Health experts agree that one of the best ways to protect yourself against the novel coronavirus is to wash your hands frequently. But it can be a challenge getting your kids, with their notoriously short attention spans, to do that—or anything—for 20 seconds.
Enter Tony Ross, the British children’s author known for his Little Princess books. In 2001, Ross wrote a book called I Don’t Want To Wash My Hands!, which tells the story of a truculent little girl who doesn’t get why hand washing is so important.
The book has become a hit in the U.K. over the past two months, which has led U.S. publisher Putnam to acquire American rights to it, Publishers Weekly reports.
“What’s happening in our world right now is difficult for any of us to process, and much more so for the youngest readers,” said Jen Klonsky, publisher of Putnam Books for Young Readers. “We hope Tony’s book gives caregivers another way to explain the importance of hand washing while also laughing with their children over the read.”
Ross said that he hopes the book will help convince children to practice sensible hygiene in the age of COVID-19.
“Never in a million years did I think we’d be in the public health crisis we are in and that people would be reading the book in this way!” he said.
The American edition of I Don’t Want To Wash My Hands! will be published as an e-book and audiobook on April 28, with a print version following on June 2.
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
