I think children will be better off reading _why's (poignant) guide instead, as it will teach them both the basics of common programming and give them a primer in avant-garde literature.
That or stop treating kids like kids, give them some standard and classic books, bootstrap an environment and let them dive in.
I would have thought the poignant guide would be better to give to a teenager than a child. Even I found myself caring way more about the story and the author than the code.
That or stop treating kids like kids, give them some standard and classic books, bootstrap an environment and let them dive in.