The History of Video Games: A Coloring Book (Dover Kids Coloring Books)
Dover Kids Coloring Books Series
illustrations by
What’s inside...
Hunter Logan’s Dover Kids Coloring Book takes young readers and artists on an illustrated journey from the earliest computer games of the 1950s to the global, multi-platform industry of today. Short, factual captions accompany each black-and-white image, explaining the technical advances, creative risks, and cultural moments that shaped arcade cabinets, home consoles, handhelds, and mobile gaming. Children learn while they color pioneers like Pong, Space Invaders, Super Mario, and Minecraft, discovering how imagination, perseverance, and teamwork turned simple pixels into a worldwide pastime.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-8
Length
64 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Which gaming era looked most exciting to you, and why?
How did technological changes affect the kinds of games people played?
What lesson can we learn from the 1983 crash?
If you could invent a game, what problem would it solve?
Tip: Role play these questions
Color alongside your child to spark natural conversation.
Relate milestones to your own gaming memories for connection.
Encourage kids to draw their own game concept after finishing.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Perseverance after failure
Explanation: The 1983 crash section shows how the industry rebuilt itself.
Real-World Application: Children learn to keep trying after setbacks at school.
Example Lesson: Creative problem-solving
Explanation: Developers used limited hardware to craft fun experiences.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply ingenuity to art, science fairs, or coding.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and collaboration
Explanation: Online games illustrate the power of community efforts.
Real-World Application: Encourages cooperative projects and respectful online behavior.