Code This!: Puzzles, Games, Challenges, and Computer Coding Concepts for the Problem Solver in You

by Jennifer Szymanski

Overview

Programming concepts come to life in this kid-friendly intro to the basics of computer science and coding, with puzzles, games, and quirky characters.

Welcome to the Coder Crew, where you're on a mission. You'll write algorithms to find hidden treasures, decode ciphers to read secret messages, create loops to program an expedition, and more. Along the way, you'll learn the art of figuring out how to do things in general. That's called computer science. You'll also learn the art of explaining something in particular. That's called programming, or coding.

Then you can put your skills to the test to help Cody the Robot. Whenever the Code This! Explorers need a hand, Cody is there to help. Unfortunately, this robot is very particular about the details. It can't simply collect a rare type of bacteria from a volcano. It needs step-by-step instructions on where to go, how to collect the bacteria, what bacteria to collect, and how to get back to the Explorers. Even more unfortunately, the Explorers are superbusy folks with a lot of cool stuff on their minds. That means they rarely give Cody the instructions it needs, which makes it want to totally short-circuit. That's where YOU come in to help Cody succeed at some of the trickiest, most awesome missions on Earth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781426334436
Publisher:	Disney Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/27/2019
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	507,251
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	840L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

JENNIFER SZYMANSKI is a freelance science writer and editor. She specializes in writing materials that support both teachers and students in meeting national and state science standards, but she considers her "real" job to be helping students of all ages to connect science to everyday life. She lives with her family and pets near Pittsburgh, and can usually be found either outside or with her nose in a good book.

Editorial Reviews

2019-05-26
A puzzle-based introduction to computer-programming concepts.

This computer coding book immediately sets itself apart by not using computers at all. Instead, readers write codes and complete puzzles by pencil and paper, play games in real life, and even do some arts and crafts. The four chapters follow Cody the robot, who helps the Nat Geo Explorers in their field missions—the readers are asked to program Cody to achieve the objectives of each chapter. Each chapter explores a set of concepts (such as algorithms, debugging, users and events, and conditionals) through varying activities. Some use classic challenges such as the traveling salesman problem; some encourage building physical items, for example making a cipher wheel for coded messages; and some are even games to be played with friends. The writing is crisp and clear throughout, and the text is laid out in easily digestible chunks that are broken up by frequent illustrations. Some images depict the various activities, some accompany relevant historical anecdotes, some are photographs of racially and gender diverse children, and many are beautiful nature pictures fitting the theme of each chapter's challenge. Extensive backmatter includes solutions to the puzzles, additional exercises (including making slime), resources on coding computers directly, a glossary, and an index.

Appealingly, this positive, highly accessible coding guide needs no computers. (Nonfiction. 8-14)

Kirkus Reviews

"A puzzle-based introduction to computer-programming concepts.This computer coding book immediately sets itself apart by not using computers at all. Instead, readers write codes and complete puzzles by pencil and paper, play games in real life, and even do some arts and crafts...Appealingly, this positive, highly accessible coding guide needs no computers." — Kirkus

"Concepts such as algorithms, optimization, constraints, cryptology, and binary code are introduced with fun and workable hands-on activities...A strength of this title is its clarity. The conversational tone is perfect for the intended age range. VERDICT An applicable resource for intro to coding clubs at schools or libraries. An engaging introduction to basic and intermediate fundamentals of computer science and coding through various screen-free activities."—School Library Journal


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From the Publisher

07/26/2019

Gr 3–7-Readers are encouraged to imagine that an all-purpose robot named Cody has to be programmed to help expeditions explore a mysterious cave and an area of the deep sea, fix a satellite in space, and navigate a tepui to photograph jaguars in Venezuela. Concepts such as algorithms, optimization, constraints, cryptology, and binary code are introduced with fun and workable hands-on activities. These activities do not need any high-tech gadgets; most call for things like masking tape, chalk, paper plates, and other people. The coding activities call for the lines to be written down on paper and checked against the solution in the back. A strength of this title is its clarity. The conversational tone is perfect for the intended age range. For example, early in the text, computer science is defined as the "art of figuring out how to do things in general" and programming or coding is "explaining how to do something in particular." An unfortunate weakness is the lack of any sort of website/app tie-in component since as the challenges get more complicated, it becomes less exciting to write down the code and not see it executed. VERDICT An applicable resource for intro to coding clubs at schools or libraries. An engaging introduction to basic and intermediate fundamentals of computer science and coding through various screen-free activities.-Kacy Helwick, New Orleans Public Library

School Library Journal