I remember reading a children's book when I was in 3rd grade (ca.
1986) that dealt with understanding barcodes and gave an idea as to
how they can be read and understood.  I think it was in the context of
how to be more observant and knowledgeable about the world around us. 
I cannot find the book and I do not remember the title or author.  I
think it was yellow and had a hard cover.  Until yesterday, I thought
the author was Donald J Sobol of Encyclopedia Brown but my web
searches to that effect did not yield that result.  Can you help me?>

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Request for Question Clarification by luciaphile-ga on 11 Mar 2005 12:55 PST

Was this book one that had to do with the context of codes in general?
For example, learning how to decipher tags on items in stores?

Regards,
luciaphile-ga

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Clarification of Question by timboz-ga on 11 Mar 2005 14:37 PST

Yes, this book does speak to deciphering codes in general--such as
tags on items in stores. Thanks

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Request for Question Clarification by juggler-ga on 11 Mar 2005 15:07 PST

Could it be "Writing Secret Codes and Sending Hidden Messages" (1986)?
 The cover is partially yellow.
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=259973740

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Request for Question Clarification by juggler-ga on 11 Mar 2005 15:18 PST

Additional details about that book:

"Explains how to use secret codes, including Morse, Caesar's,
Sandwich, Rosicrucian, and others, as well as how to send hidden
messages using invisible ink, how to take fingerprints, and other
tricks and techniques."
http://www.alibris.com/search/search.cfm?qwork=7323621&wauth=brandreth&wtit=codes&matches=5&qsort=r

What do you think?

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Request for Question Clarification by luciaphile-ga on 11 Mar 2005 18:36 PST

The book I'm thinking of was a fiction piece about a couple of kids
who meet up with an older man who had a past career in cryptology. He
teaches them about basic codes and then shows how they're used in real
life. Eventually things turn more serious when real spies become
involved.

I'm not a hundred percent this is the title (I can get my hands on a
copy tomorrow to verify), but let me know if this sounds at all
likely.

The Case of the Stolen Code Book by Barbara Rinkoff
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=255386948

Regards,

luciaphile-ga

Could this be your book? It contains a chapter about UPC bar codes,
and it has yellow on the cover:

http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-076456711X,descCd-tableOfContents.html

Pinkfreud-ga:  That's not the one.  Thanks for trying, though.

Could this be the book?

Everyday Things and How They Work

"...Peek inside the machines that make daily life faster and easier,
including Yale locks, instant Polaroid cameras, telephones, fax
machines, pocket calculators, camcorders, magnetic cards and bar
codes, and laser technology."

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?isbn=0531157318&itm=87

Thanks for the idea, but not it.  The book, as I remember it,
explained these things more in the context of a novel--like boy spies
or something.

Posting this as a comment as it appears that the title I mentioned
above does not match up with the book that I remembered. Sorry about
that. Hopefully, another researcher can come up with an answer for
you.