Electronics for Kids, 2nd Edition

Recorded: March 21, 2026, 10 p.m.

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Electronics for Kids, 2nd Edition | No Starch Press

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Electronics for Kids, 2nd EditionAn Introduction with 21 Fun Projectsby Øyvind Nydal DahlMay 2026, 240 pp.ISBN-13: 9781718503502Full Color Print Book (PREORDER) and FREE Ebook, $24.99
Ebook (PDF), $19.99

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Use coupon code PREORDER to get 25% off!ContentsReviewsDownload Chapter 4: Creating Light with LEDs
"Don't be fooled by the title. This collection of hands-on projects for tinkering with (and learning about) simple electronics is substantive enough to engross even gadget-loving adults."
— The Wall Street Journal
Electronics for Kids will teach you how electronics really work: what electricity is, how circuits behave, and how and why things like resistors, capacitors, and transistors do what they do. But reading about electronics isn't enough.
Across 21 hands-on projects, you'll put your new knowledge to the test. You'll learn to read schematics, solder components onto a circuit board, use integrated circuits, and think in digital logic. You'll build:

An intruder alarm
Your own electromagnet and motor
A sunrise wake-up alarm
A color guessing game
A circuit that senses touch
A secret code checker, and more

By the end of the book, you'll combine everything you've learned to design and build a playable LED reaction game from scratch, not by following a recipe, but because you understand how every part of it works. (Don't skip any chapters if you can help it!)
This second edition has been completely rewritten with all new full-color illustrations, clearer explanations, and a complete progression from basic electricity through digital electronics. Open to any page and see for yourself.
Ages 10 and up. No experience needed. Check out the table of contents for the full list of projects.
Author Bio Øyvind Nydal Dahl has been taking things apart since he was a kid. He studied electronics and computer science at the University of Oslo, where he built his own microchip. He went on to develop products including see-through wall sensors and a coffee roaster before founding Ohmify, a learning platform for electronics. He teaches workshops around the world and writes at https://build-electronic-circuits.com.
Table of contents Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I: Playing with Electricity
Chapter 1: What Is Electricity
Chapter 2: Making Things Move with Electricity and Magnets
Chapter 3: How to Generate Electricity
Part II: Building Circuits
Chapter 4: Creating Light with LEDs
Chapter 5: Blinking a Light
Chapter 6: Let’s Solder!
Chapter 7: Controlling Things with Electricity
Chapter 8: Integrated Circuits: Tiny Packets of Wonder
Part III: The Digital World
Chapter 9: The Basics of Digital Electronics
Chapter 10: Circuits That Make Choices
Chapter 11: Circuits That Remember Information
Chapter 12: Let’s Make a Game
Handy Resources
Index
View the Copyright page
View the detailed Table of Contents
View the Index
Reviews Praise for the first edition of Electronics for Kids:
“I learned and retained more in this single book than I can recall learning from my own science teacher. Most importantly, I loved reading it. I often took it to work with me in my bag.”
—The Huffington Post
“There’s no better way to learn than by doing. So go ahead, turn the page and begin your adventure into all that electronics has to offer!”
—Joe Grand, from the Foreword
“Beautifully designed.”
—Boing Boing

“Enlightening and fun.”
—The MagPi

“A great jumping off point for those who are interested in learning about simple circuits and electricity.”
—School Library Connection

“Electronics for Kids continues the No Starch Press tradition of publishing smart books that make STEM topics accessible and encourage kids to think.”
—Homeschool.com

“Electronics for Kids is a fantastic tool for diving into the world of electronics and circuitry.”
—Vivify STEM

“There’s just the right mix of reading and hands-on projects that I’m confident the kids won’t get bored. Even better, the projects won’t insult their intelligence… they feature real components, a real breadboard, and actual schematics. I have no doubt that young readers will finish this book with a solid understanding of the basics of electronics and maybe even a desire to go further and learn more… a win for a parent or a teacher!”
—GeekDad

“This kind of book is the cure for the sense of depression you feel when you go to the toy store and look at the “science” section and everything you see is crap. Just get this book.”
—ScienceBlogs

“The author has pulled off a tremendous balancing act by creating a book that is fun and interesting, that has the reader building things and making stuff happen right from the get-go, and that manages to explain the underlying theory without talking down to the audience.”
—EE Times

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Øyvind Nydal Dahl’s *Electronics for Kids, 2nd Edition* presents a comprehensive introduction to electronics, designed for individuals aged 10 and up with no prior experience, and geared toward a college graduate’s inquisitive mind. The book’s core methodology centers around 21 hands-on projects, meticulously structured to guide the reader through a progression from fundamental electrical concepts to more sophisticated digital electronics. Starting with an exploration of electricity’s nature and its application to movement and energy generation, the book systematically delves into circuit construction, soldering techniques, and the utilization of integrated circuits. A significant portion of the material focuses on digital electronics, exploring digital logic, memory circuits, and ultimately, the design of a complex LED reaction game from scratch. This project-based approach, emphasizing “learning by doing,” is reinforced by detailed explanations, full-color illustrations, and a clearly presented table of contents. The content covers topics like intruder alarms, electromagnets, wake-up alarms, color guessing games, touch sensors, and secret code checkers, all within a framework that seeks to instill a fundamental understanding of how circuits operate. The second edition notably expands on the initial material, incorporating rewritten explanations and a refreshed graphical presentation. Dahl’s author bio details his background in electronics and computer science, including his founding of Ohmify, a learning platform, and his experience developing various electronic products. The book's design deliberately avoids patronizing language and assumes a level of engagement suitable for an individual with a college education—one seeking a substantive introduction to electronics without condescension. Positive reviews from publications like *The Wall Street Journal*, *The Huffington Post*, and *EE Times* highlight the book's effectiveness in delivering complex concepts in an accessible and enjoyable manner, further emphasizing its value as an educational resource.