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Children love to read books because it transports them to a different dimension, tickles their imagination, and even allows them to acquire new lessons. Hence, books can be a powerful tool to help them cope with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Some must-read children's book about COVID-19 / Source: C.J. Urquico and Melissa Gratias

Ever since the pandemic began, adults have mostly complained about experiencing stress and anxiety. However, kids may also go through those things, but express it differently compared with adults.

So, parents should also look out for the mental health of their children. And as much as possible, they must be proactive about it and start openly discussing the pandemic and how they can best cope with it.

One best way to do so is to let your kids read books about COVID-19 that are specifically designed for easy comprehension.

Below are some great reads about the pandemic that you can read with your children.

My Hero is You, how kids can fight COVID-19!

“My Hero is You, how kids can fight COVID-19!” is a children's book aimed at teaching children about COVID-19 and how they can protect themselves and their loved ones against it.

The main character of the book is a kind, orange dragon unicorn-like horn named Ario. He will guide the kids on how to navigate the current pandemic the world is going through

More than 50 organizations collaborated in producing the book, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Save the Children US.

The book was designed for children aged 6-11 years old and can be downloaded for free on WHO's official website. They also have a recorded reading of the book on YouTube.

First Aid for Feelings

First Aid for Feelings was written by child development expert Denise Daniels, RN, MS. The book is a collaborative effort of the Yale Child Study Center and publishing and media company Scholastic Corp.

The e-book was specifically designed to be a comforting resource for children who are experiencing stress and anxiety amid the pandemic. It can be downloaded for free on Yale's and Scholastic's website.

What is Coronavirus?

Polly Zielonka, author of “What is Coronavirus?”, was inspired to write this children's e-book after she found herself having to explain to her 3-year-old daughter about the coronavirus, social distancing, and the concept of “shelter-in-place” or staying at home.

The free e-book offers a very simple explanation about the ongoing pandemic that your young child would easily be able to grasp. You can download it from Polly's website.

Captain Corona & the 19 COVID Warriors

“Captain Corona & the 19 COVID Warriors,” written by Dr. Melissa Gratias, aims to educate children on the important role of 19 different frontliners in the pandemic that the world is currently facing.

It's also designed to help kids realize that there are also many positive, admirable things that are happening in the world despite the ongoing health crisis. You can download the e-book for free on the author's website.

Coping with COVID When You're a KID

Filipino author based in Guam, C.J. Urquico, wrote a picture book titled “Coping with COVID When You're a KID.” It offers an entertaining way of informing kids through photos about COVID-19, how to stay safe against the dreaded disease, and remain hopeful amid the pandemic.

The book is perfect for children aged 4-years-old and beyond. It is currently available for free for Kindle Unlimited users and available on Amazon for 3.99 U.S. dollars.

Plenty of great reads out there for children, right? You can also make it more enjoyable for your children by reading along with them or reading it to them. The pandemic may be difficult to navigate through, but together, you and your child can go through it by learning together and supporting each other.

Want more lifestyle content like this? Head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.

You might also want to read about fun activities you can do at home with your kids during lockdown.