Coding is quickly becoming one of the most important forms of literacy in the twenty-first century. Computer science and programming are increasingly being taught in elementary schools. As the popular saying goes, learning to code is similar to learning a new language in that both are encouraged to be done early.
When children learn to code, they often learn a variety of other ‘accidental’ abilities. Aside from studying the basics of the digital world, children get a variety of important abilities, such as critical thinking, problem solving, strategic thinking, logical reasoning, creative thinking, design thinking, systems thinking, and so on.
More crucially, coding skills are intertwined with psychosocial abilities. To put it another way, as children try to debug codes, they find themselves assisting one another, learning from one another, and strengthening their interpersonal relationships. As a result, kids improve their social emotional learning and feel more resilient, determined, perseverant, collaborate, teamwork, and motivated. Yes, coding fosters a variety of soft and social skills necessary for success in a knowledge-based economy.
Many teachers realize the pedagogical value of teaching children to code, and believe that every child should be taught the principles of coding at a young age, if at all possible.
In today’s post, we’re introducing a key resource to help you or your kids: coding books. This is a hand-picked list of some of the top books for kids to learn how to code and master the world of programming. We welcome you to take a look at these and, if you have any other suggestions, please share them with us too!
1- Matthew Highland’s Coding for Kids: Scratch: Learn Coding Skills, Create 10 Fun Games, and Master Scratch
Coding for Kids: Scratch teaches you all you need to know about creating 10 wonderful games for you and your friends, from sprites and code blocks to scripts and scorekeeping. With step-by-step instructions and straightforward guidelines that keep things easy even as the games you’re building get more difficult, you’ll gain confidence.
2- DK Publishing’s Help Your Kids with Computer Coding
Help Your Kids with Computer Coding is a simple, visual guide to teaching children the fundamentals of computer programming using the Scratch and Python programming languages. Build-along projects and games are used to introduce fundamental coding concepts such as scripts, variables, and strings.
3- Majed Marji’s book Learn to Program with Scratch: A Visual Introduction to Programming with Games, Art, Science, and Math
Author Majed Marji utilizes Scratch to demonstrate the fundamentals needed to solve real-world programming challenges in Learn to Program with Scratch. Each logical step in a script is clearly shown in the named, color-coded blocks, and you can test any element of your script with a single click.
4- Jason R. Briggs’ Python for Kids: A Playful Introduction to Programming
Python for Kids breathes new life into Python and introduces you (and your parents) to the world of programming. Jason R. Briggs, ever patient, will walk you through the fundamentals while you play with innovative (and often humorous) sample programs including voracious monsters, secret agents, thieving ravens, and more. New words are introduced, code is colored, dissected, and explained, and funny full-color pictures lighten the mood.
5- Sean McManus’ How to Code in 10 Easy Lessons: Learn how to design and code your very own computer game (Super Skills)
This book takes the way from writing simple coding instructions using Scratch software to acquiring the coding abilities needed to make your own computer game and even build your own website. Young readers may become familiar with computer coding and expand on their skills as they proceed through the book by breaking this intimidating subject down into the 10 “super skills” required.
6- Craig Richardson’s Learn to Program with Minecraft: Transform Your World with the Power of Python
Start with some basic Python lessons, then use your newfound knowledge to change Minecraft to achieve instant and utterly spectacular outcomes.’ Learn how to develop minigames, clone entire buildings, and turn dull blocks into gold in Minecraft.
7- Jon Woodcock (Author), Steve Setford (Author)’s DK Workbooks: Coding in Scratch: Games Workbook
This highly graphic workbook is a delightful introduction to Scratch, a free computer coding programming language that will take students from playing games to making them.
8- Laurens Valk’s The LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Discovery Book: A Beginner’s Guide to Building and Programming Robots (Full Color)
‘LEGO MINDSTORMS has revolutionized the way we think about robotics by allowing anyone to build real, functioning robots.’ The LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Discovery Book is the entire, beginner-friendly guidance you need to get started with the latest MINDSTORMS set, EV3, which is more powerful than ever.
9- Wesley Fryer’s Hopscotch Challenges: Learn to Code on an iPad
This is an eBook with challenges for kids to complete using the Hopscotch iPad app, which is available for free. This eBook is a self-published work and does not represent the Hopscotch development team’s approved curriculum material.
10- Chris Strom’s 3D Game Programming for Kids: Create Interactive Worlds with JavaScript (Pragmatic Programmers)
With interactive examples, this book will teach you how to create your own online games. You’ll be able to learn programming with nothing more than a browser, and you’ll be able to see cool, 3D results as you type. You’ll study real-world programming skills in a real-world programming language: JavaScript, the web’s programming language. As you create dynamic worlds and exciting games, you’ll be astounded at what you can do.
11- Linda Liukas’ Hello Ruby: Coding Adventures
Meet Ruby, a little girl with a big imagination and a strong desire to solve any puzzle. Kids will be introduced to the fundamentals of computational thinking, such as how to break big problems into small ones, create step-by-step plans, look for patterns, and think outside the box through storytelling, as Ruby stomps around her world making new friends, including the Wise Snow Leopard, the Friendly Foxes, and the Messy Robots.
12- Joseph Connor’s Programming: Computer Programming for Beginners – Learn the Basics of Java, SQL, and C++
This is a book that will teach you how to use three basic programming languages to deliver specific instructions to your computer.
13- The LEAD Project’s Super Scratch Programming Adventure! (Covers Version 2): Learn to Program by Making Cool Games
Kids learn programming concepts while creating their own playable video games in Super Scratch Programming Adventure! They’ll make arcade-inspired projects that can be coded (and played!) in one afternoon. Children will be able to create their own games in no time thanks to patient, step-by-step explanations of the code and exciting programming challenges.
Enjoy your learning journey!
