Lauren Ipsum: A Story About Computer Science and Other Improbable Things

by Carlos Bueno

Overview

Lauren Ipsum is a whimsical journey through a land where logic and computer science come to life.

Meet Lauren, an adventurer lost in Userland who needs to find her way home by solving a series of puzzles. As she visits places like the Push & Pop Café and makes friends with people like Hugh Rustic and the Wandering Salesman, Lauren learns about computer science without even realizing it—and so do you!

Read Lauren Ipsum yourself or with someone littler than you, then flip to the notes at the back of the book to learn more about logic and computer science in the real world.

Suggested for ages 10+

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781593275747
Publisher:	No Starch Press
Publication date:	12/14/2014
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Carlos Bueno is a former Facebook engineer, graphic designer, librarian, calligrapher, data scientist, and video game repairman. He now writes bad jokes about algorithms and dinosaurs.

Table of Contents

The Computers in this Book
Chapter 0: Mostly Lost
Chapter 1: A Hidden Ally
Chapter 2: Sense and Sensibleness
Chapter 3: Rounding Error
Chapter 4: What the Tortoise Said to Laurie
Chapter 5: Welcome to Symbol
Chapter 6: A Tinker's Trade
Chapter 7: Read Me
Chapter 8: More That One Way to Do It
Chapter 9: Don't Repeat Yourself
Chapter 10: A Well-Timed Entrance
Chapter 11: A Fair Exchange
Chapter 12: An Improbable Twist
Chapter 13: The Game of Life
Chapter 14: In the Abstract
Chapter 15: Cleverness When It Counts
Chapter 16: A Change of Plan
Chapter 17: Chasing Elegants
Chapter 18: Many Hands Make Light Work
Chapter 19: Branching Out
Chapter 20: Fin
Chapter 21: One More Tning
The Field Guide to Userland

Editorial Reviews

★ 2015-01-20
A lost girl travels through a fantastical Alice in Wonderland-esque world filled with The Phantom Tollbooth-like computer-programming metaphors.After an argument with her mother, Lauren Ipsum goes for a walk through the woods. Quickly lost in Userland, she starts to encounter physical manifestations of computer science ideas, such as the Jargon creatures, seemingly benign at first but quickly revealed to be obnoxious. The various loony characters she encounters each champion different aspects of logic—specifically, the kinds of logic and perspectives used in programming and problem-solving—giving Lauren the tools she needs for her rambling journey home. While serving as an introduction to programming for kids, it avoids the nitty-gritty of code in favor of clever analogies that guide readers toward the type of thinking that will facilitate learning computer science. The extensive backmatter—a segment titled "The Field Guide to Userland"—details how Lauren's logic solves the various puzzles and how the solutions relate more practically to computer science, as well as providing jumping-off points for future subject exploration. The story is funny enough on its own, but the sly puns missed the first time around will keep the book fresh for those rereading after learning more programming. The intelligent female protagonist and casually multiethnic illustrations normalize inclusivity in computer science for young readers. Positive, smart, empowering philosophies and thinking skills couched in a wacky adventure. (Fantasy/philosophy. 8-14)

Kirkus Review