School Library Journal knows that books are an important part of  coping with COVID. And that’s why “Coping with COVID” is the headline of their new article about powerful, new books for kids about the pandemic.

The introduction of new vaccines for COVID-19 is a wonderful new sign of progress. However it will be many months until the disease is fully addressed. As “pandemic fatigue” sets in, it can be easy to slip into slacking off on the protocols and behaviors that keep the disease in check: wearing masks, staying 6 feet away, not gathering in large groups. Luckily there is a new set of picture books created to help grown-ups talk about the subject with kids. School Library Journal recently featured several such books, and COVID-19 is one of their recommended books.

Discussing topics that are complex and worrisome has never been easy. But talking about COVID-19 with kids is vitally important for parents and teachers. The award-winning picture book, COVID-19 Helpers  with wonderful, heartfelt images by Kary Lee puts the pandemic in positive, yet accurate terms for kids. This story not only helps children understand the pandemic, it also makes them feel good about the sacrifices they’re making, like staying home from school and wearing masks.