searches, and when search and search results change, discoverability changes too.

I wanted to unpack this for you, to help you keep your books discoverable if they already are (or make them discoverable again), or to help you make your book discoverable if you are just starting out.

First, what is generative search?

Unlike traditional search engines that pull up a list of links based on keywords, generative search uses AI to generate a full, written answer in response to your query. It draws from multiple sources, summarises the information, and often includes suggestions or context, all in one go. You might see this in action through Google’s “AI Overview,” or in tools like ChatGPT.

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Why Search Is Changing, And What That Means for Your Book

We’ve all been trained by now to think in keywords, whether for searching or for optimising your book’s visibility online (even if only on Amazon). For years, if you wanted your book to show up, you needed the right phrases in your description: “children’s bedtime story,” “books about friendship,” or “STEM picture book for ages 6–8.”

That’s still relevant.

But, as mentioned above, generative search has changed how search engines deliver results. Instead of simply pulling up a list of links that match certain keywords, tools like Google’s new “AI Overview,” ChatGPT, and Perplexity are generating full answers and tailoring responses based on the searcher’s intent.

When someone uses an AI tool like ChatGPT to ask for book recommendations, the behaviour is even more different. The person searching can give more detail and ask follow-up questions, and they expect a clear, conversational answer.

That means people are starting to find books differently.

This matters to you, because many of the people who discover, recommend, or buy your books are already exploring these tools. Instead of scrolling through dozens of results, they’re being handed answers by AI. If your book doesn’t appear in those responses, it may not be seen at all.

So, we’re entering a new era of book discoverability, and it’s not just about keywords anymore. It’s about making sure AI has the information it needs to talk about your book clearly and sensibly.

What You Can Do About It

So, what does this mean for you in practical terms?

It means the way you describe your book—on Amazon, on your website, in blog posts, and even in interviews—needs to shift slightly. Instead of focusing only on keywords, you want to make sure your language matches how real people talk and ask questions about books.

Here are a few ways to start:

• Use natural language in your descriptions. Think about how someone might describe your book to a friend. Instead of just “educational STEM book,” try “a fun introduction to coding for six-year-olds who love puzzles.”
• Be specific about your book’s age range, tone and themes. Don’t just say “for kids who love animals.” Say “a kind, illustrated story about a rescued puppy finding her forever home, perfect for ages 5-8.”
• Help AI understand your book’s real-world context. You’ve always needed to include your book’s themes in your metadata and descriptions, but now it’s even more important, because AI systems rely on that context to summarise and recommend your book in generative search answers. Themes like kindness, courage, or dealing with change aren’t just helpful for readers, they give AI context to connect your book to specific queries.
• Add FAQs or topic-based content to your author website. AI tools often pull answers from FAQ sections or clearly formatted content. If your book explores historical events or social themes, write about those topics. Short articles like “How to talk to kids about grief” or “Why picture books about perseverance matter” can help your book show up in related searches.

The goal is to give AI a clearer picture of what your book isabout, so when someone types a detailed request into a generative search tool, your book has a chance of being included in the answer.

This isn’t about “tricking” the system. It’s about making sure your book can genuinely be found by the people who are looking for it.”

Forget the “One Perfect Keyword”

Most authors think about a few keywords when describing their book. Maybe it’s “mindfulness picture book,” or “starting school story,” or “STEM book for ages 5–7.” That’s a smart and useful practice, especially for platforms like Amazon where keywords and categories still play a big role.

But with generative search, that’s no longer enough.

AI doesn’t look for a single match. Instead, it breaks down a reader’s question into many smaller parts.

So if someone types a request like:

“Can you recommend a picture book for a five-year-old who’s starting school, loves animals, and gets nervous around new people?”

The AI pulls out a mix of intent and traits. It might look for books that are:

• emotionally reassuring
• about friendship or transitions
• written in a gentle tone
• age-appropriate and not overwhelming
• featuring animal characters
• helpful for children with anxiety

That means you’re not competing for one keyword anymore. You’re being measured against a web of elements or characteristics that form a much more nuanced picture of what someone wants.

So, instead of focusing only on a handful of keywords, think in layers. Start with the essentials:

• What is your book about?
• Who is the main character, and what do they want or experience?
• What’s the central theme?
• What age group is it written for?

Then go deeper:

• What does your book feel like to read?
• What types of children or situations is it perfect for?
• What kind of adult is likely to buy or recommend it?
• What emotional support does it offer?
• What topics or life moments are woven through the story?

These layered details help AI understand what your book is, plus when and why it might be a good fit.

That’s what makes it findable.

For example:

AI-aware description:

“Max the squirrel loves his acorns and isn’t too keen on sharing. But when he sees how much joy his friends find in giving and taking turns, he starts to rethink what it means to be kind. This rhyming picture book is ideal for ages 3–5, especially toddlers who are navigating playdates, nursery school, or sibling dynamics. With gentle humour and vibrant illustrations, it opens up conversations about fairness, empathy and emotional growth.”

This version includes:

• Specific real-life situations (playdates, nursery, sibling dynamics)
• Emotional elements (rethinking, empathy, emotional growth)
• Tone and sensory feel (gentle humour, vibrant illustrations)
• Who it helps and how

That’s what helps generative AI connect it to more nuanced, real-life questions like, “What’s a good book for helping my toddler understand fairness during playdates?”

Real-Life Examples

To see how this works in real time, I ran a simple test. I asked ChatGPT:

“Can you recommend gentle, beautifully illustrated picture books about animals for a four-year-old who’s starting preschool and gets overwhelmed easily?”

I didn’t get a list of books simply matching the phrases “preschool story about overwhelm” or “animal book.” Instead, it generated a curated list of “gentle, beautifully illustrated picture books about animals that are ideal for a sensitive four-year-old starting preschool” with a short description of each, including plot, tone, and emotional themes.

This is a glimpse of how AI is now connecting books to readers.

It’s not matching a single keyword. It’s interpreting the question, identifying my intent, and then summarising or recommending based on a whole web of traits. If your book description only includes broad phrases like “animal story” or “school readiness,” it might get missed.

But if you’ve included layered details, like emotional tone, age range, themes, and illustration style, you’ve just given AI the language it needs to connect your book to that kind of question.

We’re also starting to see signs that Amazon is heading in a similar direction. While they haven’t rolled out full AI-generated recommendations yet, they’re experimenting with new ways to summarise and describe books, which could very well draw from the same kind of structured, intent-based understanding. When that happens, it won’t be enough to just show up in a search. You’ll need to give the system something to say about your book, too.

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Over To You!

Take a few minutes this week to look over your book description or author website. Could someone reading it (human or AI) quickly understand:

• what your book is about?
• who it’s for and what age it suits best?
• what kind of emotional or educational support it offers?
• what themes or situations it could help with?
• what tone, pace or style it brings to the reading experience?

You don’t need to rewrite everything all at once, but you can start jotting down phrases or sentences that capture those extra layers. Add one or two to your book description!

OR brainstorm a short FAQ for your website that answers real-life questions your book could help with.

Those small updates could make a big difference in how and where your book gets found.

This change might feel like one more thing to learn, but you don’t have to master it all at once. Just start taking steps in the right direction!