Kids who want to learn to code have more options than ever to get started. Whatever they’re interested in, there is an abundance of websites, apps, games, and coding books for kids to get them up and running quickly.
There are so many things they can do when kids learn how to code. They can build video games, create animations, develop mobile apps, and launch websites.
If your child learns best through reading and writing, a book may be the first place you start. Coding books for kids are not one size fits all. Below, you’ll learn how to spot a good coding book and how to differentiate between the multitude of current programming languages. Then, you can pick the right book for your child’s experience level and interest.
Find the best programming books for kids here!
Coding Book for Kids
What Makes An Excellent Programming Book for Kids
Best Computer Coding Books for Kids by Language
Mobile Development Books for Kids
Game Development Books for Kids
Robotics and IoT Programming Books for Kids
Best Programming Books for Kids by Age Group
What Makes An Excellent Programming Book for Kids
Whether you’re browsing for a child who has never written a line of code before or looking for material to boost the skills of an accomplished young programmer, recognizing a good coding book is simple.
Covers the Basics
All programming languages have a few things in common, things that are important for kids to learn early if they are to be successful coders. When flipping through coding books for beginners, take note of whether they cover:
- basic math operators for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
- variables
- if/then statements
- loops and functions
You don’t need to understand how these concepts work. Just make sure they’re covered in any title you consider for a beginning programmer. They should be among the first items discussed. If they’re not present, the book isn’t appropriate for novices.
Recommended: Free & Paid Coding Websites for Kids
Focuses on One Coding Language
With the exception of general computer science and programming publications, a good coding book for kids covers just one language.
- For students ages 8-10, we recommend starting with Scratch and moving into HTML/CSS and JavaScript after.
- For students ages 11-13, we recommend starting with Python and moving into HTML/CSS and JavaScript, at an advanced level, after.
- For students ages 14-18, we recommend starting with Python or Java and then switching to the other.
You won’t find many books about more than one language, so, if you don’t know which one your child should learn, consider getting books about two or three different languages.
Has Plenty of Photos and Illustrations
It’s also important for a book to be visually appealing, especially for kids who are learning to code for the first time. Many of the best coding books for kids have colorful illustrations on every page, which keep kids focused and interested.
Provides Useful, Transferable Knowledge
Learning a specific language isn’t as important as gaining an understanding of fundamental coding concepts. Beginning coders can start with almost any language and move into others with minimal difficulty. There are a few languages that might be inappropriate for kids, such as C and C++, because even many adult learners struggle with learning these.
Recommended: Coding Games for Kids
Best Computer Coding Books for Kids by Language
Scratch Books for Kids
Scratch is a popular block programming language designed for kids. It’s easy to learn and introduces children to coding in an easy-to-understand format. After exploring Scratch thoroughly, many kids will be ready to progress to text-based languages like Python.
Coding with Scratch Workbook
Age Range: 10+
Best Because: Highly visual workbook that illustrates tasks step by step in Scratch. Reads more like a picture book than a textbook, but teaches conditionals, math equations, and basic programming skills. Kids can create games that they share and test their knowledge with quizzes for each section. It’s easy to follow and kids can use these projects to inspire their own ideas too.
Learn to Program with Scratch
Age Range: 10+
Best Because: This nearly 300-page book covers everything a beginning coder needs to know about the Scratch language. It begins by directing kids to the Scratch website, and they’ll be coding before they’ve read more than two pages from the first chapter. Readers learn about variables, conditionals, lists, and all the other key components of coding. After finishing this book, kids will have a solid grasp of Scratch and programming fundamentals that will apply to almost any language.
Scratch for Kids, for Dummies
Age Range: 10-14
Best Because: To establish a solid foundation in Scratch and general programming knowledge, Scratch for Kids teaches readers how to design and animate their own characters. They’ll learn about variables, if/then statements, loops, and basic programming logic while building 16 projects.