Codi Can Code and You Can Too

This book is dedicated to every child who overcame obstacles. To every child brave enough to take a risk. To every child who tried again after failing. To every child looking for heroes. To every child willing to be inspired. To every child willing to open their heart to a new challenge.

To my parents, who have encouraged me to follow my dreams. They have supported my every whim and interest. They have inspired me through their entrepreneurial endeavors and constant progress toward their goals and aspirations.

To my mother, who never turned her back on me and always strived to understand and validate me.

To my father, who always uplifted me and showed me through words and actions that I could achieve anything I set my sights on.

To my other family members and friends who are great examples of excellence, ingenuity, mission, purpose, and hope. All of you have made my life so much better. Thank you for being a part of my life and always supporting me. I love you all.

Finally, to my grandfather, the late, great Chuck Hinton. He hitchhiked 280 miles, with three dollars in his pocket, for a baseball tryout and made it into Major League Baseball. Grandpa, I miss you. I am doing what you taught me to do. Thank you for all the lessons.

Introduction

I wanted to write a book that encouraged you to dream. This is not a technical coding book. There are many of those out there. I reference them in the story about Codi’s trip to the library. This a story about a girl who had an idea and took steps to turn that idea into a reality. This is a short, fun read on how to be inspired, how to get something you dream about done, how to use resources when you need help, and how to have fun challenging yourself to create something you can be proud of. The steps Codi took are really a formula for any goal.

This is an introduction into how kids can use a simple and free platform to create video games, visual novels, and the like. Codi makes it all so simple. Whether kids have never even thought about technology or have learned about it in school, they will love Codi’s curious, bubbly personality.

I greatly benefited from STEM education. My family looked for programs that were computer science related. It started before I was in elementary school with simple games on a laptop and progressed to summer and after school coding programs and classes.

I truly have been inspired by the women I highlight in this book. This book is my ode to them. They faced obstacles but kept moving forward. The fields they chose were certainly not easy. They had to study hard and work harder. However, they succeeded against the odds. They all pursued education and studied for years to become excellent in their fields. All of them have dedicated themselves to helping others follow in their footsteps. I encourage you to look up these women and learn more about them. They are all remarkable in many ways.

The paperback version includes coloring book pages so that you can relax and dream of all the amazing things you will do with your life. I sadly couldn’t find a way to include that in an eBook. Be sure to check out the games and puzzles in Chapter 7 and exercise your mind. If you get stumped, you’ll find the solutions in the Answer Key. Oh, and there are also some