Can't Beat 'Em? Join 'Em: A Booklist for Parents of Young Gamers

As a parent of two young children during the pandemic, there are good days and bad days. Days filled with tantrums, snacking, and forgetting my Zoom classroom meetings, and days of appreciating life, living in the present, pursuing a fulfilling work-life balance, and then taking it all in as my children grow quickly and the months fly by.

It recently dawned on me that perhaps my eldest is on her tablet a little too much. In all honestly, between remote learning and social distancing, I can't say that I blame her for wanting to find solace during these wacky times, but what is it about her favorite game that has her so obsessed? "Get off of the tablet," I'll say. "I'm bored," she'll reply less than five minutes later. If you are a parent or guardian, please comment below and tell us if you too have heard this "SMH" worthy phrase and what lead to it. 

One game, in particular, is like her "pièce de résistance" and so I set out to try to understand—why does this game have such a hold on her? After actually tuning in and watching her play this game, it clicked for me. She loves to play this game because it allows her to live in a world where she can control her environment. From the creation of characters to the interior decoration of the characters' homes, to the storyline. It provides the very opposite of what current circumstances present in addition to simply being a kid.

Below are books in our collection that feature popular video games that may be of interest to your young gamer at least long enough for a little screen break. They may also help you better understand what your kids are so into and why.

ROBLOX

Inside the World of Roblox by Alexander Cox and Craig Jelley; illustrated by Ryan Marsh, John Stuckey, and Joe Bolder

Presents an inside look at the Roblox world, introducing talented members of the community and providing insider information on the games.

MINECRAFT

Minecraft: The Island ( An Official Minecraft Novel Series) by Max Brooks

An official tie-in to the globally popular video game traces the story of a new hero stranded in the world of Minecraft who must survive a harsh environment while unraveling the secrets of a mysterious island.

SPLATOON

Splatoon 09 written and illustrated by Sankichi Hinodeya

A mysterious player joins Team Blue to fill in for a missing teammate so they can compete in the Square King Ranked Battle Cup.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG

Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper written by Ian Flynn; illustrated by Jennifer Hernandez and others

Join two of the most popular new characters from Sonic's world in this classic odd-couple team-up adventure! Tangle the Lemur's got a problem: there's not enough action in her life! Whisper the Wolf's also got a problem: she's hunting down an incredibly dangerous enemy named Sonic the Hedgehog! Can Tangle and Whisper help solve each other's problems, or will they just make things worse? 

WRECK-IT RALPH

Break Into the Internet! Pick Your Player, Start Your Quest by Carla Jablonski

Things couldn't be better at Litwak's Arcade-at least as far as Ralph is concerned. In Vanellope's opinion, though, the ins and outs of her game, Sugar Rush, have become too routine. She's craving a brand-new challenge. . . . So Ralph tries to bring some excitement to the game. But things quickly go off the tracks! it'll be up to our favorite dynamic duo to venture into the Internet. Will they save Sugar Rush-and the world of Litwak's as we know it? It's your call as to which paths they take. Will you help them succeed with flying colors? Or will it be the end of the road for Sugar Rush?

NINTENDO

What Is Nintendo? (Who Was Series) by Gina Shaw (on order, but you can place a hold)

After introducing the world to some of the best-known and top-selling video game franchises of all-time, such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Pokemon, it's clear to see why Nintendo is beloved by parents as a company that creates nonviolet, family-friendly entertainment for kids.

CREATE YOUR OWN GAME

Coding Games in Scratch: A Step-By-Step Visual Guide to Building Your Own Computer Games by Jon Woodcock

With Coding Games in Scratch, kids can build single and multiplayer platform games, create puzzles and memory games, race through mazes, add animation, and more. All they need is a desktop or laptop with Adobe 10.2 or later, and an internet connection to download Scratch 2.0. Coding can also be done without downloading on the Scratch website.

Mission Python: Code a Space Adventure Game!  by Sean McManus

A space-themed guide to building a complete computer game in Python. You'll learn programming fundamentals like loops, strings, and lists as you build Escape!, an exciting game with a map to explore, items to collect, and tricky logic puzzles to solve. As you work through the book, you'll build exercises and mini-projects, like making a spacewalk simulator and creating an astronaut's safety checklist that will put your new Python skills to the test.
 

You Can Code: Make Your Own Games, Apps and More in Scratch and Python! by Kevin Petman

Want to make cool apps and games, but don't know where to begin? This book takes the complexity out of coding, as it lays out the basics with Scratch, the colorful visual language designed for newcomers. Once you can make your own games and projects in Scratch, move on to Python, which offers more flexibility and control. Step-by-step instructions guide you through creating a dancing cat, virtual puppet, word puzzle, drum machine, and more.

VIDEO GAMING

If You Love Video Games, You Could Be... by Thea Franklin; illustrated by Natalie Kwee

Do you love playing video games? Then you could be a video game writer, animator, or programmer! Learn about these careers and more in this book that includes a glossary and backmatter section of even more cool jobs for kids who like gaming!

The High Scores and Lowdowns on Video Games by Stephen Krensky; illustrated by Scott Burroughs

Learn about the history of video games in this non-fiction level three reader. In this book, readers will learn all about how video games came to be, from Pong to Pac-Man and everything in between!

Game On! : Video Game History from Pong and Pac-man to Mario, Minecraft, and More by Dustin Hansen

A middle-grade nonfiction book about the history and impact on pop culture of video games.

You might also like this blog post: E-Books for Kids to Learn Coding at Home

Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!

Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.