Miriam Peskowitz - Code Like a Girl: Rad Tech Projects and Practical Tips

THIS IS A BORZOI BOOK PUBLISHED BY ALFRED A. KNOPF

Text copyright 2019 by Miriam Peskowitz

Cover art and interior illustrations copyright 2019 by Sara Corbett

All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

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Hardcover ISBN9781524713898

Ebook ISBN9781524713911

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To Parents and Guardians:

Some projects in this book (particularly in Chapters 4 and 5) involve the use of electronics and tools (such as sewing needles and screwdrivers) that may require your supervision. Please review these chapters before your child begins: you know her best, so please use your own judgment as to how much supervision is required. Please instruct your child on safety basics and please make sure your child reads the following note before beginning the book!

Dear Reader,

A few things before you begin reading this book:

In Chapters 4 and 5, you may come across sharp objects that, if not used carefully and with an adults permission, could be dangerous. Were talking needles, scissors, tin snips, wires, resistors, batteries, conductive thread, copper tape, and/or screwdrivers. As if that werent enough, there are activities in the book that involve such things as taking apart an old keyboard, pulling the LEDs from a light-up sneaker, and peering inside machines. You definitely want to use out-of-service objects; once were done, the keyboard, light-up sneaker, machine, etc., may no longer be usable.

So, before doing any of these things, always check first with an adult. To make it easy to know which activities you should be checking in on before starting, the chapters where you should have an adults permission are marked with a big symbol (you cant miss it!).

And, of coursesafety first! Here are some basic guidelines to keep in mind (and to keep you and the items in your home safe): never put your fingers or any objects in an outlet and check with an adult before using a plug, never pull a plug out by its cord, and never use electronics when you are near or in water. Dont steal your parents or anyone elses electronics to use for the projects in this book, and definitely dont take apart any item before first asking an adults permission. Also, before dismantling your younger siblings toys and footwear, ask them for permission, too. And while were at it, dont use email or any social media or programming platform without an adults permission. Especially if you are a kid. If youre an adult reading this, you can give yourself permission.

I know. Grown-ups. But keep reading. This journeys going to be great!

LOVE, MIRIAM

TO MY SUPERHEROES:

Meredith, Rob, FJ, Laura, Jean, Angela, Shanise, everyone else who helped me learn about code, and my mom

Dear Reader,

Welcome to girl tech world, where were going to learn some code.

Technology and code are about creativity, self-expression and telling your story. Theyre about solving problems, being curious, giggling with glee, building things, making the world a better place and creating the future. Theyre about you: whoever you are, wherever youre at, whatever you want.

Nearly everything you see on a screen is made from code: games, animation, texting, social media, websites, apps, Netflix and the whole entire Internet. All of it comes from code, programmed by real people using lots of different coding languages. Thats why code is so awesome and powerful.

You see, code is about having an idea and putting it into action. Its about your voice and your vision. From the outside, tech and code may seem puzzling and mysterious, but when you get through the door and past the first few beginner steps and your code starts to work, I tell you, it feels like magic.

When I ask coders and programmers and tech artists why they love what they do, thats exactly what they tell me: it feels like magic. Something didnt exist in the world, and now because of your code, it does. Sure, its a struggle when your code isnt yet working right, but then, finally, the run works, the app launches, the design sparkles, the electronic music springs to life. Youre a creatoryou built somethingand its the most amazing feeling in the world.

Whats ahead is a journey into tech and code. Whats code, really? Directions we use to tell machines what to do. Code comes in different languages, each having its own rules, twists and turns. The good thing? Most languages share the same basic concepts.