Inspiration
As a pediatrician, it is difficult to watch my patients struggle with all of the uncertainty that has come from the COVID-19 pandemic. Children in the 6-9 age category are particularly vulnerable to stressors because they are old enough to understand what is happening around them, smart enough to pick up on their family members’ anxiety and financial hardships, yet often too young to feel like their actions have meaningful consequences. My goal with this project was to create a fun book that kids would be excited to read, while simultaneously empowering them with factual information.
What it does
I like to think of this book as the literary equivalent of zucchini bread: it's so fun and enjoyable, kids won't notice the extra dose of education that snuck in on the side. My hope is that it won't feel like "learning" while they're reading it, but that by the end they will have covered all the basic information that they need to know about COVID-19.
How I built it
Google docs, lots of lively plot debates at the dinner table, and good old fashioned pen and paper
Challenges I ran into
It was challenging to make sure the language was age appropriate. This is my first foray into the world of children’s literature, so I did a lot of research to make sure my content was age appropriate. I didn’t want to underestimate my target audience, but I also didn’t want to overwhelm them with details. Thankfully, a family friend is an educator and reading specialist, and she was able to analyze each chapter to make sure the reading level is at an early/middle 3rd grade reading level. I also had several friends who are elementary school teachers read it to make sure the material was the correct difficulty.
It was also challenging to create this book on such a short timeline. I finished it in just under 2 weeks. I have to say, though, that I think this has provided me with a much-needed creative outlet, and for that I am thankful!
Accomplishments that I'm proud of
First and foremost: finishing the project. It has been a busy month in the hospital and I'm proud of myself for prioritizing this book, because the message means a lot to me.
What I learned
1) Agatha Christie must have been a very smart woman, because planning a "who-dun-it" plot is a lot harder than I had anticipated. 2) Kids in the 3rd grade can actually read quite a lot.
What's next for Dunkin Drive Detectives & Mystery of Missing Toilet Paper
The Dunkin Drive Detective squad will continue to solve mysteries!
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