Donna Marie

 

To HELP CHILDREN UNDERSTAND, COPE and COMPLY with the PANDEMIC:

 

The Covid-19 pandemic has flipped the world on its head and adjusting our lifestyles has been challenging, to say the least, especially for kids. It has also made clear who we should consider true Heroes — those who sacrifice their own safety for the sake of others. The Pippin Pals are Hero Helpers! story highlights these hard pandemic-related issues, “softened” through rhyme, and encompasses the pandemic experience through a child’s eyes, validating their feelings in a tangible way.

 

To offer a more personalized experience for the readers, the 8 diverse versions of Pippin Pals are Hero Helpers! books are not a series. All 8 are exactly the same story, but the reader can choose the main character and families—based on gender, skin and hair color, and family type—which align with a child’s preferences.

 

The books aid children’s understanding of why things have changed, how to adjust to the “new normal,” and reinforce the ways to comply. Through vivid, visual depictions of how germs spread, and the basic “dos and don’ts” that help protect themselves, people they love, and ultimately — heroic workers — they become Hero Helpers! The books feature those essential workers (be sure to check the end papers!), school from home, being social virtually, and the positive aspects of stay-at-home and “stay safe” living, along with a surprise “fun” activity.

 

Jam-packed with helpful info for kids and adults alike, the companion website —  PippinHeroHelpers.com — has free printable downloads on hand hygiene, wearing/handling face coverings and more, to post anywhere from bathrooms to classrooms. Plus you’ll find activity downloads and a page dedicated to essential workers.

AUTHOR BIO:

 

Throughout her life, :Donna Marie has had many jobs and pastimes. Just to name a few: cashier, bartender, waitress, a wide array of art jobs, party planner, clown and face painter, and A.R.A. for the NJSCBWI, some of which could be fun, none of which could be classified as a passion. The one consistent thread which started as a child first as a love, then an aspiration as a young adult, and eventually becoming a serious pursuit and true passion as an adult, has been children’s literature. With the publication of Pippin Pals are Hero Helpers! her pursuit  finally became a “job” that incorporated her passion. Her sincerest hope is that these books benefit as many children as possible.