Search icon

News

01st May 2020

The Irish edition of ‘Coronavirus: A book for children’ has just been published

Melissa Carton

A fantastic book to help children through quarantine.

Right now is a very difficult time for children.

They’ve been out of school for weeks, unable to see family and friends and no doubt feeling very confused about what’s going on.

Explaining what’s happening right now in the world is no easy task but new publication Coronavirus: A book for children is here to help.

Axel Scheffler, award-winning illustrator of The Gruffalo series, has illustrated 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.

Coronavirus: A Book for Children was first published by Nosy Crow in the UK, and now Gill Books is delighted to publish an Irish-specific version. The book has had expert input from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, teachers, and a child psychologist.

Professor Luke O’Neill, head of immunology at Trinity College Dublin said of the book;

‘This book is a fantastic resource for children, and explains the Coronavirus in a colourful and calming way. Adults will learn a thing or two, too!’

The book answers key questions in simple language appropriate for five to nine 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?

At the back of the book there is a list of trusted resources for children, along with further reading for parents, guardians and carers.

Coronavirus : A Book for Children is available to download for free from Gill Books here.