Discover Now: Computers - by Sheena Vaidyanathan (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

You see computers every day, but do you know how they work? Discover Now! MIT Kids presents an exciting "how things work" leveled reader series tailor-made for the next generation of innovators, scientists, and thinkers.

Did you know that the first computers were as big as a room? Or that they could work only with numbers, not pictures or sound? Computers have improved vastly, growing smaller and more diverse in what they can do. But what exactly is a computer? How many types do you see around you? How can computers help people in their everyday lives--from fast-food restaurants to factories, airplanes to movie studios? Have you ever looked inside a computer? For kids who are curious about the world around them comes Discover Now!, a welcoming leveled reader series written by experts and developed with educators on a range of STEM subjects. Each fact-filled nonfiction book begins with an informative note to caregivers and a table of contents, is packed with colorful photos, and ends with a picture glossary and index. This book is a Level 3 reader, perfect for curious kids who are becoming confident in their reading skills.

About the Author

Sheena Vaidyanathan is a computer scientist who worked in Silicon Valley and taught computer science and coding in public schools. She served on the Computer Science Teachers Association board of directors, developed curricula and conducted workshops for teachers, and was an early advocate for computer science education. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science, as well as a certificate in studio art, and enjoys tending her apple orchard. The author of Creative Coding in Python, she lives in Los Altos, California.