The book was written as a
response to the coronavirus by the staff of publishing company Nosy Crow in
consultation with Professor Graham Medley, as well as teachers and a child
psychologist.
The illustrations by Alex
Scheffler (The Gruffalo)add a touch of light and colour to what is a complicated
topic.
The book is available for
free as a PDF
from the website and as an audiobook on
Audible and iBook and is narrated by actor Hugh Bonneville (Paddington and
Downton Abbey).
The book answers key
questions in simple language appropriate for 5 to 9 year olds:
- What is the coronavirus?
- How do you catch the coronavirus?
- What happens if you catch the coronavirus?
- Why are people worried about catching the coronavirus?
- Is there a cure for the coronavirus?
- Why are some places we normally go to closed?
- What can I do to help?
- What’s going to happen next?
Adults try to make sense of
fears and anxieties around COVID-19 by informing ourselves through the news and
looking for further information online. This gives us a modicum of control over
our situation, taking away some of that fear, though for most of us, it is
still an anxious time.
Children’s daily lives are
changed as well. They may be learning from home, can’t visit their friends or
participate in their usual sports and other activities. They may overhear
conversations about COVID-19, and try to make sense of bits of news and TV
programs.
In our family, I try to
answer my children’s question open and honestly and take time to explain what
is happening around us and the wider community. However, I still found some
gaps in their understanding which were clarified as we read the book.
This book does an excellent
job of explaining what COVID-19 is and why our lives look a bit different than
usual. This gives children a little bit of knowledge to combat fear and
misunderstanding and at the same time reduce some anxiety.
Highly recommended.
Title: Coronavirus, A book For Children
Author: Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson and
Nia Roberts
Illustrator: Alex Scheffler
Publisher: Nosy Crow, free download
Publication Date: 7 April 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781839941467
For ages: 5 - 9
Type: Graphic Novel
