So You Want To Be A Coder (Computer Programmer) (So You Want To Be A...)

"So You Want To Be A Coder (Computer Programmer) is another gem from the So You Want To Be series of children's educational picture books by Linda Soules. Whether it's video games or animated movies, designing a website or creating apps, computer programming is used everywhere. In a way, it's like magic in the world we live in. In this book, young readers will learn what a coder actually does. You will discover the tools of computer programming, which include the text editor, the terminal, version control, and the debugger. Walk through a day in the life of a computer programmer. Programmers often work in teams, and in these teams, their skill sets don't really overlap. There are a few famous coders in history, and you will get to know them here.

Youngsters from the age of 10 to 14 will find out what it takes to be a coder in So You Want To Be A Coder (Computer Programmer). This is a fantastic book to initiate young readers into the world of computer programming and get them interested in the subject. Linda Soules has a very systematic way of explaining the concepts touched upon in this book. I found it both informative and engaging. For example, the different aspects of computer programming and coding are thoroughly explored in a writing style that will certainly appeal to young readers. Like the other books in this series, this one is also a fun educational guide. For any parent who wants their child to take up programming, this book is a great start."

"So You Want To Be A Coder by Linda Soules introduces children to the world of computer programming in a thoughtful and expansive way. The book explains what coders do, where they work, the tools they use, the joys and frustrations of the job, and the qualities that make someone suited to it. Rather than treating coding as a flashy mystery, it presents programming as a patient craft built from problem-solving, curiosity, communication, and a willingness to keep trying when things break.

What I appreciated most was the book’s honesty. As a parent, I’m used to children’s career books that make every job sound shiny and effortless, but this one gives coding texture. It talks about failure without making it feel scary, and it explains that much of programming is reading, testing, fixing, asking better questions, and learning how to sit with not knowing. The writing has a calm confidence to it, and at its best, it makes coding feel less like a secret language for a certain kind of kid and more like a patient conversation between a curious mind and a machine.

The artwork gives the book a warm, almost storybook glow that softens a subject that could have felt dry. I liked the cozy desks, city windows, libraries, bedrooms, and team spaces, because they make the work feel relatable and lived-in. Some pages are more text-heavy than I’d expect for a traditional picture book, so younger children may need an adult beside them to slow the pace and talk things through. But that also gives the book substance. It doesn’t just skim the surface. It respects kids enough to explain real ideas, from debugging and version control to open-source communities and the quiet importance of writing clearly.

I found this to be a sincere, intelligent, and encouraging children’s book that treats children as capable thinkers. It’s a book to read together, especially with a child who likes puzzles, games, building things, or asking how everything works. I’d recommend it to curious elementary and early middle-grade readers, particularly those who might enjoy computers but need a clearer picture of what coding actually feels like."

"This is an adorable and informative book about what it entails to be a coder. This is perfect for a school library, a classroom or just a home if a child shows interest. The pictures were beautiful and engaging and the information on each page was also easy to absorb and understand. I learned a lot reading it and I’m sure children would love it!"

"This is a children's book, and found it to be fabulous. I have been a computer programmer for over 30 years and was curious how this book would describe the role I've played most of my life. It described the role of my profession better than any job description I've ever read. Anyone curious about computers and how they work will love it."

"This is such a great way to help kids (and adults) truly realize and understand what a coder actually does. It gives some history but also conveys the importance of grammar and writing skills, things kids still need to learn in school. The illustrations are very colorful helping the reader to visualize. Good book."

"This gem of a book does something rare in tech literature; it makes the world of coding feel human and accessible without dumbing anything down. The 'Day in the Life' section walks readers through a real programmer’s day with warmth and specificity, and the section on qualities of a great coder stands out for highlighting patience with failure, curiosity, empathy for future readers of your code, and comfort with not knowing, a refreshingly honest take for beginners who assume they aren’t 'smart enough.'

This a must-read for anyone considering coding or for educators and parents wanting to give a young person an honest window into a valuable careers."

"This was a great read. Lots of kids want to work with computers or work in coding. This is a fun and unique way for them to learn about the job, what is required and some of the basics of the job. The pictures are just wonderful and complete the explanation perfectly."

"I didn't expect much from a kids book about coding, thinking it would be very simple. I am so glad I was wrong. This book honestly made me want to change careers! It's very informative on the day to day challenges and expectations of coding. I enjoyed that it gives the reader a sense of 'you can do this, give it a try!'. The lessons in patience with failure, critical thinking, creativity, giving back, and logical solutions are one for the books (seriously lol). I especially connected with the author in the way the book showed that mental and physical health directly impact the outcome of your work. 10/10 recommend for anyone of any age curious about programming. (It also includes a TON of resources and stepping stones to get you started in your journey!)"

"This is a kid friendly book geared towards becoming a computer programmer-including how to obtain the degree, perhaps the tough parts of the job and the endless possibilities of the career. It still adds the magic for kids and it’s a fun read for both kids and kids at heart!"

"As a first-grade teacher, I am always looking for books that introduce students to different careers in a way that is engaging, easy to understand, and inspiring. So You Want to Be a Coder (Computer Programmer) by Linda Soules does exactly that.

What I appreciated most about this book is how it takes a career that can seem complicated and breaks it down into concepts young readers can understand. Coding is such an important skill in today's world, but many children only see the games and apps they use without realizing there are creative people behind them designing and building those programs. This book helps connect those dots.

Linda Soules does a wonderful job of explaining what coders do while keeping the information interesting and accessible. The text is informative without feeling overwhelming, and it encourages students to think about problem-solving, creativity, and perseverance; skills that are valuable no matter what career path they choose.

As a teacher, I especially liked how the book sparks curiosity. Several of my students would likely walk away wondering how their favorite video game was made or what it takes to create an app of their own. Those are exactly the kinds of questions that lead to deeper learning.

Overall, So You Want to Be a Coder (Computer Programmer) is an excellent addition to any classroom or school library. It introduces students to a growing career field while encouraging them to think creatively and explore new possibilities. I would happily recommend it to teachers, parents, and young readers who are interested in technology and discovering how the digital world works."

"This book is a great into to coding. As a mother of a child interested in the subject, this is a great way to get them started. It goes over all the important things to know and makes it not so overwhelming. It even provides further relevant resources on the subject which is very helpful."

"This is a great book and helps children understand what their job and life would entail if they chose to pursue this job. It would give them details in their day to day life on the job, what education they should have to pursue this career, and the ups and downs of being a computer programmer! overall a great introduction to the field and job itself."

"I love this series - gorgeously illustrated, and with enough background history, accurate insight and thoughtful advice on each occupation to be a legitimate career map for young people. For future coders, this book nails the daily logistics, challenges and frame of mind needed for this kind of work."

"I purchased this for my grandson. He loves creating on his laptop and computer and I thought this was a perfect book to let him dive in and understand more about programming. It had so much that it explained and was easy for him to understand. Definitely a great pick."

"This is a great book to teach kids the basics of what being a programmer is like. It doesn't have a ton of text, and there's a lot of nice illustrations. It explains basic coding terms, what a workday might look like, includes some fun facts and information about people historically important to the field, and other relevant information but explained in a way kids can understand. I'd recommend this to any kid that shows an interest in coding!"

"Looking for some engaging reading for my kids this Summer. I absolutely love this book....from detailing what a coder is, to a break down of a day in the life, this book even goes into what my kids can start doing now to pursue a career in coding.

The best part is this is only 1 of 100 in the So You Want To Be A .... collection.

Love it!! Will be picking up more for my kids to explore the possibilities for their future."

"This book is fantastic if you want a simple way to explain coding! It is not only great for kids but also for adults to learn how to code quickly!"

"Coding is definitely becoming a much needed job as technology progresses. This is a great book to kickstart a conversation with young kids. The glossary in the end is extremely helpful for kids as well"

"These book series are so detailed and give so much information. The graphics as always are STUNNING. The information is complete and interesting. Everything from tools and topics to learn, this book is ideal for future coders to learn about the basics and day to day."

"Beautiful illustrations to go with the words. Great intro to coding and the aspects of their work: where they work, the teams, where all their work impacts, pros and cons of the job, etc."

"I'm really enjoying this series!

This book does a great job of explaining coding in a simple, easy-to-understand way without making it feel overwhelming.

What I love most is that these books aren't just for kids. As a parent, they help me answer questions about careers that I might not know much about myself. The information is broken down in a way that's easy for both children and adults to understand, which makes learning together a lot of fun."

"This is a great book for kids who want a career in computer programming. It is a part of a series on careers to think about. It goes through what one does on this job, the mental aptitude needed for this job and how you can get started. It explains how a coder and his work run hospitals, space programs and more.

It also gives a brief history of famous people in this field in the past. It has a bibliography and a vocabulary page. It also has many pictures to further explain this career. It has a great place in a school library or a home school learner's library.

This would appeal to many kids. Buy it-or give as a gift."

"I found this book to be an excellent introduction to coding. I love how easy it is to see all the steps and requirements if you want to write code. Not only is it easy for kids to understand, but also for this grandma in her 50's! It gives a great overview of what the good and bad parts of the job are. It will help any beginner get a clear view whether coding might be a good option for them."

"This book is an amazing starting point for kids that want to try coding. The pictures are phenomenal and the book explains so much about programming and what a day as a coder looks like. I also like that it has a glossary and steps to take to start your programming journey."

"The book made me want to look into coding. It really made an impact on me to think about how many things run on code. I enjoyed the parts about the famous coders in history. I would definitely recommend this book to someone interested in coding."

"I don't have a kid old enough for this, but I read it myself, and it was quite informative about coding on a beginner level. I actually learned more about it and enjoyed it. It wasn't too difficult to understand. I would recommend."

"Very good introduction to becoming a programmer. My husband is a programmer and so I can see as an outsider that this is a good description of the job. You have to be okay with failure. Failure is inevitable in this profession, and means that you are working through a problem. If you work through it completely, you will eventually succeed. And that feels good! I’ve seen my husband go through this 100,000 times. Working on fixing a bug, irritated with it, cannot figure it out. Then as he persists he gets ideas, tries them, fails again. Then finally finds the correct solution. The satisfaction he feels in those moments is great. This is a wonderful thing to help young people get acquainted with that it really takes to be in this career."

"This book provides a plethora of great information for any youth/young adult interested in learning about coding. It goes into details about what the job is, what skills someone in that field learns/develops, and an idea of the jobs workflow/day-to-day workload. Lastly, I love how it repeatedly encourages not giving up after failing or something not going right and that there are examples of famous people who pioneers the field of coding."

"So You Want To Be A CODER (Computer Programmer) by Linda Soules is a career guide written for kids and teens, but it’s honest and practical enough that anyone curious about coding can get something from it. The whole book is built around one simple idea: programming is just writing instructions. You’re not doing magic, you’re translating what humans want into language a computer can understand, and when it works you get to build things that actually help people.

Soules walks you through what a programmer’s day really looks like. It’s a lot of writing code, testing it, fixing bugs, and doing it all over again. There are meetings with teammates, planning sessions, and times when you’ll stay late to track down one error. The good news is you can do it almost anywhere at a tech company, a hospital, a school, a bank, or even from your kitchen table with a laptop. She’s upfront about the hard parts too. It’s mostly solo work, the technology changes constantly so you have to keep learning, and a lot of what you build is invisible to people. Code you write today might be outdated in a couple years, and explaining what you do to non-technical people can be frustrating.

But she also shows why people love it. The best part is creating something from nothing and watching others use it. Even a small app or game you make can make someone’s day easier. The book breaks down the skills that matter most: being curious about how things work, thinking logically, being patient when things break, reading and writing well, and communicating clearly. You don’t have to be a math genius. What you do need is to enjoy puzzles and not mind failing a lot before something works.

There are sections that make it feel very hands-on. You get a glimpse of a real day in the life, from morning stand-ups to late-night debugging. There are tools explained in plain terms like the terminal, version control, and debuggers. Soules also highlights famous coders like Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper, and Margaret Hamilton, and throws in fun facts about code running on Mars rovers and early punch cards. At the end she gives real advice for starting now: play with Scratch, practice typing, build small projects, join coding clubs, and take free online courses.

Overall, this isn’t a book that sells coding as an easy path to money. It treats it like a craft. It’s frustrating, it’s repetitive, and it requires patience. But if you like solving problems and building things, it can be deeply satisfying. By the time you finish, you’ll have a realistic picture of what coders do, where they work, what they struggle with, and whether it might be the right path for you."

"This is a great book for kids who are interested in how computers operate. It is broken down into a fun and simple way for children to understand the concepts. Additionally, it explains the main concepts such as drag and drop, coding, writing instructions into easy to understand wording so that children really understand what they are reading. There are colorful pictures and visuals on every page to keep them engaged and to see what the author Linda Soules is explaining. Additionally she uses headings to separate each section of the book so if a child is interested in one area they can easily flip to that part. This book is fantastic if a child wants to learn about technology and computers in a real world manner with easy to understand information."

"Good book for kids thinking about this or just want to know how the communication works in the world. This book shows the 'behind the scenes' look at everything that coding is in and how the world works."

"I read this with my middle schooler, and it sparked some really good conversations about how software is created and why problem solving matters. I appreciated that the book celebrates curiosity and persistence instead of making coding seem intimidating or only for experts. The explanations were easy to follow, and the real world examples made the subject feel exciting without talking down to younger readers."

"I really appreciate how the basics were spelled out and resources were cited to help anyone actually get started programming!"

"So You Want to Be a Coder by Linda Soules is a Literary Titan Book Award winner, and it's easy to see why. Beautifully illustrated with bright, vivid colors, this book immediately captures a child's attention and makes learning both fun and engaging.

Whether your child dreams of bringing a computer to life, wonders how software is created, or is simply curious about a future in technology, this book provides an exciting introduction to the world of computer programming. It breaks down foundational concepts into language that young readers can understand while inspiring them to think creatively and solve problems.

The author encourages curiosity, patience, and persistence—qualities every great programmer develops along the way. More than just a book about coding, it's an invitation to explore how technology works and to imagine the possibilities of creating something amazing.

If you have a young learner with an interest in computers, coding, or STEM, this is a fantastic resource and an inspiring first step into the world of software development."

"This is the first book in the series I have read and the illustration is just beautiful! It makes reading so much more enjoyable. Everything is organized and easy to understand for around ages 8 and up. This book in particular makes you feel like anyone could become a coder at any age."

"I'm a computer programmer/developer, and this book is spot on. Made me feel good about my profession, knowing how it is is how it's supposed to be. Most of what we do results in failure, which is the main part of the job.

Perhaps one of the most important things I picked up on is how to deal with the failure of things not working, constantly, until finally they do. Like I said, this book is a true reflection on how things are."

"This book gives a very accurate description of what skills you will need to be a successful computer programmer. If you like puzzles, have patience and the resiliency to learn from failures and mistakes this could be the career for you. I recommend this book for anyone at any age to read and start coding."