Axel Scheffler’s illustrations would be familiar to anyone who picked up a copy of the Gruffalo. Now, he has contributed his illustrations to a digital book for primary school aged children on the coronavirus.
The book, Coronavirus – A Book for Children, is written by the staff of UK publisher Nosy Crow and written with the inputs of Professor Graham Medley from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and with advice from two head teachers and a child psychologist. It is targeted at helping parents and care-givers talk about COVID-19 to children between the ages of 5 to 9.
It answers questions such as What is the coronavirus, how do you catch the coronavirus and what happens if you catch the coronavirus.
The digital book is free for anyone to read on screen or download and print.
Axel Scheffler, said, “I asked myself what I could do as an children’s illustrator to inform, as well as entertain, my readers here and abroad. So I was glad when my publisher, Nosy Crow, asked me to illustrate this question-and-answer book about the coronavirus. I think it is extremely important for children and families to have access to good and reliable information in this unprecedented crisis, and I hope that the popularity of the books I’ve done with Julia Donaldson will ensure that this digital book will reach many children who are now slightly older, but might still remember our picture books.”
Kate Wilson, Managing Director of Nosy Crow, said, “We were very aware that many parents and carers are struggling to explain the current extraordinary situation to children, many of whom are frightened and confused. We thought that the best thing we could do would be to use our skills to produce a free book to explain and, where possible, reassure children.”
Download a copy of the e-book, Coronavirus – A Book for Children, or view it online here.
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