‘…Why can’t I go to school?’

‘…Why can’t we visit our friends and relatives?’

‘…Mom, dad…how come you’re not at work?’

 

Given the typically curious nature of children, these questions were definitely not surprising given the situation throughout the various phases of the Movement Control Order, from the first phase as announced on March 16, schools were ordered to close and students were suddenly required to adapt to daily lessons on screen.

 

For the younger children, play dates outdoors with their friends were no longer allowed and they had to be confined in the spaces of their own homes for a prolonged period.

 

As a means to communicate and discuss these uncertainties and questions children may have due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ‘Coronavirus: A Book for Children’ book was firstly introduced in the UK (United Kingdom) by Nosy Crow, an award-winning independent children’s book publisher.

 

 

Illustrated by Axel Scheffler, the internationally-recognised illustrator who made his name through the illustration of ‘The Gruffalo’, the e-book has now received over a million downloads and is available in over 60 languages worldwide.

 

LeapEd Services, Malaysia’s first homegrown education service provider and trusted social enterprise has been given exclusive rights to translate ‘Coronavirus: A Book for Children’ into Bahasa Malaysia, and the e-book is now available in our national language, titled ‘Coronavirus: Buku untuk Kanak-Kanak’, as part of  LeapEd’s efforts to educate Malaysian children about the impact of the Coronavirus on the way we live and how we can go about living our daily lives.

 

The e-book is currently available for free download here: https://www.leapedservices.com/coronavirus-book/

 

Localised with images and content relevant to the Malaysian audience, this book breaks down some of the scientific facts of the Coronavirus, including how germs and viruses spread through contact, and how it affects everyone, be it children and adults.

 

 

 

The book is presented in a way which is easily understood by children with pages full of colourful images, complemented with engaging dialogues between the characters, which makes it easy for children to resonate with the ongoing situation.

 

The book depicts children’s journey to staying safe, where certain activities are not allowed temporarily and what activities children can do in the comfort of their own homes.

 

This helps children adapt easily to the new norms and the circumstances around them, knowing that others out there are also facing similar situations.

 

 

Helping children manage their feelings of anxiety and boredom caused by the lack of routine in their daily lives, the book introduces characters which reflect on their feelings, enabling children to closely associate with the characters and cope with their emotions, brought about by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

In conclusion, Coronavirus: Buku untuk Kanak-Kanak gives children hope through a happy ending, assuring them that one day, things will go back to normal if we all work together to overcome this pandemic.Suitable for children between 5 to 10 years of age, this e-book answers various questions in ways where children can better relate with.

 

Due to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic which has transitioned us into the period of the ‘new normal’, parents and caregivers often struggle to explain this current situation to their children, whom would naturally feel scared, confused and isolated due to this sudden, unprecedented change in their lives. ‘Coronavirus: Buku Untuk Kanak-Kanak’ aims to reassure young children that this current situation is very much normal, and has impacted everyone across the globe.

 

As part of the #LeapEdBrightIdeas initiative, exclusive Reading Guides and videos were created for parents, teachers, and students to engage with the e-book in a fun and exciting manner.

 

The Reading Guides includes interactive activities such as read-a loud sessions, discussion questions to use with the e-book and ways in which students and parents can read to children to get them fully immersed into the story!

 

 

Storytelling is a powerful way to share the book with children, and as such, LeapEd has collaborated with Azalia Suhaimi, the Malaysian Poet and Storyteller to develop two videos which narrates the ‘Coronavirus: Buku untuk Kanak-Kanak’

 

The Reading Guides can be accessed here: https://www.leapedservices.com/coronavirus-book/

 

Aside from the introduction of this e-book which is in line with LeapEd’s mission of transforming the way students learn and the way teachers teach, LeapEd has actively supported students, teachers, school leaders and parents in the various aspects of teaching and learning through key initiatives such as the LeapEd Bright Ideas and LeapEd Academy.

 

Find out more about LeapEd at www.leapedservices.com and do join their journey towards learning transformation because every child deserves a great future.