A Fresh New Start - A Child Friendly Look at the Global Pandemic

By Isabele Nisenbaum

A Fresh New Start is a children’s book written in rhyme.  Told in a first person point of view, the story depicts a child’s understanding of the quarantine they’re experiencing as a result of the worldwide pandemic.  It details the child noticing the shift from a populated city to everyone staying in their homes, as well as the new “normal” the child experiences, such as playing much more indoors with siblings, and having school classes via Zoom.   The story also explores some of the complex emotions children may be experiencing during this time, such as missing grandparents, special celebrations, feeling unsure of what is safe and unsafe, and wondering if and when their life will return to what it once was.

A Fresh New Start provides a clear and playful representation of quarantine, creating a conversation with children that explores the hows and whys of the situation, without overwhelming or creating fear in its young readers.