A family struggles and copes with COVID-19, sheltering in place. Their unique approach teaches them how to help each other and others. This story is more about family dynamics than Covid-19, although it does touch on points of why the family had to shelter in place, work from home, proper hygiene, and mask-wearing in public. The lesson learned is how to live harmoniously and have empathy for one another.
A family struggles and copes with COVID-19, sheltering in place. Their unique approach teaches them how to help each other and others. This story is more about family dynamics than Covid-19, although it does touch on points of why the family had to shelter in place, work from home, proper hygiene, and mask-wearing in public. The lesson learned is how to live harmoniously and have empathy for one another.
The Wellmeyer family: Dad, Mom, Ethan, Sophie, and their puppy Roscoe are all in the family room.
Dad turns up the volume on the television.
There have been many news reports, and he is worried.
Mom turns it off, and they hug. Sophie joins in, “Me too!” Ethan asks, “What’s happening, Pops?”
“Children, the world is changing, but we are a strong family unit; a team,” says Dad.
“Team Wellmeyer!” says Ethan while high-fiving Dad.
Dad continues,
“Yes, we are!” Hugging him. “There is a new illness known as COVID-19; it’s a virus that spreads from person to person. The best way for us and others not to get sick is to stay home and not go outside for a while.”
Ethan says, “So, no going to school?” in a sad voice.
Sophie says, “I’m going to miss my friends.”
Ethan is thinking, and he says. “Can we still go to sports practice?”
“Ethan, this virus is dangerous, and everyone except essential workers will be staying home,” Mom answers.
To which Ethan replies, “I’m an essential worker? I’m on a baseball team, and I’m the captain. My team needs me?”
Sophie replies, “I am a sential worker; my friends need me to play with them.”
Mom says, “Children, those are excellent points. Essential workers are doctors, police officers, nurses, firefighters, sanitation collectors, ambulance drivers, food factory workers, grocery store employees, postal workers, and medical companies. We can’t live without essential things. We need essential workers to provide the most important things. Bus drivers, truckers who drive our food, farmers, the electrical company, water company, gas company, and gas stations.”
“I want to be a farmer!” “I want to be a doctor!”
“I want to be an ambulance driver!” say the kids, respectively. “That’s wonderful!” says Mom.
“If we can’t be essential helpers because we are kids, what can we do? This is going to be boring,” says Ethan.
“I’m going to miss my friends so much,” Sophie says.
When a pandemic hits the world, people are forced to shelter in place. Can This Family Survive Quarantine? The Adventures of Sheltering in Place and Covid-19 by Susana Basanty answers this question. The lovely illustrations are by Anna Ishchenko. This story follows the Wellmeyer family during their quarantine time.
The Wellmeyer family consists of mom, dad, Ethan, Sophie, and their dog Roscoe. They are watching tv one night when dad shuts it off and announces to the family that the world is changing and there is a new virus called Covid-19. Dad explains what covid is and how the family will have to stay home. He explains that only essential workers can go to work and that they would be schooling from home. Ethan and Sophie are sad they will not be able to participate in school activities and see their friends. Dad spends a lot of time in the lab working on an invention. Mom gets overwhelmed with the housework and quits, which leads to dad’s greatest invention yet. Will this family survive quarantine?
Can This Family Survive Quarantine is a timely book, releasing about a year after the pandemic began. The cover illustrations give the reader clues as to who the book is about, and what might happen. The title conveys what the story will be about.
The text is easy to read and flows smoothly throughout the story. The illustrations are engaging and appropriate, adding much to the story. The family learns quite a few lessons through their quarantine time, and they learn how to work together in this difficult time. The author includes a handwashing guide and the proper way to wear a mask.
I thought this book was okay. It will be a good read for elementary-age children. It will be interesting for them to see someone else’s perspective on quarantine and how that family learned to cope.
I did not like the stereotypical roles portrayed in Can This Family Survive Quarantine. Mom does all the housework. The kids constantly make messes, and dad is working in his lab. Dad does not step in to help until mom is so frustrated, she quits. Then he burns everything, and the kids want mom to cook and clean again.
I think the premise of the book is good and this story will be around for a while, as a reminder of what families went through when the pandemic hit. I would recommend this story to elementary-aged children who want to see how another family survived quarantine.