Hans Helps: A Coronavirus/COVID-19 Story

By Holly Winter Huppert

Hans Helps: A Coronavirus/COVID-19 Story follows a 6-year-old boy who helps protect his family from the coronavirus by following the "Healthy 7" habits.

 

The story is told from the viewpoint of Hans as he spends a day with his great-aunt where he creates art projects, plays outside and brings food to family members who live in isolation due to the pandemic.

 

He questions why he has to clean his hands so often, why his great-grandmother is wearing plastic gloves and why he must practice social distancing from his cousin, who isn't old.

 

With an overarching theme of stopping the spread of the virus, Hans learns about the "Healthy 7" habits (Stay home, wash hands, drink water, eat healthy foods, exercise, be kind and get enough sleep) that will help keep his family safe. Throughout the story he practices each of the habits and is finally able to complete them without reminders.

 

Though the book is a work of fiction, the author does have a great-nephew who spent a day with her; this book is based on that day. The photos in the book are of Hans, his real name, as he learned how to feel good, "Like a superhero." about helping to stop the spread of the virus.

 

In a time when the entire world is struggling to stay healthy, Hans Helps: A Coronavirus/COVID-19 Story, empowers children to help their extended family stay healthy during the coronavirus pandemic and long after it's over.

 

From the Back Cover:

"Hi. My name is Hans. This is the story of how I learned about the "Healthy 7" habits so my family and I could stay safe from the virus germs. At first there was too many things to remember, but after a while, I started remembering everything all by myself.  I like to pretend I'm a superhero helping to stop the spread of the coronavirus, but really I'm just a kid who wants to go back to school. That's why I help." 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Winuply Press
• Release date: May 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9780998385235

Holly Winter Huppert

Holly Winter Huppert is a teacher, a writer and a photographer who lives in upstate New York. She is known for teaching writing workshops to children around the world. When the world wide pandemic hit, Huppert sat down and started writing Hans Helps: A Coronavirus/COVID-19 Story to help children deal with the pressures of a changing world. The book as been received as "Essential" and has been read around the world. Her book Write Now: Ideas for Writers, introduces children to a fun way to write their wildest stories as well as their factual reports. Photo prompts for both fiction and nonfiction encourage originality, thoughtfulness and even silliness across all genres. Children are reminded, “When you are the writer, you are the boss,” so hand this book to your child and let years of research do it’s work as your child writes and writes. And writes. Be sure to check out her edited book of true stories written by children in a public Montessori school in upstate New York. "Caution: Do Not Read This Book" received rave reviews from near and far. Essays written by third and fourth grade students teach the rest of us about what children today are thinking about. If you like upbeat, fun reads, then you're going to love her memoir about living with two forms of amnesia: "Unlikely Memories and Two Amnesias" which was a bestseller on Amazon.  She edited a book of essays written by chronically ill middle school students, "Everything is a Song: Our Stories" which highlights the issues teens care about. Connect with Holly on her website, www.hollywinter.com,  on her publisher's website: www.winuplypress.com, on Instagram @mshollywinter or on Facebook @mshollywinter. For more information about her books, go to www.winuplypress.com.

Book preview

Chapter ONE

It’s hard to put my coat on when my three-year-old sister is in a hugging mood. I told her to back up, but she wouldn’t.

Daddy stood at the door and yelled at me to hurry up.

I yelled back to him that I was trying.

Letty grabbed Daddy’s leg and wouldn’t let go. I think she knew that something was wrong at our house. I heard Daddy say that Letty’s daycare might close and Mommy’s job might stop.

Daddy picked up Letty and gave her a long hug and kissed her cheek. Love you, Letty, he said, then put her down, kissed Mommy and walked out the door.

Mommy bent down to zip my coat and give me my goodbye hug.

I told her that she didn’t have to zip my coat anymore because I’m six and I know how to zip it myself.

Hug, hug, hug, Letty said, reaching for me.

I escaped her hugging hands and ran out the door.

Mommy picked Letty up and I heard her say, How about a Mommy hug?

Chapter TW0

They cancelled school for a lot of days. I asked Daddy, why can’t I go to my kindergarten class and he said it’s because there is a virus called the coronavirus and it’s spreading to a lot of people.

I said, Is my teacher sick? Is that why I can’t go to school?

No, Son, Daddy said. Your teacher is fine.

I asked my mommy why I couldn’t go to school and