Classic children's books on coding reprogrammed for a new generation

Author Lisa Watts, who helped to teach a generation of children about computers a quarter of a century ago, hopes new books will inspire tomorrow’s programmers“Back in the 1980s, the big question was: what are we going to do with these computers? We were empowered – we had a ZX81 or a BBC Micro – but would we just play games with them? People wanted to find out what the change was going to be, but we didn’t know: we had no idea about the internet and things like that. Although apparently we predicted it in one of our books …”When it comes to children and computer programming, Lisa Watts wrote the book. In fact, she wrote and edited a whole series of them in the early 1980s as a key member of the team at publisher Usborne. Related: 'Great big poo balls!' What it's like making a Kano computer with your kids Related: Can programmable robots Dot and Dash teach your kids to code? Related: Are tablet computers harming our children's ability to read? Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-10-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #big question #play games #people wanted #computer programming #early 1980s #publisher usborne

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H is for Hawk wins Costa Book of the Year

Helen Macdonald's H is for Hawk (Jonathan Cape), winner of last year's Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction, has won the £30,000 Costa Book of the Year Award. The book's triumph was announced this evening (Tuesday 27th January) at a ceremony in central London. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #helen macdonald #central london


The top 10 books about returning from war

US marines veteran Phil Klay, whose short story collection about the Iraq war won a National book award, chooses his favourite books about homecoming after conflictI’ve spent years trying to untangle my feelings about returning from war, and I’m hardly the only veteran writer to do so. In his... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #world war #favourite books #veteran writer #return home


Tesco taps Kobo to offer Binkbox Books libraries when it closes

Unlike Blinkbox Movies and Blinkbox Music, Tesco hasn't found a buyer for its underperforming Blinkbox Books service. We expected the ebook platform to quietly fade into the night, along with customers' purchases, but it seems Tesco has a parting gi... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #blinkbox music #ebook platform


Eleanor Catton's tall poppy comments 'bad form' say Book Awards

Eleanor Catton showed "bad form" by speaking out against the New Zealand Book Awards, its organiser says. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #eleanor catton #book awards


Lose the Clutter, Find the Spirit: Books on Finding Calm Through Getting Organized

Four new books from spirituality and religion publishers address the practical and spiritual benefits of tossing, reordering, and simplifying. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #finding calm


'Harry Potter' comes to Oyster's all-you-can-read book service

If you're the sort of Harry Potter fan who can't help but read the series again and again, Oyster has a treat in store. The all-you-can-read subscription service has teamed up with Pottermore to carry all of the Harry Potter books, including the Hogw... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harry potter


Harris attacks BBC books coverage

Novelist Robert Harris calls on the BBC to give books more coverage "at a time when they're really fighting like crazy for a bit of space". Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #give books


S&S Children’s signs Kristina Stephenson

Simon and Schuster Children’s Books has acquired a new picture book series by author and illustrator Kristina Stephenson.   The Molly Maybe’s Monsters series features a heroine (Molly Maybe) who travels to Undermunder, a magical world, with her canine friend Waggy Burns. The first book, Molly... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ss children #schuster children #magical world


How to upload PDF and EPUB files into Google Play Books

Ever get stuck at the bar waiting for your friends to show up? That’s when I usually whip out my tablet and start catching up on reading. And since Google Play Books lets me upload PDFs and ebooks I’ve purchased elsewhere, I’ve always got something new to read on hand.It’s easy to get your own... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ve purchased #google account #google drive


Kobo Takes Over Blinkbox Books

Tesco, the U.K. retail giant and parent company of ebook retailer Blinkbox Books, has reached an agreement that will keep the digital operation in business. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #blinkbox books #retail giant #digital operation


Turkish Book Rights Market Buffeted by Currency Fluctuations

Amy Marie Spangler of the AnatoliaLit Agency surveys the Turkish book market and the challenges it faces due to currency and political fluctuations. The post Turkish Book Rights Market Buffeted by Currency Fluctuations appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #currency fluctuations


Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, January 28, 2015

A starred review for the powerful story of forgiving a murderer; eminent historian Garry Wills looks at the Catholic Church under Pope Francis. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #forthcoming religion #spirituality books #starred review #powerful story #catholic church #pope francis


Book trade figures pack Debrett's top 500

Literary agent Jonny Geller, authors Malorie Blackman, Hilary Mantel and Kate Mosse, and trade figures Nicola Solomon, Richard Mollet, Gail Rebuck, Charlie Redmayne and Tom Weldon are among the figures on the 2015 Debrett’s 500. The annual list brings together the 500 most influential and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hilary mantel #kate mosse #richard mollet #gail rebuck #charlie redmayne #tom weldon #inspiring people


blinkbox Books to close after Waterstones talks fail

Tesco will close its ebooks service blinkbox Books at the end of February after talks with Waterstones to buy the platform broke down. All 60 core staff who work on the blinkbox Books platform are now expected to enter a consultation period over their jobs and are likely to be made... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #exclusive talks #blinkbox books #consultation period #made redundant #ebook platform #bookseller understands


Children's illustrators say: 'we're undervalued'

Children’s book illustrators have argued that award organisers, the media and sometimes even collaborating writers are failing to give them enough credit for their work. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book illustrators


Harper CEO Not Testifying in Latest E-book Price-Fixing Case

In a brief brief order this week, Judge Denise Cote ruled that plaintiffs in a second ebook price-fixing case cannot depose HarperCollins CEO Brian Murray. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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International Hot Book Properties: Week of January 26, 2015

In this week's roundup of books generating interest around the globe, we look at a new Spanish novel Knopf has just acquired in the States, the new biography of Winston Churchill by London mayor Boris Johnson and an Italian thriller that has just been optioned by a local production company. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #winston churchill #italian thriller


Love and the Single Christian: Books Encourage, and Urge Caution

New books from Christian publishers offer hope, advice, and a bit of tough love for singles looking for romance. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Yellow Kite to publish Yoga Girl lifestyle book

Yellow Kite, an imprint of Hodder & Stoughton, has acquired a memoir and lifestyle guide from yoga instructor and Instagram star Rachel Brathen, titled Yoga Girl. Emily Robertson at Yellow Kite bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Philip Sane at Lennart Sane Agency. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #yellow kite #hodder stoughton #lifestyle guide #yoga instructor #emily robertson


Saqi Books Will Once Again Be Publishing in English

The Bookseller reports that Saqi Books will be resume its English-language publishing program with plans to release as many as ten titles per year. The post Saqi Books Will Once Again Be Publishing in English appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #english appeared #saqi books #bookseller reports #ten titles