How to Talk to Your Computer

by Seymour Simon

Uses LOGO and Basic to illustrate a description of home computer programs and languages.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Picture Books, Stem, Coding, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Seymour Simon, whom the NY Times called "the dean of [children's science:] writers," is the author of more than 250 highly acclaimed science books (many of which have been named Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association).

Seymour Simon uses his website, SeymourSimon.com, to provide free downloads of a wealth of materials for educators, homeschoolers and parents to use with his books, including 4-page Teacher Guides for all 26 of his Collins/Smithsonian photo essay books. The site provides multiple resources for kids writing book reports or wanting to explore the online Science Dictionary, and also features the Seymour Science blog highlighting current science news. Educators and families are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly newsletter from SeymourSimon.com to stay abreast of the latest materials that Seymour Simon is introducing to enrich the reading experience.

He taught science and creative writing in elementary and secondary schools and was chair of the science department at a junior high school in the New York City public school system before leaving to become a full-time writer. "I haven't really given up teaching," he says, "and I suppose I never will, not as long as I keep writing and talking to kids around the country and the world."

Seymour Simon is also a creator and the author of a series of 3D books and a series of Glow-in-the-Dark Books for Scholastic Book Clubs, a series of leveled SEEMORE READERS for Chronicle Books, and the EINSTEIN ANDERSON, SCIENCE DETECTIVE series of fiction books. His books encourage children to enjoy the world around them through learning and discovery, and by making science fun. He has introduced tens of millions of children to a staggering array of subjects; one prominent science education specialist described Simon's books as "extraordinary examples of expository prose."

Seymour Simon has been honored with many awards for his work, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature; the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature; the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library for his contribution to children's science literature; The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Non-fiction; the Jeremiah Ludington Award for his outstanding contribution to children's nonfiction; the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children's Science Books.

In a recent interview Simon was asked if he ever thinks of retiring. "I seem to be working faster and harder than ever. I absolutely don't feel any urge to sit back and look at what I've done. The only things that I'm thinking about are things I'd like to do in the future. I'm planning and doing and continuing to write. It's what I love to do. I remember a story about an anthropologist going to talk to a tribe and he asked them what was their word for "work." Their response was they have no word for work. Everybody does the things that they do in their life. I love that response. I don't differentiate between work and play. Everything I do is something that I enjoy doing - the writing, the research and everything else."

Seymour Simon writes and photographs nature from his hilltop home in Columbia County in upstate New York, where he lives with his wife Liz Nealon.

You can follow Seymour on Facebook and on Twitter, as well as on his website, which offers free, downloadable Teacher Guides to his books for educators, parents and homeschoolers, as well as the popular Seymour Science Daily Blo

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good introduction to the concept of computer programming. I also like how it acknowledges tablets and phones as computers. Many very young kids interact with tablets and phones only and have a very hard time understanding the concept of a mouse / a not-touch screen. It's forward thinking enough to survive in a library collection for years when most technology books look dated extremely quickly.

It doesn't really matter to me that there is no computer programming projects in here. There are a million other books like that and even more billions of coding resources online. What matters is introducing the concept to the very young (like, K-2 grade), which is why I bought it for the JE 005s of my public library. As someone who has taught many different types of coding programs to kids from ages 5-14 for multiple years in multiple libraries and towns, I have realized that many kids truly just do not understand the concept at all. Not understanding causes frustration and disinterest, which is why so many kids just want to play games on Scratch rather than create anything.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn't excite me that much, but it does explain coding terms in a way elementary students could understand. I'd start this with 3rd graders.
The book talks about how you need to be very specific when telling a computer what you want it to do. EZ, the computer, is the computer character used to help kids understand how a computer works.
Terms covered are:
program, statement, programming languages, keyboard, monitor, speakers, condition, loop, and function.
At the end of the book, there is a "Robot Game"; an unplugged coding activity kids can try. Use arrows to get to the pirate treasure.

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

With some major streamlining, I think this could be suitable for a story time program about coding. It explains the basics like statements, conditions, and functions with the kids teaching their robot friend how to complete various tasks.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic introduction to computer programming. But no actual programming is done.

[Amanda Ortman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good way to show and explain to kids computer steps and if then conditions, by using a robot friend that the kids teach.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple overview on how computers are programmed to perform the tasks the user wants them to do. A glossary of terms are located in the back of the book.

[Esther May · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty simple explanation of coding, perfect for kids who are beginning coding. I liked the little game at the end as well.