Coding with Hopscotch

Gr 5–8—Perhaps the most important part of these short, project-based coding books is the introduction, especially the "Note to parents" that explains whether there are apps to download, costs (everything here is free except Minecraft), and whether they will need to create an account. After all, many kids are already familiar with Scratch or Python, and will certainly have heard of Minecraft if not Hopscotch. These books allow them to continue their coding adventures at home—that is, if they can wend their way through the packed page layouts. Instructions for each of four projects per book ping-pong between text and screenshots, resulting in such a cramped layout that the designer has added a dotted line like a trail of breadcrumbs. Sidebars include fun facts that are sporadically useful but generally add clutter.