Cattle, Corn and Courage: The Story of Dr. John Matsushima

Design

Mar 10

Written By Liz Banman Munsterteiger

Designing a children’s book that honors a pioneer in agricultural science.

CLIENT : Colorado Ag in the Classroom 2025 Literacy Project & Author Rachel Gabel

ROLE : Book Designer, AI-Assisted Illustrator

DELIVERABLES : Book Layout & Design, AI-Assisted Illustrations

As part of the 2025 Literacy Project, an annual initiative connecting agricultural themes to PreK-12 education, I led the design and illustration of Cattle, Corn, and Courage. The book, written by Rachel Gabel, tells the story of Dr. John Matsushima, a pioneering scientist whose innovations transformed cattle nutrition.

The illustrations were created using AI-assisted techniques, blending historical accuracy with engaging visuals. The layout was designed for clarity and readability, ensuring an immersive experience for young readers.

Each participating K-12 class received a literacy kit featuring the book, educational resources, interactive activities, and a beef stick tasting experience. The project aimed to reach over 47k students, fostering a deeper understanding of agriculture while inspiring a love for reading.

Why AI-Assisted Illustrations?

Since this book tells the real-life story of Dr. John Matsushima, I wanted the illustrations to feel as immersive as possible. There were plenty of historical photos, but they were all black and white—distant snapshots of the past. For the kids reading this book, I wanted something more alive, something that made them feel like they were right there alongside him.

I used MidJourney to generate historically accurate imagery, pulling references from archival photos of the National Western Stock Show yards, period-correct clothing, vehicles, lighting, and even everyday details like dishes and silverware. But AI wasn’t the final step—I pieced together composite images in Photoshop, ensuring every detail felt intentional and true to Dr. Matsushima’s world.

AI helped me bridge the gap between history and storytelling, creating images that feel both accurate and deeply personal—so kids don’t just read about Dr. Matsushima’s life, they step into it.

View Full book (PDF)

The book was very well received by Dr. Matsushima, just in time for his 104th birthday.

Volunteers from many different groups assembled the packages for delivery to classrooms.

The book is being read to over 47,700 children in various parts of Colorado and the country by teachers and guest readers who are associated with the ag industry. This lucky class got to meet Dr. Matsushima himself!