Ada & Zangemann: A Tale of Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice Cream

by Matthias Kirschner, Sandra Brandstätter (Illustrator)

The famous inventor Zangemann lives in a huge villa high above the city, constantly building and programming cool gadgets that everyone can’t wait to buy. But one day on a walk through town, something happens that changes the way he sees his own inventions—young people are using them in fun ways, and that make him furious.

As Zangemann begins controlling all of the world’s computerized devices to do exactly what he wants, a young hardware tinkerer named Ada learns that the power of computer code can set her and children everywhere free from the villainous inventor’s selfish plan. Through clever experiments with hardware and software, Ada and her friends show the world how important it is to be able to have control over the everyday technologies we use.

For readers ages 6 to 106, Ada & Zangemann will arouse children's interest in tinkering with hardware and software, and encourage their desire to shape their own technology.

Genres: Programming

56 pages, Hardcover

Published December 30, 2022

About the author

Matthias Kirschner is President of FSFE. Matthias helps other organizations, companies, and public administrations to understand how they can benefit from Free Software — which gives everybody the rights to use, study, share, and improve software — and how those rights help to support freedom of speech, press, and privacy. He serves on the advisory boards of different Free Software organizations, has been a consultant for public bodies and other committees, and regularly gives interviews, lectures, or participates in panel discussions about software freedom and the technical distribution of power in a democratic society.

Reviews

[Oscar Valenzuela B · Rating 5 out of 5]

teaching about software freedom to our kids

As a Software Freedom activist, I am thrilled to find a book that introduces children to the dynamic world of open source and collaboration. This engaging read perfectly highlights the core values of Free and Open Source Software, making it a fun and educational experience for young minds. It's a wonderful tool for sharing our experiences in technology, bringing awareness to its challenges, and emphasizing the importance of freedom in software use. I appreciate how the book thoughtfully addresses the concept of built-in limitations by vendors, not as mere obstacles, but as 'features' that shape our digital environment. This nuanced approach helps our children understand that these limitations are often deliberate choices that impact our technological experiences. I eagerly anticipate a second book, hoping it continues the great work!

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the concept behind this book. Freedom to create is critical and free source software is essential. Krischner offers readers a look at two viewpoints. Zangemann starts as an excited inventor who creates many useful items. However, along the way, he decided his way was the only way and he locked in the programming on all his devices. Ada is a young girl who loves to invent and teaches herself how to program. Through many hours of practice, she finds ways to reprogram all sorts of objects and helps her friends learn as well. The culmination comes when the government passes a law to protect Zangemann and ban all other development. Readers see how Ada, her friends, and others protest and persevere to change bad policy.
The story is a bit wordy for some readers but the illustrations work well.

[Dirk Deimeke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nettes kleines Büchlein, das kindgerecht aufbereitet, wie toll es ist, selber Hand anlegen zu können. Der Bezug zur freien Software Bewegung ist unverkennbar. Danke Matthias!

[Larakaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful childrens book about the importance of free open source software!

[useFOSS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating story that introduces concepts like software/hardware freedom and right to repair to the new generation in an enjoyable way.

Amazon AU has set the age group to 10 but I feel that the style of the story and its illustrations also suit younger children especially if they are being read to... as well as adults who may prefer a simple primer with subtle messaging instead of a full blown course.

Ask your schools and public libraries to purchase it once the international editions become widely available later this year.

If you liked this, you might like Radicalized, a collection of novellas by Cory Doctorow on similar topics but it's for adults.

[Flo - lecturesdeflo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Voilà un petit album, conte moderne à mettre entre toutes les mains, grandes ou petites. Il explique fort bien la logique des gros systèmes d'exploitation (tels Microsoft ou Apple) et l'intérêt des plus petits, du logiciel libre. C'est accessible pour les enfants mais nul doute que nombre d'adultes apprendront beaucoup.

Avec, en plus, une héroïne (en informatique, elles ne sont pas les plus nombreuses) et noire de surcroît. Et puis, c'est frais, mignon et drôle parfois.

Ah oui, et dernière chose : c'est un livre numérique libre de téléchargement (on nous propose simplement de faire un don si l'on souhaite). Tout-à-fait dans l'esprit quoi !

Non, vraiment, allez-y !