These days can be stressful for us all. A new story book has been released that aims to help children understand and come to terms with COVID-19.
With the help of a fantasy creature, Ario, My Hero Is You, How kids can fight COVID-19! explains how children can protect themselves, their families and friends from coronavirus and how to manage difficult emotions when confronted with a new and rapidly changing reality.
The book was written for children all around the world, affected by the pandemic. However, it should be read by a parent, caregiver or teacher alongside a child or a small group of children. It is not encouraged for children to read the book independently without the support of a parent, caregiver or teacher.
The book was produced by a collaboration of more than 50 organizations working in the humanitarian sector, including the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund. It is a project of a unique collaboration of agencies that provide mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings.
During the early stages of the project, more than 1,700 children, parents, caregivers and teachers from around the world shared how they were coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The input was invaluable to script writer and illustrator Helen Patuck and the project team in making sure that the story and its messages resonated with children from different backgrounds and continents.
“Previous humanitarian emergencies have shown us how vital it is to address the fears and anxiety of young people when life as they know it gets turned upside down. We hope that this beautifully-illustrated book, which takes children on a journey across time zones and continents, will help them to understand what they can do to stay positive and keep safe during the coronavirus outbreak.” ~Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization
“All over the world, children’s lives have been completely upended – the majority of them living in countries with some form of restricted movement or lockdown. This wonderful book helps children understand and navigate this new landscape and learn how they can take small actions to become the heroes in their own stories.” ~Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF
Ask an adult to download the free book by clicking here. At the bottom of the page, you’ll see PDF files. The first one is in English, and there are other languages available too, including French, Spanish, and Chinese. We think it’s really nice to read the book together with your parents, but you can also watch a reading on YouTube here.
