Children’s Book to Help Children and Young People Cope with COVID-19

A new children’s book aiming to help children understand and come to terms with COVID-19 has come to life, created by a collaboration of over 50 organizations working in the humanitarian sector.

Organizations like the World Health Organization, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Federation of Red Cross, Red Crescent Societies, Save the Children and the United Nations Children’s Fund. 

With a little help from Ario, fantasy creature, “My Hero is You, How kids can fight COVID-19!” illustrates 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 – aimed primarily at children aged 6-11 years old – is a project of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, a unique collaboration of United Nations agencies providing mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings. 

Over 1700 children and parents, caregivers, teachers and aides from across the globe shared their experiences along with how they were coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. The input was an invaluable component to writer and illustrator Helen Patuck in ensuring the story resonated with children from all over the world; with inclusivity the key focus. 

Henrietta Fore, the executive director at UNICEF says; 

“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.”

In order to reach as many children as possible, the book will be translated, with six language versions released and more than 30 others in the pipeline. It is being released as both an online product and audiobook. Click here for the audio version: AUDIO 

Click here to access your copy https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/system/files/2020-04/My%20Hero%20is%20You%2C%20Storybook%20for%20Children%20on%20COVID-19.pdf

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