Python For Kids

348 Pages·2012·13.4 MB·English

by  Jason R Briggs

PYTHON
FOR KIDS
PYTHON
FOR KIDS

A Playful Introduction to Programming

J a s o n R . B r i g g s

Python is a powerful, expressive program-
ming language that’s easy to learn and fun to
use! But books about learning to program in
Python can be kind of dull, gray, and boring,
and that’s no fun for anyone.
Python for Kids brings Python to life and
brings you (and your parents) into the world of
programming. The ever-patient Jason R. Briggs
will guide you through the basics as you experi-
ment with unique (and often hilarious) example
programs that feature ravenous monsters, secret
agents, thieving ravens, and more. New terms
are defined; code is colored, dissected, and
explained; and quirky, full-color illustrations
keep things on the lighter side.
Chapters end with programming puzzles
designed to stretch your brain and strengthen
your understanding. By the end of the book
you’ll have programmed two complete games:
a clone of the famous Pong and “Mr. Stick Man
Races for the Exit”—a platform game with
jumps, animation, and much more.

As you strike out on your programming
adventure, you’ll learn how to:

M Use fundamental data structures like lists,
tuples, and maps

M Organize and reuse your code with func-
tions and modules

M Use control structures like loops and
conditional statements

M Draw shapes and patterns with Python’s
turtle module

M Create games, animations, and other
graphical wonders with tkinter

Why should serious adults have all the fun?
Python for Kids is your ticket into the amaz-
ing world of computer programming.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jason R. Briggs has been a programmer since
the age of eight, when he first learned BASIC on
a Radio Shack TRS-80. He has written software
professionally as a developer and systems archi-
tect and served as Contributing Editor for Java
Developer’s Journal. His articles have appeared
in JavaWorld, ONJava, and ONLamp. Python
for Kids is his first book.

SHELVE IN:
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/PYTHON

www.nostarch.com

THE FINEST IN
GEEK ENTERTAINMENT™

For kids aged 10+ (and their parents)

real programming.
real easy.

REAL Programming.
REAL EASY.

$34.95 ($36.95 CDN)

Illustrations by Miran Lipovaca

PYTHON FOR KIDS
B r i g g s
PYTHON FOR KIDS

Python for Kids

Python
for Kids

A Playful Introduction
to Programming

By Jason R. Briggs

San Francisco

PYTHON FOR KIDS. Copyright © 2013 by Jason R. Briggs.

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the
copyright owner and the publisher.

First printing

16 15 14 13 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

ISBN-10: 1-59327-407-6
ISBN-13: 978-1-59327-407-8

Publisher: William Pollock
Production Editor: Serena Yang
Cover and Interior Design: Octopod Studios
Illustrator: Miran Lipovaca
Developmental Editor: William Pollock
Technical Reviewers: Josh Pollock and Maria Fernandez
Copyeditor: Marilyn Smith
Compositor: Serena Yang
Proofreader: Greg Teague

For information on book distributors or translations, please contact No Starch Press, Inc.
directly:

No Starch Press, Inc.
38 Ringold Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
phone: [phone]; fax: [phone];