Scratch Programming Playground

August 15, 2017
A Scratch guide that goes beyond basic games and into some instructional depth. After an introduction explaining the book's structure and a first chapter that gets users up and running in Scratch, each following chapter is dedicated to a single game. From an early maze game to more-complicated games that resemble popular ones, such as a brick-breaker game and a "Fruit Ninja" clone called "Fruit Slicer," readers are guided through screenshot illustrations of what the visual Scratch code should look like, as well as clear explanations about what the code is doing. Additionally, this manual's heavy on customization, encouraging readers to make their own art for the games in the Scratch Paint Editor (although it also provides links to project files with sprites and other images to help those short on time or artistic abilities), and it even includes instructions on how to make "cheats" for the games. Each game is followed by skill summaries and review questions. The chapters' complexity builds, climaxing in an ambitious, complicated-but-achievable final "Super Mario"-style game. Aside from the easy-to-follow instructions, puns give the book personality, and recommended resources pair with a thorough index to maximize usability. The structure's ideal for classrooms, and the writing is accessible to independent readers--younger, with parental assistance. An impressive manual for achieving Scratch programming mastery and creating genuinely entertaining games. (Nonfiction. 8-adult)

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