How to Code a Rollercoaster by Josh Funk

Synopsis: 

“Pearl and her trusty rust-proof robot, Pascal, are enjoying a day out at the amusement park. Spinning teacups, ice cream, and of course: rollercoasters! Through the use of code, Pearl and Pascal can keep track of their ride tokens and calculate when the line is short enough to get a spot on the biggest ride of them all–the Python Coaster. Variables, if-then-else sequences, and a hunt for a secret hidden code make this a humorous, code-tastic day at the amusement park!”

Review:

I loved Pearl and Pascal’s first adventure – How to Code a Sandcastle and this one does not disappoint! Josh takes, what can be difficult concepts, and breaks them down in a way that young kids can easily understand in a setting that isn’t even a computer or robot, but in everyday activities. I really like that he consciously uses the correct terminology while explaining it in a way that kids will “get”. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that he also throws in a little tech humor for adults too – like when the robot says, “Hello World.” And you’ll definitely want to pay close attention to the ice cream flavors! It can be difficult to balance the educational aspect with the fun aspect, but Josh does it very well.

And it doesn’t hurt that Sara’s illustrations fit Josh’s writing style beautifully. Sara is amazingly conscious of creating a recognizable environment and populating it with people from all walks of life. I love that the settings although are basic in shape and color are really full of details that you’ll want to spend some time pouring over as you read this story.

This is a must-read story for kids interested in STEM, but also to read just for fun too! And it never hurts to see a girl of color not only explaining code, but teaching it to others on the pages!

Need to Know:

Title: How to Code a Rollercoaster
Author: Josh Funk
Illustrator: Sara Palacios
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 24, 2019
Page Number: 44 pgs.