Look inside how computers work

How to buy this book

Hardback
£9.99

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Quicklinks

Click on the links to visit the recommended websites.

All about computers

Websites to visit

Computers are everywhere!
To see some useful jobs computers do, scroll down and try the activities.

How do we use algorithms every day?
Scroll down to watch a video clip or try an activity. (NB The video may not work where you are due to BBC copyright restrictions.)

Find out how coding is used to make video games

Watch a video about the computer language called Scratch

What is a robot and how do robots work?

Computer and coding activities

Websites to visit

Try a quiz game about the parts of a computer and what they do

Can you program a robotic arm?
Drag icons in "Actions" and drop them in the correct box in "Steps".

Follow a step-by-step guide to coding a flappy game
Try the first puzzle. If you need help, click on “Flappy Intro” at the bottom left of the screen for a short video clip.

Try a simple coding game - give a robot correct instructions to move
Click "Online Flash" to try the game on a desktop or laptop, but please note, Flash may not work on all browsers. Please ask a grown-up before clicking on the links for the iOS or Android apps.

Look at some pixel pictures and see if you can identify them

Play games to find out more about computers
Click on Nina to begin. (NB Cbeebies is only available in the UK due to BBC copyright restrictions.)

Important!

Internet safety

Children, make sure you follow these three simple rules when using the internet:

Always ask an adult's permission before using the internet.
Never give out personal information, such as your name, address, school or telephone number.
If a website asks you to type in your name or email address, check with an adult first.

For more tips, see Internet safety for children.

Adults - we recommend that children are supervised while on the internet. The content of a website may change at any time and Usborne Publishing is not responsible for content on sites other than its own.

For more on internet safety, see Internet advice for adults.

Using a tablet or smartphone?

Websites with interactive content may not work on your tablet or smartphone, but you can view them on a computer. Find out more…

About this book

Look inside
Look inside how computers work

Just what goes on behind the screen, beneath the keyboard and inside the electronic ‘brain’ of a computer? This colourful book has 70 flaps to lift to uncover what happens when a computer is switched on, how coding works and the story of the first computers. A fun and informative introduction to a key UK curriculum topic.

View sample pages from this book.

See the other books in this series.

Alex Frith

Alex Frith has been a children's author for more than a decade, covering every topic on Earth, from prehistoric animals to robots with artificial intelligence, and everything under the Sun, from the origins of the Universe to the adventures of Thor, God of Thunder. At home he reads too many comics, and attempts to raise three children with an awful lot of help from his wife, and no help at all from his cat.

Press Reviews

This book will help anyone understand how computers work... The information is presented clearly and in such a fun and interactive way that children will hardly notice how much they’re learning.
LoveReading4Kids

This is a colourful and detailed introduction to an increasingly hot topic in the world today... not only a fab book for young budding tech fans, it'll also come in very handy with any ICT homework.
Wordery

The book is packed full of educational information to engage your child, from the history of computers through to how computers work and basic coding... a brilliantly written and presented educational resource, with endless facts to stimulate older as well as younger minds.
First4Dads

Colourful, fun and very informative.
Inis Reading Guide

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Midi files

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