cover image So, You Want to Be a Coder? The Ultimate Guide to a Career in Programming, Video Game Creation, Robotics, and More!

So, You Want to Be a Coder? The Ultimate Guide to a Career in Programming, Video Game Creation, Robotics, and More!

Jane Bedell. Aladdin/Beyond Words, $11.99 trade paper (256p) ISBN 978-1-58270-579-8

Bedell drafts an encouraging how-to guide for budding computer coders, the eighth title in the Be What You Want series, introducing the basics of what coding means, the necessary knowledge and skills, programming languages, and career opportunities. Bedell brings in additional real-life perspective through interviews with individuals working in the tech industry, young coders, and profiles of innovators like Sister Mary Kenneth Keller, the first American woman to receive a Ph.D. in computer science. Quizzes, tech timelines, resource lists, and sidebars on related topics further round out the career advice. While it’s a solid resource for any reader, the focus on female coders and innovators make it an especially apt choice for girls interested in STEM fields. Ages 8–12. (May)