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Right now, Miriam Tocino is coming. She's a coder, a programmer, and a mom. She's dedicated to making computers more approachable, friendly, and easy to understand—not only for kids but for grown-ups as well. She even makes teaching approachable for adults. Thank you for introducing me to teaching, Miriam. She's the author of Zerus and Ona, a book series that teaches young children about the digital world without the need for a screen.
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Hello, everyone! Thank you, Arno, and everyone else for being on the other side today. My name is Miriam Tocino, and I am a software developer, a programming teacher, and the author of the Zerus and Ona book series. This series is designed to get young children excited about technology and to introduce them to the digital world through the power of books.
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The inspiration for this book series came three years ago when I had my son. I started thinking about how I wanted to introduce him to the world of computers. One day, sitting in the living room late at night—because our baby didn't sleep much—my husband and I, both of us working in the tech industry, started imagining how cool it would be to write stories that take place inside a computer. Stories about how computers perform calculations, produce graphics, or how the internet works, narrated by zeroes and ones—our characters Zerus and Ona.
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These characters live inside your computer alongside millions of others—all the zeros and ones—in the binary world. Now, let me take you back to my childhood. I haven’t always been passionate about computers. In fact, my dad always wanted me to pursue computer science, but as a child, I found computers to be gray and boring. I wanted something more creative, colorful, and something that could help people.
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Instead, I studied architecture in college. I worked as an architect for several years in various countries across Europe. It wasn't until I met my boyfriend, now husband, that my perspective started to change. He is a game programmer, and his love for his work led us to have many conversations about programming and coding. I vividly remember one late-night discussion about the difference between inheritance and composition, and how much I enjoyed those conversations about design patterns. This experience opened my eyes to how exciting being a programmer could be.
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In the summer of 2013, after some time living together, I decided to quit my job as an architect. I stayed at home for six months, teaching myself how to code through online courses. Yes, I've tried them all. I quickly transitioned to being a software developer and later became a programming teacher, showing others how to switch careers as well.
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It took me 29 years to find the colorful, creative, and human side of technology, and I don't want the same to happen to today's children. Recently, I attended a conference in the UK—the Weir Tech Women Conference—where a dad reached out to me about his six-year-old daughter. He wanted her to get into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) but said that she views technology as a 'boy thing.' He asked for advice on how to encourage her interest in STEM. His words took me back 30 years to when I was in a similar situation. After my research for Zerus and Ona and discussions with many parents and teachers, I realized he is not the only one facing this challenge.
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Many girls still see computers as something not meant for them. With Zerus and Ona, I want to intervene and support these girls. They represent a tool that my dad didn't have years ago when I was a child. During a recent event, I started reading with a four-year-old girl who was fascinated by my book 'Zerus Gets a Virus,' the first in the series. She began explaining to me what she knew about Trojans, worms, and bots—how they can infect computers. I was so surprised to learn she enjoyed reading the book several times a week.
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But my books aren't just for girls. It's crucial to reach out to boys as well. That's why I've created two characters for my series, Zerus and Ona—a boy and a girl—to represent an equal relationship and promote collaboration. I want both girls and boys to identify with the characters and learn together how to navigate the world of computers.
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There is a significant reason why I use illustrations and storytelling to teach kids about computers. These were two things I loved most as a child. They serve as an effective communication vehicle, enabling us to reach our kids. The medium we use becomes an opportunity for connection.
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Take my new book 'Welcome to Our World' as an example. It is written as a short poem telling the story of how Zerus and Ona first met inside a computer. I'm currently collaborating with a musician to turn it into a song, incorporating some cool sounds.
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The whole process allows us to engage kids visually and musically. You could start by reading the book together, introducing them to Zerus and Ona, and later sharing the song. That way, they can learn that code is used to create music. By the time it’s time for them to learn coding, they'll already be excited and curious about it. Not every child needs to become a programmer, but they should understand that knowing how computers work gives them 'superpowers.' It will be an essential part of their toolkit to express themselves and create their own worlds in whatever way they choose.
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Let me share a personal experience. Zerus and Ona bring together what I've been learning over the past 20 years—architecture, programming, and teaching. However, if I were to choose which of these experiences gave me the most confidence to move forward with my project, it would undoubtedly be my coding skills. Knowing that I had the ability to build my own website, manage my shop's domain, customize templates, and handle everything gave me a tremendous boost. I believe it's essential to provide fresh, exciting, and innovative methods to introduce kids to the world of computers, ensuring they see them as approachable, friendly, and easy to understand.
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This picture shows a whiteboard from one of my classes, illustrating how students learned about Rails. From my teaching days, I learned the importance of storytelling, especially when teaching something new. In my classes, I talked about code as much as we coded. Many of my students can tell you how I often say, 'Close your laptops; it's time to talk!' They felt more confident after hearing my stories about various programming concepts.
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With Zerus and Ona, I aimed to incorporate elements of my teaching into homes, to help parents open up conversations about technology. Alongside the book series, I created 'The ABC of Computers,' a free newsletter designed to help families develop their storytelling collection regarding computers.
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All episodes are available on the website, and you can check them out at zerusona.com/abc. Each episode follows a familiar structure for children, relating concepts from their world to computer science.
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For example, to explain RAM, you could ask children to imagine living without memory and how awful that situation would be. You can then relate this back to computers, explaining that computers need a way to remember information, which RAM helps to facilitate. After that, you can delve deeper into what RAM does and introduce terms like megabytes and gigabytes.
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Subsequently, we always explore a bit of computer science history, sharing stories of the people and ideas behind the developments in the field, making computers more relatable. Lastly, I include hands-on activities to take these learnings off the screen; activities like coloring illustrations or crosswords, reinforcing the words learned from the books.
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I've also encouraged children to create their own stories. Recently, a little boy told me he was working on the second book of Zerus and Ona. The best feedback I received came last week—an email from a nine-year-old girl in the UK who shared her love for my work and showed me the projects she was working on with Zerus and Ona characters. Her enthusiasm was heartwarming and reminded me of the mission I began three years prior.
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Our goal with Zerus and Ona is to make computer science accessible to every child. If you would like to join this mission, consider signing up for 'The ABC of Computers' newsletter, where I prepare a PDF to help you create your own collection of stories to share at home. The first book, 'Zerus Gets a Virus,' is now available in paperback on Amazon—just search for Zerus and Ona. This book appeals to readers from three years old up to pre-teens, as younger children can engage with the visuals while older kids appreciate the stories and parent guides included.
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The series is available in four languages: English, Dutch, German, and Spanish. The new book, 'Welcome to Our World,' is something I'm particularly excited about. I wish this book could be available in every preschool. The response so far from both kids and adults has been incredibly positive.
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I recently received an exciting update from the printer about the advanced cover of 'Welcome to Our World,' which I'd like to share. It's a board book ideal for kids, and the preliminary designs look fantastic. If you would like to purchase your copy, there is currently a discount code available for 16% off, simply enter '16' during checkout. Remember, this offer is valid until Monday.
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Not only am I signing these books, but I will also be shipping them worldwide. Please let me know the name you'd like for your personalized copy, and I'd be happy to do it. To stay updated on my work, the best way is through Twitter at @miriamtocino, or feel free to reach out via email at [email protected]. I'd love to connect.
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Thank you all for watching today! I hope to see you soon in the binary world, and I'm eager to hear from you. There's time left for some Q&A, isn't there? Let's dive right in.
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Yes, we do have some minutes for Q&A. One of the first questions that came up is about the availability of the books in different languages. The first book is indeed available in four languages, while the second one, for now, will only be available in English, primarily because it is a song.
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I did hire freelancers for translations of the books, which was a lovely experience, connecting me with many wonderful people. While translations can open doors to more readers, I consider those steps one at a time. After our February conference, I was pleasantly surprised to receive interest in translations from over 15 different languages. It is indeed heartwarming to see how many people wish to share these stories in different cultures.
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People often ask, how does one write a book while managing a toddler? It’s certainly chaotic! The process came in phases. Initially, it was a hobby project, working on illustrations while my baby napped. I spent a significant amount of time finding the right design for my characters, Zerus and Ona. Once my son turned six months, I began to feel more serious about the project. Having discussions with my husband about how to better balance work and parenting led me to allocate specific times throughout the day to focus on writing.
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It's been quite a journey sharing in this amazing yet challenging experience. Thank you, everyone, for your time and for showing such interest in my work. I assure you that I continue to strive for creative ways to help children embrace technology.
