Computers

Children's Literature

From the beginning, the author has trouble explaining computers without using computer terminology. For young readers/listeners, it has to be disconcerting to learn that a computer can "perform complex calculations" while the accompanying illustration shows a man designing his office using "virtual reality." Later on, they get "hard drive" and "network" as more unexplained terms. Do we think that all five to eight-year-olds already understand this terminology? The 19 illustrations are good, yet with a distinctly male focus; only 5 portray females, and one of those is a dated black-and-white photo of a young woman cashier. Although basics do get explained here, I positively itched for a step-by-step example of how a student would use a computer to do a report about Pilgrims...on the food chain...on anything. Knowing that computers are everywhere—a computing chip every few feet, so to speak—won't matter much to kids. Exactly how they will be using computers would interest them a lot. Yet the concept behind all of the books in the "Kaleidoscope" series seems to be more general—a pity, because generalities are almost never compelling. As with all titles in this series, the book includes a glossary, brief bibliography, some web sites, and an index. 2001, Marshall Cavendish. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Joan Carris