Skyward Publishes Children’s Book: The Code Twins

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (Nov. 27, 2018) – Skyward, an administrative software provider committed to a better experience for every user, has announced the release of The Code Twins, a children’s book introducing coding concepts to young readers of all backgrounds. The book, which is sponsored by Mid-State Technical College and the Central Wisconsin Information Technology Alliance (CWITA), is currently available for download at www.skyward.com/codetwins.

The Code Twins takes young readers on a coding adventure with characters Brett, Yvette, and Cody Point Two. Along the way, Brett and Yvette help code Cody Point Two, their robot friend, to learn and accomplish new tasks. Their story, told in verse, features colorful illustrations and fun experiences which demonstrate problem solving, critical thinking, interdisciplinary learning, and more.

“This book was created around one simple question: how can we build more interest in coding,” explained Ray Ackerlund, Skyward’s chief marketing officer. “We saw a growing movement to incorporate coding in classrooms, but not enough resources to support the push in earlier age groups. The Code Twins helps fill that gap by encouraging kids to make the transition from tech users to tech creators.”

According to Code.org, only 49,291 students graduated with a computer science degree in 2015, leaving more than 570,000 jobs vacant. Such a deficit demonstrates the urgent need to build enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in all students. By introducing young readers to the idea of STEM and computational thinking during early childhood experiences, The Code Twins hopes to inspire younger age groups and close the opportunity gap.

“One of our biggest challenges as a company is finding enough developers,” said Ackerlund. “While our primary goal with this book is to build excitement for coding among kids, we are intrigued by the idea this book may inspire some kids to pursue careers in programming, which could lead them to a career at Skyward down the road.”

The Code Twins also hopes to promote diversity in STEM fields. As of 2018, only 28% of computer science AP exam students were female and just 21% of students were underrepresented minorities according to Code.org. Readers will discover that Brett and Yvette come from a biracial background, while their robot, Cody Point Two, is female.

Anyone wishing to share The Code Twins with a young reader can download the eBook in either Kindle or PDF formats at www.skyward.com/codetwins.