Usborne

Usborne Coding for Beginners

Recommended Ages

2nd–6th grades

Parents who want a screen-free or low-screen introduction to coding often don’t know where to start. “Usborne Coding for Beginners” uses friendly illustrations and clear explanations to walk kids through programming concepts, often with projects that can be tried on free, browser-based platforms. As part of Usborne’s long-respected educational line, the book was created to demystify loops, logic, variables, and simple games for upper elementary and middle schoolers. We love the balance between comic-style visuals and genuinely substantive explanations. It’s a great fit for roughly ages 8–12, especially kids who enjoy learning from books and then trying things out on a computer. Some projects assume access to specific websites or tools, which occasionally change, but the underlying concepts transfer well. Pro tip: treat the book as a course—work through a chapter or project each week and schedule a regular “coding time” where kids implement what they’ve read.

Ideal for roughly 8–11-year-olds who enjoy following visual instructions, like LEGO-style manuals, and are ready to move beyond random tinkering into more purposeful Scratch projects.

Pros

Full-color, highly visual coding books that walk kids through Scratch projects with step-by-step screenshots, making abstract programming concepts concrete; homeschoolers and reviewers consistently highlight Usborne’s approachable style and clear progression from simple animations to more complex games.

Cons

Because the books are tied to specific versions of Scratch, minor interface changes can cause confusion, and there’s no built-in assessment or feedback beyond whether the project works; kids who dislike reading instructions or who want purely game-based learning may not engage as deeply.

As physical STEM books, they’re often reimbursable under technology or math/science line items for ESA and charter programs that cover educational materials; check your program’s rules for whether you must buy through approved vendors.

Books range from $12.45 each to $37 for the set

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Usborne Coding for Beginners
$12.00 USD

Skills

What kids will learn
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Coding
Coding
STEM
STEM

Usborne Coding for Beginners Mission

Usborne’s Coding for Beginners series is designed to demystify programming for kids by using friendly, illustrated guides to Scratch, Python, and basic web development. The books’ mission is to show that coding is a creative, step-by-step process that any child can learn, not an intimidating skill reserved for “techy” kids.

Usborne Coding for Beginners Story

Developed by the team at Usborne Publishing and lead author Louie Stowell, Coding for Beginners grew out of the need for kid-friendly resources that matched the computing curriculum in UK primary schools. The series combines simple explanations, cartoons, and progressive projects that have children building animations, simple games, and interactive web pages as they read. Sold individually and in bundled sets, the books are widely used by homeschoolers, after-school clubs, and teachers as an open-and-go way to introduce real programming concepts without relying on a subscription-based app.

About Modular Learning

FAQ: Additional Details about Usborne Coding for Beginners

During a session your child might sit at the computer with Coding for Beginners Using Scratch open beside them, typing and dragging blocks exactly as shown, then pressing the green flag to watch a sprite dance or a game character jump. When something doesn’t work, they compare their screen to the book, talk through the logic with you, and then grin when the project finally behaves as expected. 

Usborne’s Coding for Beginners series introduces children to Scratch, Python, and basic web development through colorful, spiral‑bound books full of step‑by‑step projects. Kids read a short explanation, follow screenshots to build code, and then experiment with changing variables, loops, and conditions, while families can extend learning using Usborne’s free online Quicklinks with downloadable code and curated websites. 

Many kids can follow the books independently once they get going, but an adult or older sibling who is willing to troubleshoot typos, help read instructions, and celebrate each finished project makes the experience smoother and more fun.

For Scratch, kids should be reading at about a 2nd–3rd‑grade level and comfortable using a mouse or trackpad; for Python and website projects, learners usually need solid typing skills and basic comfort with variables and sequences, often around ages 9+. 

Usborne’s colorful, step‑by‑step coding books are friendly for visual learners and can work well alongside Scratch or Python for autistic and ADHD kids. Dyslexic learners may need an adult to read instructions aloud while they focus on typing and debugging.

Refunds are managed by the retailer (for instance, Usborne distributors, online bookstores, or curriculum shops) where you purchase the set; consult their posted return policy.

Not a great fit for pre-readers, very advanced coders who are ready for Python or JavaScript, or kids who strongly prefer live classes or video tutorials to reading from a book.

Alternatives include DK’s Coding Games in Scratch, Super Scratch Programming Adventure!, Scratch’s own online tutorials, or more structured online curricula like Code.org and Tynker.

Usborne maintains Quicklinks pages where they update or replace external websites and provide downloadable project code, so even as tools evolve, the core projects remain usable; new printings occasionally refresh cover art and minor details. 

Start by doing the first project side-by-side so your child understands how to read the diagrams, then let them choose later projects themselves and encourage them to remix and expand them rather than reproducing them exactly.

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Meet Louie

Louie Stowell is a British children’s author and former children’s publisher who has written dozens of non-fiction and story books for Usborne on topics ranging from space science and politics to coding. After years working as an editor and editorial director at Usborne and later at Penguin Random House’s Ladybird imprint, she became a full-time writer and is best known for her humorous Loki middle-grade novels. Her background in both STEM-focused nonfiction and playful fiction helps her make technical topics like coding feel accessible and fun for young readers.