Assistant Psychology Professor Publishes Children’s Book on COVID-19 Pandemic
Assistant Professor of Psychology Rachael Ellison has independently published a new children’s book about the COVID-19 pandemic titled Goodnight COVID-19: A Pandemic Parody Edition.
Ellison, who became a new mother just before the pandemic, wrote the book as a timely parody of the classic children’s book Goodnight Moon, written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd. Ellison collaborated with illustrator Kimberly Bradford for the book’s artwork.
“I wrote Goodnight COVID-19 in part as a cathartic coping mechanism, as a new mom in a pandemic,” Ellison says. “But the book also aims to provide a space for other parents with young children to acknowledge some of the new challenging routines and experiences, in a playful way that can help to normalize some of the aspects of the pandemic.”
Ellison’s professional background in psychology also played a role in her vision for the book.
“I discovered using social stories was especially helpful for families with children who had trouble coping with challenging situations back during my clinical training while doing pediatric therapy,” she says.
Ellison also includes within Goodnight COVID-19 a list of free online resources for parents experiencing a pandemic. A portion of the proceeds from book sales will be donated to the National Council for Behavioral Health’s COVID-19 Relief Fund.
