Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Read

Amazon

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Libby

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Screenwise Verdict

This is what edutainment should be: genuinely educational without feeling like homework, entertaining without dumbing down the content.

The Science Comics series has figured out something special—taking topics that could be dry (computer architecture, coral reefs, dinosaurs) and making them so engaging that kids voluntarily re-read them. A Victorian T-Rex teaching computer science sounds like it should be a disaster, but parent reviews are consistently enthusiastic, with kids actually absorbing real technical concepts.

The 'technology isn't magic' message is particularly valuable in 2025, when kids grow up surrounded by devices they don't understand. This book says: you can understand this stuff, it's not beyond you, it was made by people. That's empowering without being preachy.

If your kid has any interest in how things work, or if you want to sneak some actual computer literacy into their reading diet, this is a solid bet. The comic format means it doesn't feel like a textbook, but they're learning real concepts. Win-win.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8-14, though younger kids with strong interest in how things work could handle it with some support. The comic format and humor make dense STEM concepts accessible, but you need enough patience and curiosity to dig into actual computer architecture.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

88

A Victorian T-Rex professor narrating computer science fundamentals hits the sweet spot of educational without being preachy. The 'screwball comedy romp' approach keeps things light and fun, and the core message—that technology isn't magic, it's made by humans you can understand—is genuinely empowering without being heavy-handed. Parent reviews consistently mention kids reading these books 'over and over,' which signals healthy engagement rather than overstimulation.

Imaginative

92

A time-traveling dinosaur teaching computer architecture? That's bonkers in the best way. The series takes dense STEM topics and makes them accessible through wild storytelling choices. The premise itself—that kids can understand what 'other people have figured out'—invites curiosity and demystifies technology. Reviews praise the 'gorgeously illustrated' books and 'light-hearted, approachable voice,' suggesting the imaginative framing actually works to make complex concepts click.

Safe

95

It's a middle-grade nonfiction book about computer science. No concerning content flags anywhere. The series is aimed at ages 8+ with consistent positive parent feedback and no mentions of inappropriate themes, scary imagery, or problematic content. Books are inherently low-risk for unexpected content, and this one's educational focus makes it even safer. The only 'danger' here is your kid explaining CPU architecture at dinner.

Enriching

94

This is STEM education disguised as entertainment, and apparently it works. Teaching actual computer architecture fundamentals—how machines calculate, process commands, run programs—gives kids genuine technical literacy. The 'technology is created by human beings' message builds confidence and agency. Multiple parent reviews mention kids re-reading these books obsessively, and one fifth-grader was 'madly in love' with the series, suggesting it's hitting both the educational and engagement marks. Amazon's 5-star rating backs this up.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Takes genuinely complex STEM concepts (computer architecture, programming fundamentals) and makes them click through wild storytelling
Kids are apparently reading these 'over and over'—one fifth-grader was 'madly in love' with the series
The core message is quietly radical: technology isn't magic, it's made by humans, and what they figured out, you can understand too
Comic format with gorgeous illustrations keeps dense material engaging and accessible
Perfect 5-star Amazon rating and consistently glowing parent reviews across multiple volumes in the series

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What to Watch For

This is actual computer science—your kid might start explaining CPU cycles and you'll have no idea what they're talking about
The humor is goofy (time-traveling dinosaur professor), which most kids will love but some might find too silly
Reading level is middle-grade but the concepts are sophisticated—best for kids ready to think about how things actually work

Conversation Starters

"So Professor Brunel is a T-Rex from the Victorian Era? How does that even work? What's the weirdest way you could imagine teaching something?"
"The book says technology isn't magic—it's made by people. What's something you use every day that you'd like to understand how it actually works?"
"If you could build a computer to do one specific thing, what would you program it to do?"
"What was the most surprising thing you learned about how computers actually work?"

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