A collaboration of Daphne McMenemy and Brian Aspinall and the second in the Gracie series, What Happens When I Learn to Code? highlights exactly what happens when kids learn to code. Anyone can learn to code and if you can learn to code, you can code to learn! Coding can be very abstract. It is a picturesque canvas. It supports one’s spatial awareness. It’s like playing chess and being five moves ahead based on three different scenarios. This is something students must develop in the 21st century.

Quite often, the first time you write code, the code doesn’t work. That’s important because that’s when innovation and problem solving happens! There are many benefits of learning to code. Coding empowers kids and puts them in control of the device. It builds mastery through experimentation. Coding fosters problem solving, logical thinking, critical and computational thinking. Most importantly, it is a safe space to take risks and learn from failure!


“For children, learning to code is more than just a technical academic tool, it opens them to multiple experiences that can be applied to everyday life. I was very excited to have my children read this, it perfectly articulates how the fundamentals of coding can be replicated in all aspects of their lives and how stepping out of your comfort zone JUST ONCE can be the beginning of many new rewarding adventures. Gracie is a rockstar, can’t wait to see what she does next!”