Book review: 'Code This!: Puzzles, Games, Challenges, and Computer Coding Concepts for the Problem-Solver in You!' makes STEM concepts fun

Oh National Geographic Kids, how I love you. The photography, bright colors, and ways you manage to merge fun with education.

Image from Nat Geo Kids

Even though "Code This!: Puzzles, Games, Challenges, and Computer Coding Concepts for the Problem-Solver in YOU!" has a realllllly long title, it also hours of endless learning fun in it. Puzzles such as the magic square, checkerboards, pixel painting, mazes, binary numbers, and debugging are all in it. And figuring all that stuff out, through the many games and challenges, is fun, really fun. Many kids will likely not even realize they're learning computer coding concepts. Instead, they'll just think they're being entertained by a colorful book with awesome photographs. Win, win!

And, not to worry, in case even you parents can't figure out all the games and quizzes in this book, there pages and pages of solutions for everything in the back. So, phew! No worrying about whether your kids are learning things correctly.

Little bios about famous people and bits of history like Thomas Edison and the code breakers of World War II are integrated. So not only are kids getting all sciencey, but they're learning history too.

They'll also learn things like what sonar is and how conditionals play important parts of coding. They'll learn how to write their names in ASCII and how important (and simple!) algorithms are. Yeah, I didn't think algorithms were simple. The very name, "algorithm" had me intimidated. But, after reading its explanation in "Code This!" I'm not scared anymore.

They'll learn other things, like how to solve ANY maze (woot!) and how loops are written. Honestly, I hadn't even heard of loops before reading this book, and learning about them was pretty cool. Conditionals will also be explained and built upon. I think if a kid reads this book they'll have a great foundational knowledge for when they try out actual computer programming because they'll already be familiar with those basic concepts.

See how artsy I got by placing one open book on top of another so you could see one of the pages? Yeah, I totally outdid myself.

Instructions on how to do crafts, like making a cipher wheel and a disco decomposition, are also in here. The crafts are super easy and only require things like paper plates and colored paper (woot!). Guys, ANY craft that doesn't involve me making a run to a specialty store has my stamp of approval. A craft that also teaches something is my favorite.

Bottom line: Jennifer Szymanski, I couldn't find much about you on the www, but I think you're a marvelous author. Congratulations on a fun book that can make computer coding concepts easier for many ages and genders.

Book breakdown:
160 pages
Full color photographs and illustrations (but mostly photos)
Best for ages: 10 and older
Educational factor: high--this is a foundational computer coding wonder of a book!
Christian content: N/A
Parents could be concerned about: Nothing. This book can help your kids understand the basics of computer coding so they logic behind the actual coding makes sense.