Ready Steady Code Coding With Scratch Jr

Ready, Set, Code!

by Alvaro Scrivano

Get ready to code with this easy-to-use series full of projects and tips to get kids programming. Each book in the Ready, Steady Code! series has 4 step-by-step projects with an introduction section (Ready), project preparation section (Steady), and the coding for the project section (Code!). The programming language is introduced with clear simple explanations and illustrations, making concepts such as loops and variables easy to understand. Each book includes information on checking and de-bugging and encourages the reader to use what they have learned to create their own coding projects. In Coding with Scratch, you can can you land on the moon, travel deep under the sea, take a trip to a magical world or have a game of basketball. The easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions will guide you through coding these fantastic projects. Once you've got the hang of it, there are different challenges you can choose to really test your coding skills and handy troubleshooting hints to help if you need them. With Ready, Steady, Code, you'll soon be ready for the world of coding. Perfect for independent learning or code clubs, with simple explanations and clear instructions. Includes information on how to stay safe online.

Hardcover

Published August 23, 2018

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short ScratchJr primer will get younger elementary-age kids coding within minutes of downloading the ScratchJr app by walking them through four very simple projects with quick but satisfying results, such as importing their photo into an astronaut that lands on the moon, or animating a cat that can play basketball. Caregivers and educators will also likely be thankful for this introduction as well, as the book is also well-suited to adults and younger children working together to figure out where to begin with this introductory programming language targeted at children ages 5-7. However, those seeking information about coding fundamentals and programming concepts explained easily for children will need to seek elsewhere, as the only real purpose of this book is to provide a very basic overview of the app's interface and illustrated step-by-step instructions for the four basic projects. There are also random "Did You Know?” facts about space, castles, sports, etc that are somewhat haphazardly thrown in because they relate loosely to the project themes, but they clutter the pages more than serving the text. There is a glossary and a very brief "Further Information" page at the back of the book, which only contains two links and two additional books to explore, which felt lacking. This book might be a worthwhile addition to a library seeking more up-to-date print content about coding for kids, but note that the inevitability of upgrades or changes to the ScratchJr app interface could possibly render this one obsolete.