In these extraordinary times we find ourselves in, children must be somewhat confused and concerned with their lives turned upside down. And although many children will be pleased to have extra time with their families at home, understanding what is really happening is difficult. So to help, independent children’s publisher, Nosy Crow have enlisted the help of Axel Scheffler, the illustrator of The Gruffalo to bring to life a digital book for primary school age children, free for anyone to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it. Professor Graham Medley of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine acted as a consultant, and the Nosy Crow also had advice from two head teachers and a child psychologist in order to write the book.

Informative, colourful and just what is needed to help respond to children’s questions and anxieties about these unprecedented events, the book answers key questions such as:

• 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?

It actually helped me see the whole picture in very straightforward way too – and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anyone wanting to talk things through with their child in a calm and reassuring manner, without the background of media dialogue.

Nosy Crow wants to make sure that this book is accessible to every child and family and so the book is offered totally free of charge to anyone who wants to read it. However, the company suggests, at the back of the book, that families might make a donation to help our health service if they find the book useful: https://www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/.

Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo, said:

“I asked myself what I could do as an children’s illustrator to inform, as well as entertain, my readers here and abroad. So I was glad when my publisher, Nosy Crow, asked me to illustrate this question-and-answer book about the coronavirus. I think it is extremely important for children and families to have access to good and reliable information in this unprecedented crisis, and I hope that the popularity of the books I’ve done with Julia Donaldson will ensure that this digital book will reach many children who are now slightly older, but might still remember our picture books.”

To download the book follow this link or you can read it here:

Click to access Coronavirus_INSwith-cover.pdf

With thanks to Nosy Crow for sharing this today.