Book About Video Games

I am going with a non fiction text this Thursday, and a video game one at that!  Does that make me a hero to fourth grade boys everywhere?  Probably not, but perhaps I am just a little bit cooler to my sons who currently see me as a transportation and food delivery device.

Don't forget to Like One Great Book on Facebook and Twitter for all the video game books you and your kids can both appreciate.  Imagine telling your kids they have to read and then handing them a book about the creator of Super Mario ... tell me you wouldn't like that moment.

Title:       The Biggest Names of Video Games

Author:  Arie Kaplan

Target:   Grades 3 and up

Series:     Yes

What this book is about: 
Think of Donkey Kong, Mario Brothers, Sims and Pokemon.  Their cultural influence is worldwide, but do you have any idea who is responsible for these creations?  This book looks at the early history of video games and the men (and woman) who are responsible for the games that launched the video game industry. 

Why I love this book: 
Well given how much time my kids have invested in playing these games (and I have invested at yelling at them about not playing these games) it is amazing how ignorant we all are about them.  It was fun to learn about some of the people responsible for these creations, their inspiration and tenacity.

I also appreciated some of the history of the gaming industry.  I don’t think our kids realize how primitive things were in the “early days” when batting a round ball across the screen was considered big stuff.

Who this book is for: 
This book is quite short and sweet, but despite looking like an early reader it is actually for older kids.  The vocabulary is far too sophisticated for a beginning reader.  The kids who will enjoy this book are ones with an interest in video game design.

Final thoughts: 
Looking forward to more women in the sequel.  As the book says, “There’s still a long way to go before the gap between men and women is closed, but today’s game creators are making it happen.”  Does anyone know if a woman invented Candy Crush?

To purchase this book:
Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: The Biggest Names of Video Games (Shockzone - Games and Gamers)  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog at no cost to you.