Python for Kids by Jason Briggs

I teach Python to kids. I've looked at just about every Python book for kids, and this is the best one. It is not perfect, but it explains things in an easy enough manner for kids to learn on their own if they miss a class. So I use it as the textbook for my classes.The explanation of String formatting needs to be updated. We don't do embedded values using %s anymore.I recommend skipping the chapters on Turtle Graphics and tkinter.The introductory chapter on classes and objects is not bad, but the topic is beyond what most kids will need, and they should really focus on imperative / procedural programming first using just lists and dictionaries as their basic data structures.

My kids do NOT like learning things from books -- I guess it's a foreign concept to their generation -- so buying this as a 9th birthday present for my daughter was a risk. But she had really enjoyed learning Scratch, and it was the summer of 2020 so she had time on her hands, so I went for it. She certainly didn't make it though the whole thing, but on the whole I think it was worth it.The first few chapters of the book are very well done, presenting concepts through examples that a kid can easily follow along with using a Python interpreter. (The book has advice on installing Python on different operating systems as well, by the way.) With an adult by her side -- either myself, who codes for a living but not in Python, or her mom, who took some programming classes but has forgotten a lot of it -- my daughter was able to try out all the little code examples and see for herself how things worked. She was also able to experiment. It helped that she had already learned how to type fairly well in school; this way of learning might be rough on kids who are not comfortable at the keyboard.After Chapter 7 (about functions and modules), my kid paused indefinitely. Among other things, the summer was over and she had to start school again. It may be just as well, because the next few chapters have issues in my opinion. Chapter 8 covers classes, including inheritance; I'm highly skeptical that this is a good idea at this point in a book of this level, so I probably would have advised her to skip it and come back when she had a motivation for learning it. Chapter 9 covers many of Python's built-in functions, in alphabetical order -- it would make a good reference but should probably also be skipped the first time through, although I didn't see any mention of that possibility in the text. Chapter 10 does a similar thing for some standard modules, most of which I expect a kid who had never done any other programming would not see the point of and would not learn anything from. A chapter on using tkinter for graphics comes next and rounds out Part I of the book. Parts II and III are extended examples that work through coding up some simple games. I wonder if it would be better to move this content earlier, or else let the reader know when it is safe to skip ahead.Overall, my family had a good experience with this book. My 9-year-old made it about 1/3 of the way through before setting it aside, but it's here when she wants to pick it up again.

I am so happy to purchase the book at the beginning of “stay-at-home” time. My son is really enjoy to learn coding from this book. He is 11 year old, and had never learned the coding before. This book guides him step by step to understand and apply various python concepts. It is recommended for kids, but it is also for the parents as well. I learned as a beginner although I can understand the concepts easily than my son. It covers the basic Python statements and excises and a lot of examples. I still remembered how happy my son was when he created a program using his car model. I am so please with the book that I am passionate about with my kid during this special time.

Not just for kids, and looking at some of the other reviews. I've gone through a few python books to bolster my scripting skills and this one is great because it actually has examples that have some focus that builds upon itself as opposed to a few dry examples just to get a point across.

Python For Kids, teaches you all about the code, python. Its really good because everything is step-by-step, everything is gradually getting more difficult as the author teaches you the basics of Python. It goes in depth in the descriptions and explanations, giving you a clear understanding on how Python works and how to use Python. Starting at the smallest step or instructions or like the first thing to know about Python, the author explains everything, very detailed, and shows you examples, explanations, and more. Closing the end, Python For Kids, get into making real games, to show you the code behind some common or well-known games (I know bounce is one), also giving you an idea on how to create your own game. I personally have not finished reading (though I am close), my friend has and was able to create his own game with his own mind and the information Python For Kids gave him. And this book can also be for grown ups. Its not boring, to me, and my friend, and many others, so I highly recommend this book. It's one of the best Python books I have read.

I bought this with the intention of starting to teach my son programming. I come home one day and my wife had already started teaching it to him in homeschool. She had never programmed either, but now can mess around with python. It goes great when used adjacent to his math curriculum

A good introduction. My 79 year-old father who's been programming since computers were made of wood has declared it to be "a good introduction" and "it'll let you know if your [son or daughter] are programmers." My 8yo son read bits&pieces of each chapter, and understands the basic gist...so the vocabulary is at the 4th-5th grade reading level, which is nice.

After a fair amount of research, we bought two Python books for kids for our tween son. Despite all the positive reviews, they were only so-so. Then his tech teacher said to get this book instead. So happy she suggested it! This book is more useful, has more thorough and clear explanations, and is easier to navigate than any of our other Python coding books. It's helped him manage all his projects and helped him make great strides in learning Python and having fun. It's really the only book he needs. As my son said recently, I wish we'd gotten this one first!

At first this book gaved me a basic understanding but while reading along I soon notice how out of date this book really is,it could be a much more better book if it was updated dated,also the pages started to come apart so be careful

If you're completely new to programming, this is a fantastic book to get started with. Before I read it I didn't know a thing about any programming language, but now I'm definitely getting to grips with it. I'm not sure how suitable it is for kids, as once you're about mid way through the book it gets quite complicated, but I'd definitely recommend it for any adult wanting to start. Don't be put off by the title, it's ideal for anyone.

Great book. I am an adult and decided on a whim to try and learn python and I am enjoying the up beat style of writing.Just a quick note about getting the Turtle module to work~ After lots of head scratching and errors despite following everything you need to use a CAPITAL P in turtle.Pen() -turtle.pen() will throw up the error. The author has addressed this on his forum

I have been trying to get to grips with programming for many years....I am 76 years old and this is the first book that has kept my interest and started me programming ...Thank you Mr Briggs

An invaluable aid for the 15-year old it was bought for, as well as for parents or grandparents who haven't done pythoning before!