This week, SLJ shared in an opinion column that Coding Is a Literacy. “School librarians are especially pivotal in coding literacy because, as with any other language, the age of acquisition for any language matters. Librarians are uniquely placed in schools with students from their early years, long before children have access to computer science electives,” writes IdaMae Craddock, a librarian at the Albemarle (VA) Lab Schools.
We couldn’t agree more. Below is a list of our most popular coding series, many of which contain hands-on coding activities that can be accessed remotely for free, meaning you can do a digital makerspace activity even with distance or hybrid learning.
Interest Level: Grade 1 – Grade 3 · Reading Level: Grade 1
Introduce readers to computer coding through no-tech, sports-themed projects. Readers will move a soccer ball by writing an algorithm and use loops to create a winning football play. Sports fans will enjoy learning the basics of coding—with no computer needed! Author and elementary school librarian Allyssa Loya designed this series to be intimidation-free for both readers and educators.
Interest Level: Grade 2 – Grade 5 · Reading Level: Grade 3
Introduce young coders to the most popular coding programs and languages. Step-by-step instructions and clear illustrations guide readers, while fun activities help them apply what they’ve learned.
Interest Level: Grade 1 – Grade 4 · Reading Level: Grade 3
What’s an algorithm? How do you fix bugs? What is an app? How do you program a computer game? This series leads students through the basics of computer programming using real-world examples and practical activities.
Mission Code (Alternator Books)
Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 6 · Reading Level: Grade 4
Dive into the fascinating world of coding languages! These titles walk new programmers through the basics of creating their own code. Hands-on learn-to-code activities accessed through an online Page Plus link add to the fun!
Digital Makers (Alternator Books)
Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 6 · Reading Level: Grade 4
Learn how to create, launch, perfect, and safely share digital works of art, including videos, songs, blogs, and websites. This series capitalizes on the popularity of both digital technology and makerspace activities. Creator profiles and expert tips provide extra inspiration.
Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 7 · Reading Level: Grade 5
This exciting, makerspace-friendly series offers a variety of step-by-step projects for programming in Scratch. Easy-to-follow instructions guide young programmers through activities that showcase how to code animation, create music, write a story, and design computer games. The projects build essential programming knowledge and skills, preparing kids to take what they’ve learned and apply it to their own Scratch creations.
All of the above books are available in library-bound hardcover and multi-user eBook formats from most school library vendors. If you purchase direct from Lerner, we’re offering a budget-saving special, where you can receive both formats for the price of just the eBook. Learn more here!