Coding for Kids: Scratch by Matthew Highland

Coding for Kids: Scratch by Matthew Highland ISBN-13: 9781641522458 Paperback: 172 pages Publisher: Rockridge Press Released: July 2, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
From sprites and code blocks to scripts and scorekeeping, Coding for Kids: Scratch helps you discover everything you need to know to create 10 amazing games that you and your friends can play. Watch your confidence grow with step-by-step instructions and clear directions that keep things simple—even as the games you’re making get more challenging. Game on!

Coding for Kids: Scratch includes: Coding for kids—Learn Scratch terms and concepts, then use them to build games you can start playing immediately.Create 10 games—Cake Clicker, Dino Hunt, Crystal Keeper, and more—code, play, and share 10 cool games.Master Scratch—Simple directions, full-color screenshots, and projects that get more difficult make mastering Scratch a breeze.


My Review:
Coding for Kids: Scratch teaches readers how to use the drag-n-drop coding language called Scratch. You sign up (for free) to use the Scratch website and need to use one of the following web browsers: Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Kids 6 years old and older can use the language, but the author suggested that kids 6-8 years old may need an adult's help while they learn (and I'd agree). I'd suggest the adult work through the book first rather than learn it at the same time as the child, but either would work. Basically, you sit at your computer and follow his instructions to learn how to use the Scratch coding interface, then you put together his codes for the 10 games to learn how to make functioning games. In the game coding section, he simply showed the finished code and explained why the different pieces were needed. You must look for the code blocks and put it together.

Overall, it's an informative book written at a level that kids can understand. You can put together the suggested, basic games pretty quickly. But there were a few times in the instructions about using the Scratch coding interface where he'd say to do something and just assume you'd see how to do it. For example, I initially thought you were supposed to type "timer" into a slot when you were supposed to drag-n-drop that piece from the code selection area. Or he didn't say exactly where to find the code, so I had to scroll through the options to find it. It wasn't until coding the actual games that I got frustrated, though. I followed his code exactly, but the code for the first game sometimes worked perfectly and other times wouldn't completely reset. I figured out what piece of code was missing to make it always work, but I was disappointed that the very first game code that he gave us wasn't complete. Overall, though, this is a great way to teach your kids the basics of coding games.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.