Bite-Size Python: An Introduction to Python Programming

by April Speight

Introduce children to the popular Python programming language through relatable examples and fun projects!

Python has now surpassed Java as the most commonly used programming language. As the language rises in popularity, this complete guide can teach basic Python concepts to kids with its simple, friendly format. Bite-Size An Introduction to Python Programming provides children with a foundation in the Python language. This unique book shares knowledge through easy-to-understand examples, fast exercises, and fun projects!

As children learn, their parents, caregivers, and instructors can also join in their discoveries. Bite-Size Python is ideal for those who are new to programming, giving kids ages 9 and up a beginners’ approach to learning one of the most important programming languages.

Gives an overview of Python Provides exciting programming projects Offers instruction on how to download and install Python Presents key programming language concepts Simplifies technical definitions With this playful guide to learning Python, readers can try out activities on their computers for a hands-on learning experience. The artwork in Bite-Size Python represents children of various backgrounds, so any child who picks up this book will be empowered to learn and young readers will love showing their projects to friends and family!

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 3, 2020

Reviews

[Kaylynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve tried to pick up coding on several occasions and this book finally did the trick! I’m a very visual and hands-on learner. This book was the perfect way to help introduce me to Python. It helps give step-by-step instructions on basic Python fundamentals. It also shows you exactly what you should expect when you try the code on your own. There were a few times my work did not match the book, and it gave me a chance to problem solve on what went wrong with my code. In regards to other reviews mentioning editing errors, I only came across one. I’ve read plenty of other books with more than that. I would definitely recommend this book to all my friends.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are new to learning Python, you can do a lot better than this poorly written (most likely written in a hurry) tutorial book. The author should have hired a competent editor at the very least. Apart from containing a bunch of wrong information and bad code, the book doesn't even bother to explain any of the logic behind any of the concepts it talks about. The book basically tells you what to type on your screen to get what kind of functionality but no explanation on why and no explanation on different syntax that keeps getting introduces in different parts of the book. The book is full of confusing or unclear language which tells me that the author must not be good at coding either because coding requires you to have excellent language skills and you have to be 100% clear on what you want to accomplish or your code won't work. In fact, some of the code presented in this book simply doesn't work because it's a lot of bad code.

[Sue Loh · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most difficult things about teaching kids to code is finding the perfect balance between making the material educational and making it fun and appealing to kids. That’s what’s so special about Bite-Size Python, by April Speight.

This book is written to teach kids the basics of coding. It does not require any prior knowledge. A child who picks up this book will be walked through everything they need: from installing Python and related tools, to basic programming concepts, to some engaging activities to exercise what they’ve learned. No adult help or supervision should be required. The lessons are just the right level of detail to stay brief yet informative. The book is perfect for students in the 9-12 year age range.

The practice exercises are very high-quality. They involve subjects that should be relevant and engaging for a wide variety of young learners. They’re put into a relatable context: you want to play Mad Libs with your friends; Mariah is trying to randomly pick a green marble out of the bag; kids need to be split randomly into two teams so they can play kickball. These contexts can help kids see the sorts of problems that coding can help them solve, which is important. Not every kid will love coding at first, but every kid will see reasons to use coding to solve these problems. Each lesson simply and clearly demonstrates why the software constructs – arrays, loops, functions, etc. – exist and how they help you achieve your goals.

Another important feature of this book is the inclusivity it shows. The internal artwork features kids of different races, genders, and abilities. The book does not talk down to kids or exaggerate how cool and fun coding can be. It’s a straightforward example of why and how you can learn to code.

The author, April Speight, is a perfect source of information for this book. She didn’t start out as a software engineer, but found a love for it after college and transitioned into a role as a software evangelist, speaker and teacher. Her path into software is reflected in this book as a plain-spoken approach that teaches what you need to know without being boring. She doesn’t shove coding at the reader, yet shares a love of what coding can help you accomplish. You can learn more about the author at vogueandcode.com.

[Bei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even this book is for kids, I found it is very easy to follow through with the concepts and the examples from the book. I have tried the codes in the examples and made my own programs worked!

[Xdw · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps a little TOO simple.