8 Greatest Coding Books for Kids (2020 Review)
In this guide, we’ll look at the best and most interesting coding books which help kids learn elementary programming skills.
We’ve compared the features, value, level of difficulty and appropriate ages to give you our top recommendations. All the books we suggest have their own uniqueness in learning computer coding for kids.
More methods to enhance STEM skills for kids, See HERE.
8 Best Coding Books Reviewed
- the basic concept and algorithms teaching
- code learning without a computer
- colorful book with lots of fun games included
- ages appropriate for 3 and up
- interesting story of toy train fixing
- stimulate the interest of engineering
- monthly coding subscription
- code basics learning step-by-step
- diversified coding challenge projects included
- 20 games to code
- a great book to learn block-based coding
- suitable for beginners to intermediate programmers to learn
- learn Python with 50 games and activities
- suitable for coders to learn advanced programming language
- easy to follow game-based approach
- book to learn HTML, CSS, and Javascript
- encourages kids to code in Minecraft-theme illustration
- great layout design for coding game players
- interesting storytelling
- basic coding concept introduction
- appropriate reading materials for new coding learners
- practical coding exercises included
- cover all elementary programming concepts
- no computer required
More Detailed Coding Book Reviews
Review
My First Coding Book is one of the greatest coding books for kids. It teaches kids elementary programming skills and concepts without using a computer. Some people might think coding is not easy in particular, for children. However, this book proves that there are lots of interesting ways to learn to program. Little kids will learn basic concepts and algorithms which help build up logical thinking. Some of the activities require children to work together and achieve the goal together which is very good practice for team building. If your young coders want to learn computer programming and STEAM skills without screen time, you should get this colorful book to them.
Specifications
Age Range: 5 – 7 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 2
Board book: 24 pages
Language: English
Review
Baby Loves Coding! (Baby Loves Science) is a lovely illustrated board book for the babies who are ages 3 and up to learn problem-solving. Your baby will play as a little programmer to help fix train and learn some essential programming basics. Baby coders will learn simple coding concepts such as order, cause and effect, pattern recognition and so on which is the foundation of some of the STEM skills. proficiency of logical thinking, problem-solving and even Mathematics can be well-established in the babyhood. What’s more, parents can develop a strong connection with babies through the reading and playing exercises in the illustrated board book. Undoubtedly, it is one of the popular and highly recommended coding books for little kids.
Specifications
Age Range: 3 and up
Grade Level: Preschool and up
Board book: 22 pages
Language: English
Review
Bitsbox – Coding Subscription Box is a bit different from other coding books. It is more likely a Subscription plan and you will receive code learning materials every month. The greatest thing is that they will send a subscription box to your door front monthly and it will keep your kids excited to get the Bitsbox unpacked and learn computer science concepts in sequence. The Bitbox has prepared diversified projects for kids. Your young coders would be challenged to make computer games, design greeting cards, create apps and so on. What you need is just a computer and internet connection as it requires your kids to code and works out their projects online. As a result, your little programmers would gain basic programming proficiency. More importantly, patience, persistence, problem-solving skills and creative thinking would be nicely developed.
Specifications
Age Range: 6-12
Grade Level: /
Learning Materials: 4 boxes of printed materials with diversified app projects included
Language: English
Review
When it comes to coding for beginners, you should learn with Scratch which is a block-based visual programming language developed by MIT. Code Your Own Games!: 20 Games to Create with Scratch is one of the coding books for advanced learners. It includes a step-by-step guide with graphical illustration to help little programmers create 20 classic and interesting games (from Snake to Brick Bouncer) from the very beginning. The learning approach is pretty entertaining and the kids will find achievements after creating their own games successfully. It is advised that parents/tutors can provide certain guidance and assistance to help kids in the learning process. It would be a great activity that kids and parents can work and achieve their goals together.
Specifications
Age Range: 6 – 11 years
Grade Level: 1 – 6
Pages: 80
Language: English
Review
Comparing to Scratch (block-based language), Python is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language that is more advanced to learn for programming learners. Coding for Kids: Python: Learn to Code with 50 Awesome Games and Activities is one of the coding books in the store you can find which helps kids master their proficiency in Python. As stated, it covers 50 games and activities and provides kids enough practice and master their coding skills gradually. The book emphasizes using game-based learning to deliver coding knowledge. Little engineers will know how to create and modify code in a well-presented approach.
Specifications
Age Range: 10 – 18 years
Grade Level: 3 – 9
Paperback: 232 pages
Language: English
Review
This book is mainly talking about HTML, CSS and Javascript, and part of it relevant to Minecraft. However, it is still a must-buy coding book for Minecraft lovers. Little kids would like to study coding further with the lovely illustrated characters presented in Minecraft-style. Kids will learn how to define, prioritize and tackle problems in a sensible approach. What’s more, the kids would experience the game and animation design and even a whole lot more. If you want to arouse kids’ interest in programming, probably, it helps and is a great one to read.
Specifications
Age Range: 8-12
Paperback: 128 pages
Language: English
Review
Not the same as above mentioned, How to Code a Sandcastle is a storybook. It is about a girl, Pearl learns to code with his robot friend Pascal for the purpose of building a sandcastle. The story is very interesting and it introduces kids to the fun of coding. Pearl and Pascal use computer coding concepts like sequencing and loops to solve the problem and rebuild a sandcastle. This book is very famous among little coders and well-recognized for learning computing all over the world.
Specifications
Age Range: 4 – 8
Grade Level: Preschool – 3
Hardcover: 44 pages
Language: English
Review
First Coding Book For Kids by Kidlo is a perfect workbook for little code learners of ages 4-7. It introduces the foundation of programming concepts without using a computer. Besides the colorful illustrated book gives great help to explain complicated programming languages like scratch and swift. It would also motivate beginners to learn programming step-by-step through the practical coding exercises included. If you need a book to build a solid coding and STEAM foundation for kids, certainly, it will be a very useful one.
Specifications
Age Range: 4-7
Total Pages: 44
Language: English