Father, son pen book on computer programming
Posted Jul 3, 2009 By Sabine Gibbins
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Tweet ThisWarren Sande was having no luck trying to find a book on computer programming for his young son, Carter. He had tried every possible bookstore and outlet, but it didn't seem like there were any practical options available.
Then Sande's wife Patricia had an idea. If he couldn't find a book on computer programming for children, then why not create one? It would be a great project for the two to work on together.
He proposed the idea to Carter, who is nicknamed "Tech Support" at school and loves anything to do with computers (especially when it comes to de-bugging them), and he grew excited about the project. After all, he has been playing and experimenting with computers since the age of two.
And so, the two set out on a unique father-son partnership - and wrote a book on computer programming for kids entitled Hello World! Computer Programming for Kids and Other Beginners.
They would spend countless hours thinking about what would be in such a book, how to make it fun and engaging to the readers, write chapter outlines, and sample programs.
The end result is an illustrated, kid-friendly introduction to computer programming.
Last Wednesday, June 24 the Sandes launched their book at John Young Elementary School in the Glen Cairn community of Kanata.
Profits from sales of the book that night went to Families for Families, a project organized by The Greenwoods Academy which provides shelters for poverty-stricken areas in Haiti through the Partners in Health program. Carter's sister Kyra attends The Greenwoods Academy, and Carter, who enjoys fundraising for different events, thought it would be a nice idea to contribute to this charity.
"When I heard about it, I thought it was a really great charity," says Carter.
The launch raised $600, and well over 100 people came to the event.
About the book
The book teaches programming using a computer language called Python. Python is free and is available for download from several places (including the book's website).
Python was chosen as the programming language featured in this book because it is easy to learn, and it is about the easiest to read, write and understand of any computer program Warren have seen. Python is also used by thousands of professionals around the world.
In order to learn computer programming, all one needs is the book, a computer (with Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux on it. The examples in the book are done in Windows.), basic KA1
done in Windows), basic knowledge of how to use your computer, permission to install Python on one's computer, and of course, the desire to learn something new.
This book is for anyone, says Sande, who is interested in computers and wants to know how they work.
Hello World! covers the basic concepts of computer programming, including memory, looping, decisions, input and output, data structures, graphics, and many more. It then applies to fun and interesting topics like computer graphics, game programming, and simulations.
In the book, right from the very beginning, the reader meets Carter - a child who is learning to use the program, as well as a cast of colourful characters, all drawn by illustrator Martin Murtonen.
Sande and his son met Martin for the first time on Wednesday, having only communicated through email or over the phone during the past three years or so while working on the book.
Sande remarks it was essential to have Murtonen on board this project, saying it was difficult to find such an illustrator (and a local one, at that) appropriate for this type of book.
"I got an email out of the blue one day asking me if I would be interested," said Murtonen. It was without hesitation that he said yes.
"Everything was done online. Warren knew what he wanted. (He was) pretty much the editor on that side of things."
Collaborating on a project with his young son is perhaps a time in Sande's life that will be cherished forever. He says working with his son was "a lot of fun.
"We would sit down and come up with ideas for programs, and we both gave suggestions on what we wanted to see in the book," he says. "It was a very personal thing. We never really got frustrated at each other. We were always in sync."
Carter, a very imaginative, smart, and thoughtful boy (soon to turn 10 in July), says he enjoyed the experience of writing a book.
"One of the things I particularly liked was that I could look back on it and say that I did that," he says.
He soon found himself working on the book in the evening instead of his usual bedtime stories.
Patricia says this book just goes to show that anything is possible if one sets a goal.
"It is my wish that people will not only learn how to program a computer with this book - that they will see that anything is possible if you put your mind to it," she says. For more information, please go to www.helloworld.com
