Review: The Teensy Weensy Virus by Sherri L. Rose

The Teensy Weensy Virus

By Sherri L. Rose

Illustrated by: Megan E. Brawand

Contributor: Gregory D. Evan

Release Date: December 31st 2020

2020 Sherri L. Rose

Paperback Edition; 44 Pages

ISBN: 978-1954003002

cBook: 978-1954003019

Audiobook; 978-1954003026

Genre: Children / Non-Fiction

Source: Review copy from PRbythebook

Summary

COVID-19 is a big deal-but with all that adults have to worry about, it's easy to overlook the pandemic's impact on children. This book provides a great way for parents and caregivers to introduce and reinforce the importance of safety measures to children while giving kids the opportunity to ask questions and share their feelings. Embracing the latest science, The Teensy Weensy Virus pairs simple, kid-friendly explanations with bright colorful illustrations, while offering additional resources for adults and an informative song to help lighten the mood as families engage with this serious topic.

 

My Thoughts

The Teensy Weensy Virus is a really cute way to explain to young kids how the virus works and reinforces the importance of safety measures, such as hand washing and social distancing, without going into a lot of detail that may be too much to handle for young children.  Aimed at young ones from the ages of 2-10, I did feel like the book would be better served for those around the 2-5 year age group as well as parents who are looking for something cute to explain this virus to their young children. There is also a song that goes with the book that will certainly appeal to young children. 

 

First of all, I liked that the book explained the virus to children in a way that didn't make it scary, but still stressed the importance of social distancing and why they could not visit their loved ones at the moment.  The information was explained in a simple manner, but made it very clear that everyone missed each other very much.  It also made it very clear that people could get very sick from the virus without going into details and scaring young kids, something I appreciated.  

 

The message was very clear in this book.  Going out with masks on would not be the only thing that would help, but that you would have to wash your hands a lot and ensure that you kept your distance from others.  It did not say that you could not see other people, but it did mention that that social distancing was important while playing and that your social bubbles were important as well.  It also explained that we need to do this so we could all see our family and friend again one day without our social bubbles in a clear manner.

 

I loved the bright beautiful colours in this book.  Bright purples, reds, oranges, blues, and so on, made the book very appealing, even to me.  Even though the illustrations were simple, I enjoyed them and thought it made the message that much clearer to young children.  While I enjoy complicated illustrations, I don't always think very young kids do, and these ones would definitely appeal to young children.  

 

Verdict

The Teensy Weensy Virus is a fun way of introducing the virus and what it means to young children.  I don't necessarily think it would appeal to older children, but it would definitely appeal to the younger ones as it has bright colours and a simply message that is still profound.  For parents, there are additional resources listed at the back of the book if you are looking for more information.  There is also a cute little song, to the tune of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider', that your kids may like.  I've already tried it on the piano and it's very easy to play.  All in all, a good resource if you are looking for a way to explain this virus to young children.  

Author Information

Sherri Rose grew up in Richmond, Virginia. As a retired pediatric and family nurse practitioner, as well and a hospice and palliative care nurse, she recognizes the critical importance of helping children understand what is happening during this pandemic that is currently sweeping our globe. COVID-19 has created so much stress, anxiety, grief, and loss for adults—imagine what children must think but be unable to express!

Inspired by her concerns for the smallest among us—as well as by her own significant grief over not being able to hug her children and grandchildren during quarantine—Sherri began to write this book to help preschoolers understand what is going on and why all of us must follow new rules. As a mother of three daughters and three stepdaughters, as well as a grandmother to many, she hopes that the resources found in this book will be useful to all the readers all over the world. Sherri is having six translations created to spread the importance of basic safety guidelines with this very smart virus. She wrote the lyrics to the little song at the end of the book to have something light and happy after reading about a serious topic.