What happens when your football-mad bookworm dreams of becoming a Premier League star? You bring that dream to life — with a little help from AI.

In this activity, I'll walk you through how I used ChatGPT and Hedra to transform my 7-year-old son into the star of his very own Ultimate Football Heroes book cover — and then took it one step further by animating the image using his real voice.

It's simple, creative, and incredibly exciting for kids. Whether your child loves Messi, Mo Salah, or Matty Cash, this project helps them see themselves as the hero of their football story — and gets them thinking creatively too.

What you'll need

  • ChatGPT with GPT-4o (image generation enabled)
  • Hedra.ai account (free)
  • Voice Notes app on your phone
  • A clear, front-facing photo of your child in football kit

Step-by-step instructions

📸 Step 1: Take a Good Photo

Snap or choose a photo of your child — ideally:

  • Front-facing and well lit
  • Wearing their favourite football kit or top
  • Standing tall like a cover star

💡 Pro Tip: Bonus points if they strike a confident pose like their idol.

📖 Step 2: Use This ChatGPT Prompt to Create the Book Cover

✅ You'll need GPT-4o with image generation enabled.

Upload the image to ChatGPT and use this prompt:

Create image: Turn this child into the cover star of a book in the style of the "Ultimate Football Heroes" series. Keep their facial features and outfit. Use a bold, illustrated style with clean outlines, bright colours, and the iconic title design. Display their name at the top and a fun caption like "Ireland's future footballing hero" underneath. Place them in action with a football at their feet or mid-run, wearing their favourite team's jersey. Make it look like a real children's book cover.

🎯 You can tweak the prompt to include your child's team, nickname, or a specific colour scheme.

🎙️ Step 3: Record Their Voice

Use your phone's voice memo app to record a 10–15 second clip of your child introducing themselves. Try something like:

"Hi, I'm Mateo and my dream is to play for Aston Villa one day!"

Keep the tone upbeat and natural — the more genuine, the better!

📽️ Step 4: Animate the Cover Using Hedra

Go to Hedra.ai and:

  • Upload the AI-generated book cover
  • Upload the audio clip
  • Use this animation prompt:
Have the child smile, move their eyes slightly, and gesture with their arms like they're excited to be on the cover of a football book.

🪄 In a few minutes, Hedra will return an animated, talking version of your child's football hero book cover — and the result is magic.

These animated covers make for amazing shareable moments — whether it's for a birthday surprise, a classroom show-and-tell, or just something to send to the grandparents.

This project works because it combines three things kids love: football, seeing themselves as heroes, and bringing their imagination to life. The personalized nature makes it incredibly engaging and memorable.

Creative sharing ideas

  • Social media magic: Upload to TikTok or Instagram with captions like "POV: You made it onto the cover of your own football book"
  • Trending hashtags: Use #FootballHeroesAI or #MyKidThePro to boost reach
  • Family moments: Perfect for birthday surprises or classroom show-and-tell
  • Grandparent gold: Amazing video to share with extended family

Customization tips

  • Tweak the ChatGPT prompt to include your child's favorite team colors
  • Add their nickname or jersey number to the cover
  • Try different poses: action shots, celebration poses, or team captain stance
  • Create a series with different football scenarios

Common issues and solutions

  • Photo quality problems: Ensure good lighting and clear face visibility
  • Book cover not realistic enough: Ask ChatGPT to "make it more like the actual Ultimate Football Heroes style"
  • Voice recording unclear: Record in a quiet room and speak clearly into the phone
  • Hedra animation issues: Try simpler animation prompts like "gentle smile and eye movement"