Roblox is an online game platform that brings together people from all around the world. A computer scientist named David Baszucki started a company in 1989 with the mission of teaching students about physics. In 2004 he created a new company called Dynablocks but soon changed the name to something more memorable, Roblox. Roblox is a combination of two words, robots and blocks. This book is a great introduction to explain what Roblox is and the timeline of how it has developed over the years. The graphics and pictures in this book give great information and help support the writing. The book is written around a 4th-grade reading level, but being 32 pages long and with supporting graphics it could be accessible to younger readers. Readers who play Roblox will not learn new tips or tricks to help them play better, but they will learn about the creators and history of how the game has come to be over the years. This book is a good explanation of what Roblox is for someone interested in the history of the game, or for someone who has not yet played the game or is just a beginning player.
Category Archives: Recommend
Coding with Mythical Creature
Adventures in Unplugged Coding is a series of books that takes the reader through 4 unplugged challenges that help the reader understand how to use higher-level thinking skills to solve problems. The connection is made between the activities and how computer code writers think. This series of books is categorized as Express! Which are classified as maker space books.
Coding with Mythical Creatures has 4 unplugged activities:
- Hey Cerberus, Fetch
- Gnome Coder
- Minotaur Maze
- Memorize the Myth!
Each activity requires a minimal amount of supplies: Paper, tracing paper, index cards, pencils, markers, dice, game pieces, timer, and small toys. The activities would be best accomplished with a partner or small group. The readers would have opportunities to solve problems together and work towards a solution, also when turning the page they will be able to learn about the solution and how that activity is related to coders.
Readers who use this book would need to read about a 3rd or 4th grade level but as long as there is one strong reader in the group they could guide others through who may be younger or have a more difficult time reading.
Coding with Dinosaurs
Adventures in Unplugged Coding is a series of books that take the reader through 4 unplugged challenges that help the reader understand how to use higher-level thinking skills to solve problems. The connection is made between the activities and how computer code writers think. This series of books is categorized as Express! Which are classified as maker space books.
Coding with Dinosaurs has 4 unplugged activities:
- Sequence a Stegosaurus
- Debug the Dinosaurs
- Save the Dinosaurs
- Time Traveler
Each activity requires a minimal amount of supplies: paper, index cards, pencils, markers, sidewalk chalk, dice, game pieces, and small toys. The activities would be best accomplished with a partner or small group. The readers would have opportunities to solve problems together and work towards a solution, also when turning the page they will be able to learn about the solution and how that activity is related to coders.
Readers who use this book would need to read about a 3rd or 4th grade level but as long as there is one strong reader in the group they could guide others through who may be younger or have a more difficult time reading.
Coding with Outer Space
Adventures in Unplugged Coding is a series of books that takes the reader through 4 unplugged challenges that help the reader understand how to use higher-level thinking skills to solve problems. The connection is made between the activities and how computer code writers think. This series of books is categorized as Express! Which are classified as maker space books.
Coding with Outer Space has 4 unplugged activities:
- Space Pudding (requires pudding powder, milk, water, and zip-top sandwich bag)
- Going Buggy with Aliens!
- Space Race! (requires straw, paper, scissors, ruler, and tape)
- Move Like a Martian (requires jump rope)
The activities would be best accomplished with a partner or small group. The readers would have opportunities to solve problems together and work towards a solution, also when turning the page they will be able to learn about the solution and how that activity is related to coders.
Readers who use this book would need to read about a 3rd or 4th grade level but as long as there is one strong reader in the group they could guide others through who may be younger or have a more difficult time reading.
Eagles in the End Zone
It is time for the football game. The Eagles are playing the Turkeys, however, one of the players on the Turkeys’ team is a Chicken. Chicken gets distracted by his grandmother in the crowd and fumbles the ball. This story simply explains the game of football using animals as characters who are more concerned about everyone having a good experience with the game and the story ends with a happy ending for all. This story is written with simple words and language and would be great for beginning readers. Using football as the theme of this story would be of high interest to some and help keep some beginning readers engaged. The illustrations in the book are very full and help to fill in the details of the story.
In Our Solar System: A Counting Poem About Outer Space
In Our Solar System captures young people’s fascination with planets and space. The use of the “Over in the Meadow” rhythm for the poems provides the information in a catchy format for younger children and aids in fact retention. Illustrations then portray the number from the poem also providing a counting opportunity for young children. Each poem is then accompanied by a paragraph detailing more complex information about the topic. As the numbers increase in the rhyming poems, the topic is moving further from the sun. Topics include: the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and comets.
The combination of short catchy rhyming poems, colorful illustrations, and interesting facts will make this a great book when reading with a diversity of ages.
Please Pay attention
by Jamie Sumner
What happens AFTER a school shooting to those who survived? This is the bittersweet story of a girl dealing with survivor’s guilt and traumatic memories from a day that no one ever thinks will happen in their school. 6th grader Bea is now wheelchair bound and too afraid to go back to school. The people around her want to change things so that events like this won’t happen again, but Bea just wants to forget & pretend it didn’t happen. But it did and learning to face her memories are a big part of the story. The past unravels with flashbacks to help the reader understand the horrific event in a middle school appropriate way. Told in verse, the lines are both haunting and accessible. The story is sad and hopeful-ish. This book might have triggers for some students. It’s an important book, sadly, in this day and age.
Meet me at Wonderland
by Devillers, Julia
This fun, lighthearted story of a summer romance at a local amusement park will have readers chuckling along at the character wearing the giant, sweaty moose costume and her fellow amusement part co-workers. Coco and her family are trying to save their family owned theme park. Cute boy, Henry, is just trying to survive a summer without soccer and make a little money to pay back his business-obsessed dad. The two find that summer won’t be so bad with new friends. I enjoyed this sweet story of boy meets girl/moose. It had plenty of humor, moose puns galore, & lots of heart. The story is told in alternating points of view. Perfect for both male & female readers. I enjoyed this light read this summer!
After-School Heroes: Shuri Takes Control
Written by Terrance Crawford, Illustrated by Dave Bardin
The After-School Heroes series is aimed at beginning chapter book readers. Larger print, illustrations on most pages, and simplified sentence structure all support early reading skills. Shuri Takes Control follows Shuri, from the Black Panther universe, as she works to stop an evil takeover of Stark Center. While other superheroes make appearances, it’s Shuri who takes the lead in saving her friends.
The story highlights the importance of perseverance, and Shuri herself is a fantastic role model, especially for kids interested in STEM. Her intelligence, creativity, and bravery are highlighted throughout the book.
The vocabulary will be more accessible for kids who are already fans of superheroes, particularly those familiar with the Marvel universe and Black Panther. That said, early readers may still need support with some of the trickier words. Overall, though, this is a strong addition to any early chapter book collection, particularly for superhero-loving kids looking for adventure.
Abuelita’s Song
Written by Gloria Amescua and Illustrated by Mariyah Rahman
A sweet story inspired by the author’s own invented lullaby, Abuelita’s Song is a beautiful celebration of family connection. Spanish words and phrases are woven naturally throughout the text, along with the lullaby itself (presented in both Spanish and English), which adds depth to the story. Since the song appears many times throughout the book, readers should be prepared to sing if reading it aloud.
The illustrations are bright and full of warmth, perfectly capturing the love shared by this family. There is a deep sense of heart and affection on every page, and I can see many kids gravitating toward this book for a sense of comfort and love.