Everything You Need to Ace Computer Science and Coding in One Big Fat Notebook

April 1, 2020
Grades 5-9 This is, indeed, a big fat notebook full of explanations, background details, step-by-step directions, projects and applications, troubleshooting tips, checks for learning, and ideas for advanced applications in a pretty impressive array of tech fields: computing systems, data and analysis, software engineering, algorithms and programming, universal programming principles, programming with Scratch, programming in Python, and web development. All this technical information is presented in pleasing, graphic-rich layouts incorporating oversize fonts, lots of color highlighting, numbered lists, charts, diagrams, and occasional cartoon characters who offer encouragement and levity. Chapters are independent of each other, so readers can dip into sections that interest them (there are 39 chapters and more than 500 pages to contend with, but the thorough indexing is helpful). The material and reading level are appropriate for the intended middle-school audience and should be accessible to experienced programmers and neophytes alike. Suitable as a classroom textbook, a handy reference for computer clubs, or a personal guide for motivated techies, this should be a welcome addition to STEM collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)