The COVID-19 pandemic has created strange and difficult living conditions for many people. Children are likely to find it harder than adults to adapt their behaviour and accommodate the various restrictions being imposed on everyday living. A need for child-friendly resources to explain COVID-19—including how the virus is transmitted, the importance of following social distancing measures, and the effects of the virus—has been identified. For children directly affected by the pandemic—perhaps with a family member or friend who has developed COVID-19—the need to communicate very carefully about COVID-19 is clear. In a Comment published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, staff of the Department of Psychiatry at Warneford Hospital in Oxford, UK, have written about the psychological impact of this pandemic on children. For children generally, not only those directly affected, numerous books have been produced that use different approaches to tackle this difficult topic.
A Message from Corona, by Charity Tedder relates an engaging fantasy of anthropomorphised viral particles travelling across the world. Everywhere they go, people become ill. The illustrations are beautiful and rich with detail to draw in readers. However, giving personality and intelligence to the virus could easily confuse some children and might not be a suitable approach if caregivers are unable to explain the reality. Young children can struggle to differentiate between reality and fiction, and some children think very literally. Social distancing and hygiene measures are explained and a game is made out of spotting people not adhering to regulations. But asking children to spot what people are “doing that they shouldn't” could encourage shame and blame. Children are highly impressionable and the current situation is teaching them that they cannot touch their friends during play and cannot seek comfort freely from caregivers, which could have long-term implications for their social and emotional development.
Coronavirus: a book for children by Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson, and Nia Roberts contains illustrations by Alex Scheffler that will be instantly familiar to most parents of children born in the 21st century. The style is so recognisable because Axel Scheffler has illustrated numerous popular books for children, including The Gruffalo. Unlike other books written about coronavirus for children, it doesn't tell a story. The subject is tackled directly and explanations are implicit rather than subliminal. For very young or non-neurotypical children, or those directly affected by the disease, the approach might be too direct; although many others could respond better to unambiguous messaging than to inferences in a story. Coronavirus: a book for children has been written with input from headteachers, an expert in infectious disease modelling, and a clinical psychologist specialising in child and adolescent mental health and neurodevelopment. This collaboration has produced a thorough and clear text which is informative without being overwhelming. Although it doesn't tell a fantastical tale, the illustrations will make the book appealing to children. As is usual with Scheffler's work, the illustrations are diverse and inclusive—with different ethnicities, ages, body sizes, and family groupings, as well as a mix of disabled and able-bodied individuals.
My Hero Is You: how kids can fight COVID-19 by Helen Patuck puts the child in the central role of preventing the spread of coronavirus. For children who are suffering with anxiety because they feel a lack of control, this book is potentially helpful. It tells the story of a girl who is overwhelmed by feeling inadequate in the face of the virus. She travels with a dragon to watch children around the world making big differences by following simple rules. Small changes that children can understand and implement—trying to keep a distance from others and washing their hands—make them heroes, the story says. My Hero Is You was developed with input from global experts, parents, caregivers, teachers, and children in 104 countries. To increase accessibility, the book has been released in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish; additionally, other translations have been undertaken by other groups. The book also features people living in many different situations—from isolated country cottages to transient encampments. The messaging is not as clear as in Coronavirus: a book for children, but the essential information is woven into a story and is clear and consistent.
Not all books currently on the market will suit or appeal to all children, so having a variety of resources available to explain this difficult time to children is important. Some children will assimilate messaging better if it is presented within a story, while others will find that the fiction clouds their understanding. The efforts of all of these authors is to be applauded, especially as the future is so uncertain. All three books end with the hope that normal life will resume, but none can give an answer one of the most pressing questions children (and adults) will ask at this time—how soon will this happen?
© 2020 Robert Stirrups