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Hello Ruby #1

Hello Ruby: Adventures in Coding

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"Hello Ruby is half picture book and half activity book rolled into one adorable package. It introduces programming without requiring a computer at all. The point of the book isn’t to teach you a programming language, but programming concepts." --GeekMom.com

Meet Ruby―a small girl with a huge imagination, and the determination to solve any puzzle. As Ruby stomps around her world making new friends, including the Wise Snow Leopard, the Friendly Foxes, and the Messy Robots, kids will be introduced to the fundamentals of computational thinking, like how to break big problems into small ones, create step-by-step plans, look for patterns and think outside the box through storytelling. Then, these basic concepts at the core of coding and programming will be reinforced through fun playful exercises and activities that encourage exploration and creativity.

In Ruby's world anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

112 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2015

26 people are currently reading
649 people want to read

About the author

Linda Liukas

25 books249 followers

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5 stars
163 (33%)
4 stars
169 (35%)
3 stars
109 (22%)
2 stars
35 (7%)
1 star
5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
Profile Image for Karen.
440 reviews10 followers
March 27, 2016
1.5 stars for the story and 3.5 stars for the Activities.
I started reading this book after watching part of Linda Liukas' TED Talk, which infers that Hello Ruby is a "delightful" way to introduce kids to coding. Is it really that delightful? Methinks it's a bit overhyped. The book is beautifully produced with cute illustrations throughout; it has an interesting story, but the plotting feels contrived and doesn't compare well against a good "proper" picture book. Ironically (for a book related to computing), I found the beginning of the plot hard to follow and somewhat illogical. The story has many geeky in-jokes for the grown ups (e.g. the characters reference Apple, Linux and Android), which is fun but groan-worthy. Nonetheless, I liked the Activities section at the back of the book, which identifies the computing / programming concepts incorporated into different parts of the story, and which also includes a number of (non-computer-based) games and activities that further reinforces those concepts.
Profile Image for Mikko Saari.
Author 6 books248 followers
August 13, 2015
Charming little book. The story was ok, but the best part of the book is in the end, where you can practise thinking like a programmer. The tasks are simple, easy and helpful.
Profile Image for Pam.
1,643 reviews
November 23, 2016
Linda Liukas has done great things encouraging children, especially girls, to learn coding. Her concept for this book is definitely a 5, but the execution was poor. Linda Liukas would have had better results if she had collaborated with a successful children's book author. I do however encourage knowledgeable parents to use this book with their children who might be so inclined.

First, Liukas, while trying to create a book that would be attractive to girls, created a book that will turn off boys as there is no significant male figure and everything is over the top cutesy. Secondly, there is a major age issue, what age was Liukas trying to target? The beginning story is so cutesy that older girls will be turned off, the glossary is so advanced that younger girls will be lost. The beginning story reads like a textbook, it is boring and confusing. In retrospect the purpose of the story becomes clear but by then reader has turned off. I can not see any children sitting down by themselves with this book and becoming absorbed in it. I struggle to understand how a teacher would use it. As an individual however it would be fun to sit down with kids and use this book and especially the activities to teach them the concepts.
Profile Image for Triin Preem.
46 reviews4 followers
Read
April 21, 2024
Five stars for the idea! It is absolutley fantastic to see how catching and exciting can something so practical be. I enjoyed it and my daughter (6 y) loves it. Also the work book part is cool. Reminds me exactly my beginners coding lessons but is more clear and easier to understand.
Would like to find more similarly smart books, games etc to kids.
Profile Image for Jakub.
270 reviews
October 19, 2017
Nice book showing and explaining computational thinking to babies. I had fun reading it and my daughter enjoyed story and some of the activities. However i think she is just too young now to appreciate everything in this book.

So we will be coming back to this book for sure.

If your child is 5-6 years old, this book can provide fun for a child and you for many hours.
Profile Image for Niklas Laninge.
Author 8 books78 followers
May 23, 2018
Brukar inte lägga upp barnböcker här men vill verkligen rekommendera alla föräldrar att läsa Ruby-böckerna med sina barn.
Profile Image for farmwifetwo.
515 reviews15 followers
January 18, 2016
It's a cute little story book about a little girl finding some gems her Father left her. It's total fantasy and impossible.

So, the author made up a number of activities - which you have to redo at home to complete them and explain to your child - age 5 to 8.

Personally, 3 stars for idea but you'd be better off buying Lollipop Logic.
Profile Image for Elina.
243 reviews
February 21, 2016
Tarina oli jollain tavalla vajaa. Parasta kirjan kuvitus, tosi söpöt hahmot! Tehtävät vaikutti mukavilta, mutta en tiedä, miten lapsi ne kokee, koska luin kirjan itsekseni. Ohjelmointi ei itselleni ihan valtavasti auennut, vaikka odotin kirjan tarjoavan tietoa siitä aikuiselle lukijallekin.
Profile Image for Fabricio.
139 reviews10 followers
November 10, 2021
Bought to read with my son.
Lovely book focused on problem-solving.
Of course, a plateful of references for a geek parent.
Still have to finish through the exercise challenges without making them look like chores..
Profile Image for Katy Plaza.
12 reviews1 follower
Read
June 23, 2017
Fiction Twin Text:

Hautman, P. (2016). The Flinkwater factor: A novel in five thrilling episodes. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Rationale for twin text selection:
I chose this selections because of its connection with technology. In the non-fiction text you are learning how to use code to create computer programs. In my fiction text it is about how a computer program is putting life as they know it at stake and how they must go about solving this problem by creating a new program. I know the fiction isn't very realistic but I like how out of this world it is. I also felt that when we create something we must consider not only how it is going to help our society but also the potential negative consequences. I felt that this was a great lesson to learn especially when we are creating.

Identification of Text Structure and Features:
The first section of this non-fiction text is in narrative format and is trying to help students understand later concepts in a different format and uses a problem solution structure. Halfway through this book the structure changes from narrative to activities. It breaks it down with illustrations and charts. This book also has a glossary for unfamiliar terms that students may encounter. It has links to outside resources that you can use on the computer and each step is broken down by a chapter. Within each chapter it has the overview, toolbox, exercise, Do it yourself, problems, and hints. Very well broken down and simplified with outside connections to help student comprehend what they are reading, which is learning about computer codes.

Strategy Application:

The main strategy I will use with this paired text is classify/categorize information. I want students to be able to recognize which information belongs together and how are the two book related. What coding strategies are used within the fiction text that is used within the non-fiction text? This means that we will have create visual charts of the information we encounter and somehow signal when a strategy is used within our fiction text.
Profile Image for Zdenka Wé.
105 reviews11 followers
June 25, 2018
V dnešnom technologickom svete je počítačová gramotnosť nevyhnutná. Presne to si pomyslela aj autorka a ilustrátorka detskej knihy Hello Ruby, počítačová programátorka Linda Liukas.
Ruby, ryšavé dievčatko, je hrdinka knihy Hello Ruby a zároveň nástroj ako deti naučiť pochopiť programovanie hravým a zábavným spôsobom
Hneď na úvod Linda Liukas zdôrazňuje, že cieľom tejto knihy nie je naučiť deti programovať, neučí žiadne programovacie jazyky, skôr jej ide o to, aby deti vedeli počítačovo myslieť, čiže myslieť logicky, rozpoznávať vzory, uvažovať v algoritmoch, rozkladať a abstrahovať problémy, spolupracovať.
Povedané ľudsky, vďaka tejto knihe sa deti naučia, že veľké problémy sa skladajú z množstva malých problémov, ktoré treba najskôr vyriešiť. Ako pátrať po indíciách (kódoch) a ako si na ich základe vytvoriť plán. Ako je nevyhnutné svoje otázky klásť zrozumiteľne, že je potrebné zamerať sa na jasné veci a nie nepotrebné detaily, určiť si pravidlá. Keď na niečo prídu, aby si to nezabudli zapísať, zdielať s priateľmi a aj vďaka ich inému pohľadu na vec nápady vylepšovali.
A čo je dôležité, v Hello Ruby nikto nikoho za chyby neodsudzuje. Pretože robiť chyby je normálne, podnecujú nás nazerať na problém z rôznych strán. Z chýb sa predsa tiež učíme.
Kniha Hello Ruby má dve časti.
Prvá je príbehová o Ruby a jej priateľoch. Aby tatino, ktorý často cestuje mimo domov, vynahradil Ruby svoju neprítomnosť, napíše jej pohľadnicu. Vysvitne, že pre ňu prichystal dobrodružstvo. Poukrýval pät drahokamov a úlohou Ruby je nájsť ich.
Druhá časť obsahuje cvičenia nadväzujúce na jednotlivé kapitoly príbehu. Určené sú pre deti 5 ročné a staršie. Okienka Jak na to sú pomôckou pre rodičov, aby porozumeli na akú časť počítačového myslenia sa tá, ktorá kapitola zameriava a vedeli s deťmi pracovať.
Profile Image for Kim Ammons (youthbookreview).
233 reviews13 followers
January 19, 2016
Very cute and, I think, very effective at introducing kids (or anyone, really) to general computer/coding principles. The first 2/3 or so is a story that introduces problem-solving, and then the last 1/3 is an activity book that teaches terms and lets you try out what you've learned. Very fun, and the illustrations are adorable, too!
Profile Image for Gary Love.
57 reviews2 followers
February 6, 2021
Pretty lame story. But some great activities at the end.
Profile Image for Tapani Aulu.
4,069 reviews16 followers
December 31, 2019
Kiva pikku tarina ja mainiot koodiharjoitukset lopussa. Opettaa koodarin ajattelua.
Profile Image for Tapani Aulu.
4,069 reviews16 followers
November 29, 2019
Rubyt ovat kovaa kamaa jo neljävuotiaalle ja voin kuvitella, että vielä parempia parin vuoden päästä.
Profile Image for Nicola.
3,599 reviews
January 12, 2020
We both loved this book. I had to laugh at times as there were moments that exactly mirrored conversations with Miss 5 ASD - like asking her to take her clothes off as part of getting ready for bed only to find her shoes still on. 'Shoes are not clothes' she will tell me and explain to me why I am wrong and why my instructions are not precise enough. What's helpful with books such as these is giving us a framework for discussion about ways that requests can be better phrased (and how sometimes people intuit meaning rather than always being precise).

The 'Hello Ruby' book is part story and part activities. Instead of teaching a programming language, it teaches computational thinking and problem solving. This can also be cross-generalised to things such as emotional self-regulation: problems that seem insurmountable can be broken down into smaller problems that can be tackled step-by-step. It's also simply a fun book. Miss 5 loves her coding apps and we did things afterwards like draw a giant Ruby's map outside with chalk and then work out a directional array for navigating it.

Miss 5 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Profile Image for Gita.
357 reviews79 followers
October 27, 2022
پریروز استاد کامپیوترمان برنامه‌نویسی ++C را شروع کرد و گفت:《به دنیای خارج از آدم‌ها خوش اومدین!》
***
هرچه روزهای بیشتری در کتاب‌فروشی کار می‌کنم بیشتر متوجهِ کتاب‌هایی می‌شوم که برای کودکان نوشته نشده‌اند، بلکه برای خانواده‌هایی نوشته شده‌اند که می‌خواهند بچه‌هایشان را "کتاب‌خوان" بار بیاورند.

این کتاب راهنمایِ طراحی الگوریتم در زبان‌های برنامه‌نویسی است. دختربچه‌ی کتاب به نام روبی، در هر صفحه با مشکلی مواجه می‌شود و با طراحی یک الگوریتم آن را حل می‌کند. در این کتاب راجع‌به متغیرها، رشته‌ها، حلقه‌ها، بولین، شرط، توابع و دی‌باگ صحبت می‌شود. هر کدام در حد معرفیِ خیلی خیلی اولیه و ناقص.
نویسنده خیلی تلاش کرده بود تا فعالیت‌ها و گفت‌وگوهای کتاب را در زندگی روزمره جای دهد؛ که بنظرم تا حدی آن‌را اغراق‌آمیز کرده بود.

نمی‌دانم. شاید هم این‌جور کتاب‌ها واقعا بچه‌ها را علاقه‌مند کنند، اما به صورت کلی اگر پدر و مادر چند سال دیگر هم برای نابغه شدن کودک‌شان صبر کنند، تمام این مباحث در یک جلسه‌ی ۱.۵ ساعته دانشگاه تدریس می‌شود. به علاوه بنظرم ۱۳۰ تومان پول برای یک کتاب ۱۰۰ صفحه‌ای، مشخص می‌کند که مخاطب این کتاب هر کودکی نیست یا نمی‌تواند باشد.

پی‌نوشت: توی اتوبوس داشتم کتاب را می‌خواندم، یکی لای صفحاتش یک کاغذ گذاشت که رویش نوشته بود "می‌دونستی موهات خیلی خوشگله ♡" :-)))
Profile Image for madziar.
1,544 reviews
January 30, 2018
Bardzo elementarne wprowadzenie do alfabetu programowania, przedstawione jako historia małej dziewczynki Ruby, której tata pozostawił mapę i zadanie do wykonania. Od strony programistycznej autorka pokazuje, czym jest algorytm i wzorce programowania w praktyce, przełożone na proste historie, jeden do jednego w stosunku język programowania - język ojczysty (bajkowy). Popełnia przy tym podstawowy błąd, odcinając dzieci od wprowadzenia do języka pojęć, które są elementarne w trakcie wykonywania nowych operacji umysłowych. W książce użyto wielu skrótów myślowych i technik zapamiętywania, którymi posługują się dorośli, nie ma to jednak pokrycia w psychologii dziecięcej. Podsumowując - pomysł i idea - szczytna, wykonanie przeciętne. Książkę uzupełniają amatorskie ilustracje.
Profile Image for Jess.
515 reviews8 followers
July 12, 2018
What a delight. This short book introduces computational thinking concepts, coding vocabulary, and fun characters. I'd recommend reading the story with elementary age kids (boys and girls).

The best part is all of the activities in the back. Ignore the cutesy art and whimsy - these activities are good for all ages - little kids, middle grades, teens, and grown ups. Savvy parents can use the activities in the back of the book for inspiration as a way to turn any activity or conversation into a way to solidify computational and creative problem solving (not that EVERY activity should go that direction).
Profile Image for Lena.
88 reviews7 followers
November 28, 2017
It's a cute idea and I really wanted to like it, but I thought the execution needed work. The story was kind of confusing, and while it's full of in jokes, the kids won't get them, and parents who don't work in tech probably won't either. The exercises at the end were good, although most of them were familiar to me from CS Unplugged -- but I guess if you want to present them to kids without them being part of a curriculum, this works pretty well. I thought the activity about the foxes probably would make sense to kids who had seen Scratch, but I'm not sure if it would make sense otherwise.
Profile Image for Kaido.
293 reviews
January 24, 2021
Katsetasin seda oma kolme aastase peal ja see Ruby seiklus on talle täiesti eakohane. Saab väga hästi aru pingviinidest ja tiigrist ja robotist ning isegi, et Python on madu. Kuid kui me jõudsime lõpus arendavate ülesanneteni, siis tõesti ta ei tea, mis on algorütm ja mis on funktsioon. Mul ei ole vist hetkel talle mõtet seda õpetada ka või mis?

Selle raamatu suurim murekoht ongi, et ma ei saanud aru, kellele see kirjutatud on. Ruby lugu on 3 aastastele ja harjutused on juba 11-15 aastat või sinna kanti.
482 reviews2 followers
April 4, 2018
This book is a clever way to introduce kids to the information of how a computer really works. It’s a chapter book, but with short, manageable chapters that won’t overwhelm the reader. While half the book is story, the second half of the book is filled with hands-on activities.

For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...
Profile Image for Mesa Library.
227 reviews45 followers
September 28, 2020
Welcome to the brave new world of coding stories. Stories that don’t have any coding in them, but teach the logic of coding in the stories themselves. Hello Ruby is a great story that follows the adventures of Ruby as she goes through life using coding logic to solve all of her life problems.
- Librarian Jeff
Profile Image for Ramón Cutanda.
1 review
March 30, 2021
Al principio me pareció que el cuento, aunque tenía algunas ideas básicas, no profundizada lo suficiente en lo que yo quería enseñar en clase. Sin embargo, el verdadero valor del libro está en la secuencia de actividades que vienen después. A partir de ahí sí que merece la pena. ¡Buena compra! Por el momento estoy dando los primeros pasos con mis alumnos. De aquí a unos meses veré los resultados.
Profile Image for Carmela Dutra.
Author 10 books109 followers
May 22, 2017
I would classify this as a hybrid between a picture book and a chapter book. I think this book is a good first step to computational thinking for everybody. There are activities to try at home, as well as a glossary of terms which I feel is helpful for young readers.
154 reviews4 followers
April 23, 2019
Weird story, hard to follow story. The last half of the book has interesting activities in the back of the book. My 5yo daughter was only interested in doing a couple of the activities. I'm guessing that the activities are the main treasure of the book.
Profile Image for Bethany Buchanan.
103 reviews3 followers
May 16, 2019
Absolutely love it. I have a budding coder in the making who is obsessed with books about coding. The story is great, I was able to keep the interest of my daughter who’s nearly 5. The activities are amazing too. Definitely a recommendation!
1 review
December 19, 2019
Hi my name is shahid and i am keen learner of computer science and after complete this I definitely ask my children to get a start at early age and understand the basic steps to become a creative .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Theresa.
3,999 reviews14 followers
March 23, 2022
Very strange book. Doesn’t seem to be much about coding just a young girl and boy having adventures with weird animals. I don’t think it would help a young person learn much about coding. It would just confuse them. Didn’t even finish reading it myself.
Profile Image for Karin.
116 reviews
September 7, 2023
Armas raamat, mis pealtnäha tundub tavalise lasteraamatu jutustusena, aga tegelikult on sealt nii mõndagi õppida. Istusin isegi laua taha ja lugesin ning lõpu poole sai ka ise ülesandeid lahendada ning õpetatut läbi proovida. Ilus ja nutikas!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews

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