Coding Books for Kids

If your child has a passion for patterns and an interest in puzzles, they might start reading and writing code before they pick up their first chapter book. Dozens of books about coding are filling the children’s section of bookstores — but which one should you pick out for your youngster?

Below, we’ve listed a handful of our favorite children’s and young adult books about computer programming, broken down by age group. You can thank us later when they grow up to be a tech mogul!

 

CODING BOOKS FOR KIDS AGED 4 – 8

HTML for Babies

by Sterling Children’s Group

The first in a three-volume set, originally created by an NYC Web Designer for his baby, this beautiful book is precisely as advertised: a fun and colorful introduction to the world of web design for babies. Just as kids learn the alphabet or numbers, it’s important for them to learn HTML. This book will help prepare your little one for our digital age!

Hello Ruby: Adventures in Coding

by Linda Liukas

Half picture book and half activity, this one-of-a-kind coding primer guides young children through the foundational ideas that underlie all computer programming. Hello Ruby follows its determined, puzzle-loving protagonist Ruby, who makes friends with foxes, robots, and leopards as she strives to break big problems into small ones. At the end of each chapter, kids are prompted to help Ruby solve problems by applying computational thinking.

Lift-the-Flap Computers and Coding

by Rosie Dickins

In this illustrated chapter book, kids are encouraged to explore how computers work “under the hood” by lifting flaps to reveal fundamental knowledge.Through treasure hunts, games, and puzzles, Dickins’ book presents an interactive introduction to information and communication technology, including the principles of good code, how algorithms work, and simple functions.

CODING BOOKS FOR KIDS AGED 8 – 12

Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World

by Reshma Saujani

Bursting with colorful artwork, simple explanations of coding principles, and real-life stories of inspiring female coders, this book (written by Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani) shows how much fun computer science can be. Whether you’ve never coded before or already have some coding experience under your belt, Saujani will have you itching to create your own coding projects to make the world a better place. (PS. Want to learn more about Reshma Saujani? Check out our AA & NH/PI Month blog!)

Computational Fairy Tales

by Jeremy Kubica

Does your kid love dragons, magic, wizards, and all-around fantasy? If so, they might love Computational Fairy Tales, a book that blends the tenets of computer programming with a magical world. The book follows Princess Ann, who faces down evil goblins, curses, oracles, and stuffy academics in coding challenges. To advance, she must defeat her opponents with reader-crafted computer programs.

Star Wars Coding Projects: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide to Coding Your Own Animations, Games, Simulations, and More!

by John Woodcock

Your Star Wars lover is sure to devour this colorfully illustrated coding guide that provides space-themed projects for readers to tackle. Accompanied by beloved Star Wars characters like Yoda, Obi-Wan, and C3PO, kids will learn to use the Force by coding games, projects, and animations in Scratch. No prior coding experience required!

CODING BOOKS FOR KIDS AGED 12 – 16

Get Coding!

by Duncan Beedie and Young Rewired State Group

In this interactive how-to guide, readers follow the adventures of Professor Bairstone and Dr. Ray as they attempt to protect the Monk Diamond from jewel thieves. Along the way, readers will tackle six exciting missions designed to help them master basic coding concepts in the web’s primary languages: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. By completing these missions, teen and pre-teen coders can begin to hone the skills that professional developers use every day. 

Adventures in Minecraft

by David Whale

If your teen is obsessed with Minecraft, this book can turn that passion for gaming into a passion for learning. In Adventures in Minecraft, teens will learn how to extend the functionality of this popular game through the power of code. By the end of this book, readers will know how to write interactive games, build treasure hunts, create immense 3D structures, and create intelligent objects.

Code for Teens: The Awesome Beginner’s Guide to Programming

by Jeremy Moritz

Geared especially towards teens who love video games and social media, Code for Teens: The Awesome Beginner’s Guide to Programming covers the fundamentals and the complexities of coding in JavaScript in a lighthearted and approachable way. Up-and-coming coders can develop their skills by completing the book’s many quizzes, drills, and projects.

We love all of these books for their colorfulness, their creativity, and their effectiveness in transferring critical coding knowledge to kids and teens. And who knows? The right book might launch a life-long passion for a fulfilling career path in coding! If your child devours a book and wants more, consider signing them up for one of our top-tier coding classes.