Have some Raspberry Pi

Just starting this book. Not very technical, but you need to be somewhat geeky to engage.  Quite an impressive amount of software comes along:  Starting with Scratch, Python and Mathematica.   Want to understand how the IOT will work?   Also a great way to get the kids into computing, hardware and software.  Essential for a technically oriented child.  You can buy the needed hardware now for as little as $5. That's a buy.

Getting Started with Raspberry Pi: Electronic Projects with Python, Scratch, and Linux Paperback – November 6, 2014
by Matt Richardson  and Shawn Wallace

" ... What can you do with the Raspberry Pi, the inexpensive credit card-sized computer? All sorts of things! If you're learning how to program, or looking to build new electronic projects, this hands-on guide will show you just how valuable this flexible little platform can be.

This book takes you step-by-step through fun and educational possibilities. Write programs in Scratch and Python. Use the Raspberry Pi with Arduino. Create Internet-connected projects. Play with multimedia. With Raspberry Pi, you can do all of this and more.

Get acquainted with hardware features of the Raspberry Pi
Learn enough Linux to move around the operating system
Draw graphics, play sounds, and handle mouse events with the Pygame framework
Use the input and output pins to do some hardware hacking
Discover how Arduino and the Raspberry Pi complement each other
Integrate webcams and the Raspberry Pi Camera Module into your projects

Create your own Pi-based web server with Python ... "

See also the RaspberryPi org
And,  Programming the Raspberry Pi