Member Reviews
I have adored Chris Ferrie's series of children's books that are about deep, scientific topics. The ABCs of Artificial Intelligence is yet another great example of how Ferrie teaches the next generation of STEM learners about how the world works.
My kids loved this book! It's super cute and wholesome and kept their attention the whole time during reading. I highly recommend this book and will purchase a physical copy.
Since the copy I read was an eARC, I didn't do what I typically would with a kids book - immediately flip it over to read the back before diving in. As a consequence of that, I went into this without a clue that Chris Ferrie incorporates "three levels of learning from beginner to beyond" into his books. All of that to say, if you don't know how to approach this you'll probably be as confused as I was as to how a toddler could possibly enjoy this. After realizing my mistake and giving it another chance... There was no change in my opinion that "Baby University" is stretch. The only reason my baby would have gotten through this book was because he wasn't on the move yet and had no other choice. Even now as a toddler (17ish months) he's not there yet. Kudos for the use of black, white and red so often though. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but *thumbs up* for such great contrast.
And I do love the concept of this book, I'm just not sure how effective it will be with children in practice. I want to clarify, I don't think that is a reflection of the author as much as a reflection of the topic. For example, the letter Q is for quantum physics. Regardless of the "level of learning" they're at - what the heck does quantum mean? Without context or any sort of scaffolding it's near impossible for a child to grasp what that word could possibly mean. And yes that's life, you don't know what you don't know. At some point, you didn't know any of the words that you know now. I get that. But quantum? Granted, not all of the letters are like that. In fact, more often than not I think the information is separated into logical levels and will be informative without overwhelming. But c'mon. Heuristic?
This is one of those books that is more for the parent/guardian/caretaker than for the child, in my opinion. Like if the child's mom was a mechanic, a cheeky gift would be a baby book on motors. So I'd say if someone involved with the child would get a kick out of reading this, or you're really set on the child knowing the ins and outs of AI by like, 3... Maybe hold off on this book.
{Thank you to NetGalley, Chris Ferrie and publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!}
In the crowded world of children's ABC books, Chris Ferrie's "ABCs of Artificial Intelligence" stands out as a unique and engaging introduction to a complex topic. While it might appear to be a simple alphabet book at first glance, Ferrie cleverly layers in content to grow with a child over several years.
Multi-Level Learning:
Level 1: Bright Pictures & Large Text: Eye-catching illustrations and big, bold letters capture the attention of even the youngest learners.
Level 2: Simple Definitions: Each letter is paired with a clear and concise definition of an AI-related term, sparking a child's curiosity.
Level 3: Explanatory Paragraphs: The real strength of the book lies in the in-depth explanations that accompany each letter. These well-written paragraphs provide a solid foundation for understanding AI concepts, even for older children.
This thoughtful layering makes "ABCs of Artificial Intelligence" a valuable tool for parents and educators alike. It can be used as a first introduction to the alphabet for toddlers, and then revisited throughout elementary school as a springboard for discussions about technology and AI. The clear explanations and engaging illustrations make complex concepts accessible for young minds, fostering a sense of wonder and encouraging further exploration.
Overall, "ABCs of Artificial Intelligence" is a refreshing and innovative addition to any child's bookshelf. It effectively demystifies AI for young learners, making it a must-have for parents and educators who want to spark curiosity about the future of technology.
There was a lot of good information in the ABCs of Artificial Intelligence. I like the set up of having for younger, a little older and then even older yet. I honestly believe this is a good read for adults too as they will learn something!
I probably wouldnt get this for a child until they are closer to upper elementary. My 2 year old did not care about reading this at all as nothing stood out to him. Thats the only downfall.
"ABCs of Artificial Intelligence" by Chris Ferrie, part of the esteemed Baby University series, is a delightful and educational journey into the realm of artificial intelligence (AI). Aimed at babies with its sturdy board book format, this gem is not only suitable for the little ones but also serves as a captivating read for curious adults.
Ferrie's book ingeniously covers a wide array of AI concepts, from basic terms like "activation" and "data" to more complex ideas such as "quantum computing" and "zettaflops." Each letter of the alphabet is cleverly associated with a key term in the field of AI, making learning both fun and accessible for young minds.
One of the book's most commendable aspects is its ability to cater to a diverse audience. While it's designed for babies, its content is so rich and well-explained that even adults can benefit from reading it. As a reviewer, I found myself enlightened by terms like "Yottabyte" and "Zetaflops," which were elegantly demystified within the pages of this book.
The illustrations accompanying the text are vibrant and engaging, adding an extra layer of appeal to the learning experience. The combination of clear, concise writing and eye-catching visuals makes "ABCs of Artificial Intelligence" a standout educational resource.
Moreover, this book serves as an excellent addition to any school library. With AI becoming increasingly prevalent in our society, introducing children to its concepts from a young age is both timely and crucial. Ferrie's book paves the way for young learners to develop a foundational understanding of computers and technology, setting them on a path toward future success in the digital age.
In conclusion, "ABCs of Artificial Intelligence" by Chris Ferrie is a must-have for anyone eager to explore the fascinating world of AI, regardless of age. Its accessibility, educational value, and engaging presentation make it a standout title in the Baby University series. Whether you're a parent looking to introduce your child to cutting-edge concepts or an adult seeking to expand your knowledge, this book promises an enriching and enjoyable learning experience.
Very brief look at some concepts of artificial intelligence but this book provides a great way to introduce technology to children young.
This was an easy and fun way to learn about artificial intelligence, while also learning your ABCs. I learned more multiple words I had not heard of before. My four year old and I could both learning from this book! The text and images are simple and engaging. I think this series of books are great for young readers. Start an interest in STEM early
I’ve always been a huge fan of Chris Ferrie’s science based children’s books. I love them so much I’ve bought copies for my nieces multiple times. With the increasing relevance of AI, it’s no surprise at all that we’re now seeing some new books from Ferrie. I was a little weary at first about what he’d be able to do with it, but I have to say that I’m rather pleased with the result.
This is the sort of book that I think is fantastic to give to your kids. They’re not going to understand everything about it for a while, but it’s a stepping stone into some genuinely amazing learning opportunities. I especially loved how it’s tiered to have three levels of educational content and kids can read it based on where they’re at.
I don’t think this is the kind of book that works well for super young children—they’ll probably get bored of it pretty easily, considering it’s not got a lot of color and deeply eye-catching illustrations. But it is something that would be great to slowly introduce them to.
Definitely keeping this one in mind for the future!
<i>I received an early copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>
I must admit I was very curious about this book. I couldn't imagine how they could make this for children. This is a topic that most adults, including me, don't understand. We hear about it in the news and people talk about it so I wanted to learn the basics. What better way to learn than through a children's book. I understand what binary code is and how it works so I was good with B. I think I have talked with a chatbot before online. Data okay that is information. Ethics, now here is where I wonder. There doesn't appear to be a lot of ethics in the world these days so it is important to teach about that. I won't go through the entire alphabet. Each letter is accounted for with a topic you will find in the AI field. There is a simpleish description and a drawing to go along with this. I learned a term I have not even heard on the news yottabyte. This is A LOT of bytes. Try 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. I'm old school and remember when a Megabyte was a lot of information. If you have young children I would suggest you get this book for your child so they will understand this scientific topic and be in on the ground floor.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
We are big fans of Chris Ferries baby university books in our household! This book lived up to expectations. Simple explanations for complicated topics paired with illustrations to keep babies attention. We love that there are 3 different learning levels in this book. We found that this book was even informative for us as parents. Rating 4 instead of 5 because the digital copy of this book isn't formatted very well, but I know this will be excellent as a physical copy!
This book is great! It was a lot of fun to read with my daughter. So far I’ve only read the series […] for Babies so this is my first ABC book by Baby University. I definitely want to check out more thought because I love the 3-level learning setup it has. The letters and images are great right now while we’re learning individual words. Once she’s a little further ahead, I’m excited to move to the other two levels. They were really interesting to me too since I love reading sci-fi books with AIs.