Appendix
Anna’s Section

As a father to a daughter, I’ve found that writing this book is an incredible teachable moment. Anna has grown up with a house full of books, and opening her eyes to the possibility of creating one is great fun for me. I hope it inspires her to take on future challenges.

One Tuesday morning, as I woke up Anna for the day, I told her that I had good news. After getting her to bed the previous night, I had written 500 words and finished off Chapter 9. She replied that that was good work, but I still had four chapters to go. She knew very well that I had skipped Chapter 2 because I didn’t have inspiration to start it. Anna warned that this left a hole in my book and wondered how could I know where the story would go.

I love the way she thinks and assured her it wasn’t a problem because it’s not that kind of book. It’s to teach rather than tell a story. My plan was to complete more of the book and then go back to Chapter 2. That way I could set up common ideas and themes once I discovered them. At that point, Anna jumped out of bed. She said she’d help me write some of Chapter 2 while I made breakfast. I went to the kitchen to get started while she grabbed a pencil and paper and started working in the living room.

Catching a quick peek at my daughter, I saw her a study of concentration as she labored over her work. She’s always been a creative person, but with her being age 7, I had no idea exactly what she’d come up with. We had to get the day started, but I was willing to wait while she finished. I’ve always encouraged her to have her own ideas and follow through whatever she starts.

Anna walked up to me with her paper in hand, ready to hear my response. Of course I gave her my full attention. Looking straight into her earnest face, I listened as she read her report. When you see it on the next page, you can easily guess how proud I was of her. After Anna read her page, all I needed to do was give her a big hug and a smile. I could tell she was pleased with her writing and was ready for us to chow down on some tasty breakfast.

As a father and programmer, it’s a privilege that I can share my passion for writing code with my daughter. We’ve finished many projects in the past and this book most recently. I can’t wait to see what our future holds!