Today, I bring you a different type of non-fiction… thought I will do a Tech Tuesday post!! So here are 3 great coding books I enjoyed reading, for the littlest beginning readers to older beginner coders too.

With STEM and coding such a big part of today, and with my own tech background (I completed my bachelors in engineering years ago now, and my professional life i/was as a software QA engineer for almost two decades), I strongly believe that books like this are important. And as a mom who also feels that all work and no play does make Jack and Jill dull kids, it is wonderful when coding books can teach programming in ways other than using a device!

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3 Great Coding Books For the Little Coders

I Can Code: If/Then

Book Info

My Thoughts

Essential coding basics for the littlest computer scientist! Using a fun simple story of if/then and colorful illustrations, this book helps little ones understand cause and effect, and some other basic concepts by relating them to what we do everyday. Or rather what little ones do everyday.

I am not sure if including actual coding language in the book might/will make sense to its intended audience; but love the straightforward way of explaining the concept(s). And love that this book uses a father-daughter duo for the story!

I also noticed that this seems to be part of a series; with at least one other book (focusing on the And/Or concept)!

In Summary

A cute series that can make it fun to teach coding to beginning coders.

Get It Here

Book Depository ||  IndieBound || Bookshop

Coding Concepts for Kids

Book Info

My Thoughts

This book uses games that kids already play, like unscrambling jumbled words, mazes, coloring by numbers, and more to explain coding concepts.

The concepts include

• how we use algorithms in everyday life
• looping
• conditional statements
• optimization
• debugging your code.
• and more

I love how each section finishes up with space for young coders to try out what they have learned and to come up with their own examples for each concept.

It is truly wonderful that not only does this book teach coding concepts without needing to use a device (forget for a moment that I am using a device to read this book), it also encourages applications that will involve jumping, hopping, skipping running and so on!! These ideas that help apply coding concepts to physical exercises makes this book a definite a hit in this tech-mom’s eyes.

In Summary

A must have for anyone trying to understand the basics of coding logic.

Get It Here

Book Depository 

Python Programming for Beginners

Book Info

My Thoughts

This is not the first Python book for beginners that I am reading, but I can certainly say that each one adds to how we learn. And I can honestly say that one more book is always good!!

While this book is written with older elementary and middle school kids as its audience, the included concepts make it one for all those who want to learn Python.

This book in brief:

• Chs 1 and 2: Programming and Python basics (including basic terms like algorithm, input/output, and how to install and run Python)
• Chs 3 through 9 take readers through more details on different basic concepts; including variables, data types, data structures, conditionals, loops, functions, and the turtle module in Python.
• Ch 10 is like the cherry on top, putting it all together
• A rich set of additional resources include more coding exercises, debugging tips, and reading resources as well as a glossary

I love how each chapter builds upon previous chapters to finally put it all together to create a fun program. Within each chapter, concepts are introduced followed by simple activities and examples to explain the same, and then encouraging the reader to try out on their own with provided exercises.

All the activities and exercises are fun and sure to be appealing to the readers. For example, a water balloon game with friends on a hot summer day is used to explain loops. Young readers will enjoy the leveling up they get to do as they progress along the book.

In Summary

Overall, a wonderful and fun way to learn Python and basics of programming for beginning coders of any age.

Get It Here

Book Depository 

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My Non-Bookish Hobbies

This week’s theme over at ThatArtsyReaderGirl for Top Ten Tuesday is non-bookish hobbies. While what occupies my mind and time for most of the day, is either reading books or writing about them, I know I do have non-bookish hobbies; so I am sure I can come up with a few to list here.

• I do enjoy writing; not really cheating here, as it is writing poems, or in a journal when the mood strikes (TBH, when I remember)
• Experimenting with cooking and baking; while I strive on a daily basis to accomplish that expertise my mom or mom-in-law (among others) have, I enjoy trying out different dishes regularly. We often do our traveling through the food we make and eat at home!
• Since I mentioned it, I love traveling. We like to deep-dive into the places we visit, exploring it as much as we can within the constraints of time and our budget.
• And I love researching! This is one thing that is both a boon and a bane. I can easily find things for my own needs (for the blog or elsewhere), as well as for the kids when they need help. But then I can spend hours lost in research-land as I keep find something new and fascinating, even after I have found what I needed to in the first place a zillion clicks ago!
• Dancing is always something that brings me joy. Whether it is jiving for exercise, or practicing dances, or simply watching a dance performance, I am always happier at the end of it.
• I grew up with music around me. My dad sang beautifully, and his mesmerizing voice never needed a microphone. From traditional Indian music forms to Bollywood music and more, I listened to songs from around the world from the beginning, and still enjoy all of them.
• Photography. “Not another photo!” is an oft-repeated complaint around me. That is most likely someone in my family voicing themselves when I whip out my camera again; why am I lying? It never left my hands to be whipped out again in the first place!! Kidding aside, I enjoy taking photographs, all the time. I don’t need special occasions to do so, and will photograph just about anything or anyone…
• Drawing and painting have always been fun and beloved activities as long as I can remember. And I try my hand at other crafts every once in a while (though I stay away from sewing/knitting/or similar)
• Puzzles: Word and logic puzzles. There is a thrill in solving puzzles that can’t be matched elsewhere. Whether it is the simple joy of unscrambling a jumbled word, or cracking a tougher logic puzzle with multiple clues, puzzles are pure fun!!
• Can dessert be a hobby? If not, I am making it one now!! I have a serious sweet tooth for as long as I can remember

And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, have you read any of these or other similar coding books? Do let me know. And which of these coding books do you plan to check out for yourself or for the little coder you know?