The High Score and Lowdown on Video Games!: Ready-to-Read Level 3

History of Fun Stuff

by Stephen Krensky, Scott Burroughs (Illustrator)

Aim for the high score and become an expert on the history of video games with this fact-tastic nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a series about the history of fun stuff!

This Level 3 reader is part of an exciting nonfiction series about the history of fun stuff! In this book readers will learn all about how video games came to be, from Pong to Pac-Man and everything in between! A special section at the back of the book includes Common Core–vetted extras on subjects like social studies and math, and there’s even a fun quiz so readers can test themselves to see what they’ve learned! Learning history has never been so much fun!

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens, Chapter Books

48 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2015

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great little nonfiction book to hand reluctant readers, especially boys! I must remember to tell my adult son what was the original name of Mario from Mario Brothers! No, I won't tell you curious review reader! Read the book! More of a 3.5 perhaps but well deserves the extra half to whole star for getting reluctant readers interested in reading!

[Some Nerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was alright, but it feels weird that the home invasion chapter didn't do much to separate PC and console gaming. They were pretty different things back when I lived through it, especially since PC games had a whole installation process and console games you just kind of threw in carts and discs and they just ran. Now you can install things on consoles and create ways you can plug things into PCs, but those processes were separate in the 90s. Also it might have been good to mention what a floppy disk was so that kids know what the save icon is meant to represent.

Could probably use a second edition too at this rate. Technology marches on!

[Nori Sa · Rating 5 out of 5]

For NES, data was saved with SRAM powered by a battery!

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A survey of how video games have changed and developed from the 1940s to present day. Quick sections on the science of volcanoes and the geography of Japan, as well as how to chart and graph data are included in the back.

Wow, having the major developments and changes in video games summarized in 40 pages really helps you realize how quickly things change in technology! This was very informative. I had never heard of several of the games prior to Pong. And even though I'd heard of many of the more recent games, it was interesting to learn how they were significant in the development of video game technology and impacted sales of other previous versions. The illustrations in this are fun and bright. And overall, this is an interesting nonfiction read for elementary. I really like how this series makes nonfiction lively, but I really wish they had bibliographies.

[Kate McGinty aka Caryn Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction reader tells the history of video games, from the non-battery-powered chess and checkers, to the first computer game, to such modern offerings as Farmville, Angry Birds, and Candy Crush Saga. This would work well for a research project, or for students who would rather play on their phones than pick up a book but still need to get some reading time in.