Clara in a Strange World

This morning, like every other

morning for the past few days,
when she woke up, Clara
thought: “Well, this year the
world has become really weird.”
 It got weird indeed.
Really, really weird.
This year boys and girls like
Clara can’t go to school.
They can’t play in the
park or share a piece of
chocolate.
 No friends are coming to hang out in
the afternoon.

That’s weird!

They can’t visit Grandma

or give her a hug.
 Sooo weird!

This year Dad, Mum, Aunt Olga and Uncle Juan

don’t leave the house for work. This year almost
everybody stays home.
Because this year, in this strange world, in the air
and in the streets, there is a virus.
The small, invisible and contagious Coronavirus.
 “Ok, this year the world got
weird”, Clara kept thinking.
“This year I can bake cookies
every afternoon.”
And Alberto goes with me
everywhere.
 This year Dad plays his piano in the morning.
And sometimes I stay in my pajamas until noon.
 I dance in front of the mirror with my
hands, not with my feet.

This year I have more time to play.

Strange games.
And I speak backwards.
I don’t ride my bike; I get into a suitcase.
I hide from a friend, even if he is not around.
I run all over the kitchen
while my cat walks.
I imagine a song and my sofa sings along!
I go to the beach even if it is cold.
And, instead of crying, I laugh.
 “What will
And then Clara thought:
happen when
this virus is
over?.”
When all of this is over,
we can go out and have
an ice cream.
 I will go see Grandma,
Ernesto and Manuela again.
We will run all over the park,
we will play on the swings,
we will all be together,
we will jump full of joy
 and sing arm in arm,
when all of this is over.
 Text: Piedad Rivadeneira
Ilustration: Romina Carvajal
Coloring: Tamara Henríquez

Piedad Rivadeneira

Romina Carvajal
 ACTIVITY BOOKLET

"CLARA IN A STRANGE WORLD"

 MY NAME IS

_____________
(WRITE IT HERE)
CLARA HAS BEEN IN HER HOUSE FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

HOW MANY DAYS HAVE YOU STAYED HOME?

________________________
(WRITE IT HERE)

HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY?

(CIRCLE IT)

IT'S OKAY TO FEEL THAT WAY!

IN THIS STRANGE YEAR, CLARA DID MANY THINGS AT

HOME. WHICH ONE DID YOU LIKE MOST?

(CUT IT)
WHAT DID YOU DO DURING THESE DAYS WHEN THE

WORLD GOT WEIRD?

(DRAW IT)
 THESE ACTIVITIES MAKE CLARA FEEL BETTER.

(PAINT IT)

She makes a "calming bottle" using a plastic bottle Every day she gives thanks for something and writes it

+ water + glitter. down on her notebook, e.g.: today was a sunny day.

She thinks about the people she loves and wishes them well,

e.g. wishes they are happy, wishes they are having a good

time,
WHAT ACTIVITIES COULD YOU DO TO FEEL BETTER

WHILE STAYING HOME?

(CIRCLE IT)
WHEN ALL OF THIS IS OVER, CLARA WOULD LIKE TO:
(CIRCLE THE IMAGE YOU LIKE THE MOST)
AND WHEN ALL OF THIS IS OVER, WHAT WOULD YOU

LIKE TO DO?
(DRAW IT)
EVERYTHING WILL BE ALL RIGHT!

(COLOUR THE RAINBOW AND

DECORATE YOUR ROOM WITH IT)

Dear parents and educators,

We have prepared this story, thanks to the generosity of writer Piedad Rivadeneira and illustrator

Romina Carvajal, for children between 3 and 6 years old, in order to support children and their

emotional world dealing with COVID-19 virus.

The story is divided in three parts:

The first part describes what we cannot do due to the pandemic (attend school, play in the park,

visit grandparents).

The second part shows positive aspects of staying at home (staying in my pajamas until noon,

parents not leaving the house for work and having more time to play).

And the third part, ending with a message of hope (you will be able to go for an ice cream, visit

your grandparents and friends, go to the park).

We have also made an activity booklet for the children to download and print.

We hope you enjoy them.

Cecilia O'Connor

Editorial Manoco

Special thanks to Yanina Vaschetto, Camila Magnasco, Sofía Oyhanarte and Virginia Mendonça

Paz.
 COPYRIGHT © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

@editorial_manoco