This is a good book for kids about those helping us fight the pandemic. I can only hope that eventually we will not need this book.

This book is a great resource to use to help children understand the values and bravery that front line workers have shown for us during the pandemic.

A year after COVID-19 began to change every aspect of life in the US, we are beginning to not only see glimpses of hope but are beginning to make plans for normalcy. Vaccines are being administered & life is beginning to be penciled in on calendars. While it appears that we can begin to think about life beyond the pandemic, the lasting impact will remain as a familiar shadow for years to come. Just yesterday my 4 year old daughter asked if she could stomp in the mud. When I told her no, she sighed and said "Oh yeah. Cuz of coronavirus?" Kids, like my own, have paid a heavy price in the past few months, often with limited ability to truly understand the "whys", the "what nexts", and the "whens."

Beth Bacon and Kary Lee's book "COVID-19 HELPERS" was published in Nov 2020, but remains a valuable tool for our curious children. The respectful lineup of all the ways people have helped one another over the past year, is a fantastic affirmation of good in the world. I appreciate the inclusion of obvious heroes such as medical workers, postal carriers, and leaders but also love the thoughtful inclusion of those wearing masks, staying home, & adapting their routines. I believe this book shines through the now-familiar shadow of the pandemic by centering us again on love and kindness. Additionally, the book serves as a celebration of what communities are capable of & what we have endured together.

I have a tradition of writing letters to my children to place in the back cover of certain books that speak to a period of our lives or a certain experience. I've already written my letters to place in the cover of "COVID-19 HELPERS" so that my children can long remember how we came together through this difficult experience.

This is a delightful children's book to describe the Covid-19 situation. The year 2020 has been devastated by the pandemic. Globally, every family has been affected one way or another. Travel has been strictly curtailed while lockdowns are happening in many major cities. From shopping malls to supermarkets, schools to workplaces, all of our social interactions are potential opportunities to spread the disease. We need to practice social distancing. Governments around the world have been scrambling for vaccines as a way to protect the medical infrastructure. Wear masks and avoid social gatherings. Why are governments going to such extremes to deal with this disease? Such things can be strange for a child. For the little ones, they might be wondering:

What is Covid-19?
Why must I wear masks?
Why can't I visit and play with my friends?
What about a sleepover?
Why are schools closed?
What happens if I catch Covid-19?
How do I protect myself or my friends?
Why do I need to wash my hands with soap and water?
Why do I need to sneeze into a tissue or my elbow?
What is the right way to wash my hands?
What are vaccines and why are they important?
How does staying at home help with the battle against the coronavirus?

In a short little book, author Beth Bacon and illustrator Kary Lee combine storytelling with colourful illustrations to drive home the origin, the situation, and the impact of Covid-19 on our normal life. We learn about how the world is pulling together to fight this common disease. We learn to appreciate hospital staff and leaders trying to protect the country. We also see the communities pulling together to bear with the temporary inconveniences of social distancing and restricted movements. By explaining difficult topics in a simple manner, Bacon and Lee have made this a delightful and fun way to educate and comfort children who are having difficulty comprehending all that is happening with regard to Covid-19. Not only do they tell the story of the disease itself, they explain the impact in a clear and understandable manner. It is one of those occasions where staying home and not going out is helping the community. I like the way the author and the illustrator complements each other in the storytelling. The phrases are clear and simple. The pictures illuminate the words. Together, they communicate powerfully the dangers of the disease without frightening young minds. In fact, they explain the virus in such a way that children would know more about the protective measures. While the book offers hope of a cure, they also showcase the important roles that children can play.

Out of 260 stories submitted to the Emory Global Health Institute, this book won first place. Beth Bacon has an MFA in writing for children from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. He also has degrees in communications (NYU) and literature (Harvard).

Kary Lee is an art director and has won a Mom's Choice Award as a book illustrator.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Blair Publishing and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

Children’s Book explains COVID-19 to kids
Posted on January 6, 2021by michellelovatosbookreviews, world's first book color commentator
Sad, but true.

We, as a people, are in the middle of a global medical crisis that changed every person on the planet.


That fact all by itself, is mind boggling.

Adults are going crazy, stuck in their homes so long they have rebelled against what doctors say is the best way to combat COVID 19, Novid Coronavirus 2019, and have taken to the streets in protest, open rebellion against the medical society’s wishes.

I admit it. Me too. I’ve done my fair share of leaving the house. I’ve worked most of the time COVID raged in California. I carry a letter from my employer verifying that I have permission to be on the streets.

The whole thing is terrifying and smacks of what Bible believers call ‘the end times.’ I’m not sure if reading George Orwell’s 1984 was a good move afterall. I never thought the world would face this climate.

Here we are. And what do we tell our children?

Beth Bacon and Kary Lee have created a children’s picture book that offers a calming medical perspective on why childrens’ lives around the world were turned upside down, why they no longer go to school, the reading lab or play on the jungle gym. It explains why children cannot go to the grocery store, the science museum or the neighborhood playground without something covering their face, protecting them from potential death each and every day.

This crisis changed the future of an entire generation of children, some who adapted by learning at home, and some, who continue to be neglected and ignored by the authorities in their lives and will grow up void of the vital foundation of an education – elementary, middle or high school.

Though COVID-19 Helpers isn’t the answer to helping this global collection of children – who will by the way, grow up and run our society in two decades, but it does explain to children whose parents care enough to buy this book and read it to them, that what we as a society are experiencing now has a cause, a reason, and those who know how, are working hard to fix it.

COVID-19 Helpers is a good piece of work with an important message. It would be a great title for children of health care and other essential workers. It would be the perfect fit for every school district to buy copies of and distribute to each and every student to read. Some of these parents simply are not going to do it. COIVD-19 Helpers will go down in history as a marker of the invisible killer surrounding the planet, the killer of every nationality, every color and every age without discrimination or discretion.

I applaud Beth Bacon, Kary Lee and Blair Publishing for their efforts.

Blair Publishing is a new, non-profit press that strives to publish quality writing and focus on subjects historically neglected by mainstream publishing houses, according to its website.

ml@michellelovato.com BoutiqueBooks@hotmail.com

Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128: 1-2

One big frustration to kids and adults everywhere is quarantining. It’s boring. It feel like the same day over and over again. We miss our friends. Covid-19 Helpers addresses that frustration by showing kids that they are helpers who are fighting Covid simply by staying home. We are introduced to many essential workers from healthcare workers to garbage collectors and truck drivers. This is one of the few books that also tries to explain Covid to young readers. One great spread is of air droplets spreading and it illustrates how the droplets are concentrated around groups but that “when fewer people get together, fewer droplets fill the air.” This book was sponsored by Emory Global Health Institute and the story itself won 1st place out of 260 entries for a children’s book about Covid. There is also back matter about Covid-19 with facts and ways to avoid getting it.

This is a wonderful, timely book for children about COVID-19! Children need reassurance and succinct information. The words and illustrations are simple, but the meaning is complex. Perfect for all young children. This book is great for parents and teachers, and will be a springboard for more discussion.

While unfortunate that this topic is one we need to touch on, COVID-19 Helpers does a fantastic job laying the groundwork and basics for an informative conversation - without being too daunting or over-whelming. The artwork is in a watercolor style and adds a calm set of illustrations to go along with such a daunting scenario. My child was engaged fully while we were reading and she lit up seeing that we are not the only family staying home. We talk very openly about the reality of the pandemic, how hard it has been on everyone, and how scary it can be to not know when it will end. This book was a great add-on that helped empower my little one to not feel so helpless in this chaotic new reality. She was utterly delighted to be described as helping fight off diseases by staying home.

All that praise being said, there were a few teeny nitpicks that may just be stemming from my own feeling of the daunting unknown. I understand the past-tense writing in areas but it made it a little confusing for my child. I had to change them to present tense while reading so that she wouldn't think the pandemic was over already. That was the biggest drawback to the book. It will make sense in the future for children reading about it post-pandemic. I imagine it's got to be quite difficult to right a book about something that is nowhere near its end. Especially one that you want to stand the test of time instead of end up as a short-term pamphlet. Beyond that, my personal extremely specific dislike was the statement that 'most' people get better. I think saying 'many' get better sounds more appropriate. As I said, this is a very personal nitpick and does not reflect my overall feeling regarding the book content

Less seriously and just from a very worn-down adult perspective, it was silly to say that leaders were calling for change because it's quite laughable to say that many USA leaders have done much to enforce a real fight against the pandemic.

My Pandemic Ninja Germ Fighting Child's opinion: I did not learn a lot because we talk about it when we go on walks and we have been home a long time now. I like this book and can we read it to my cousin? It is really sad to be home so much, I miss everyone a lot. The book made me feel better that lots of other people are home too! It's not just us! I like learning about the sickness [COVID-19] because it's kind of scary but the pictures here aren't scary at all. (Age 4 1/2)


My rating: ★★★★★
My child's rating: (✿ ♥‿♥)!
Overall: 5/5, will read again.
A gracious thank you to Publisher Spotlight for providing us a free digital copy via NetGalley, in exchange for our honest opinion and review

I liked this one! It has simple illustrations, that are inclusive and have good diversity. The text is straight forward, and easy to read to young kids. My daughter is almost three, and she loved that there were people wearing masks like she does! We made some good connections with this book. I feel like all parents and educators should have a copy of this. It really helps explain what’s going on right now with Covid19 and how we can all be helpers. I will definitely be purchasing this one to have at home, and also telling my teacher friends about it so they can have it as a resource in their virtual and in person classrooms.

This book is well done and will be a good addition to the classroom, home, or library. It gives the information about Covid for young children and presents it in an age appropriate way. The illustrations and text compliment each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this charming nonfiction children's picture book about the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is my honest review of the book.

I LOVED it! This book presents the realities of the pandemic in terms that a child can understand. By focusing on behavior, such as kids not going to school or parks right now, little readers learn they are not alone. They are introduced to the helpers, like doctors, researchers, farmers, truck drivers, and garbage collectors. And yes, even kids can be helpers. Children learn that there is hope, and what to do to prevent the disease from spreading.

Instead of frightening little readers, "COVID-19 Helpers" presents a quiet, informative, honest and hopeful explanation for the changes that are occurring in their little lives due to this disease. The illustrations are fun and engaging. I plan on buying copies for my grand nephew and nieces and the grandchildren of my friends!

I think this is a great book to help kids frame staying home and not seeing people during the time of COVID-19 as a helpful action. I thought the book handled the reality well without being scary.

Covid-19 Helpers was such a great read to exposing children to pandemic and ways in which covid spread and how we can combat it. The drawings are great and the storyline was really educative and informative. I would recommend all teachers to share with their students!

This book was received as an ARC from Publisher Spotlight - Blair in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

COVID-19 is filled with uncertainty with not only adult but children as well and this book beautifully describes what children can do to help their community and keep themselves safe from the virus. Loved the illustrations and the colors used brought the pictures to life in a new level. This is definitely a book that Beth Bacon and the creative team down at Emory University did a brilliant job of executing this book and I know our community will respond very well to the book too.

We will consider adding this title to our JNon-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I received an electronic ARC from Publisher Spotlight through NetGalley.
This picture book is geared for preschool and lower elementary readers to explain a complex situation in language they can understand. The simple illustrations support the text.
A definite family read.

I received an advance copy of, Covid-19 Helpers, by Beth Bacon. This is a great book, on explaining covid to children. Why we wear a mask, why w stay inside, why our world has changed so much. A great educational story.