by Julia Manini (Author), Anne-Joyelle Occhicone (Author), Laura Catrinella (Illustrator)

The Great Pause is a children's picture book that honours the magnitude of the pandemic experience and its shared impact. With the book's themes of perseverance, patience, gratitude, mindfulness, and compassion, it reflects on the human experience of COVID-19: all that was lost and found when we were called upon to change everything about our way of being.

In a vivid yet sensitive way, the book illustrates how life suddenly and radically changed for all of us. For middle-grade children, The Great Pause will help them gain a better understanding of the pandemic. For adults, it is a vehicle for reflection on this remarkable time in our history.

The Great Pause is intended for independent reading and reflection but aims to support parents and guardians when helping children to understand the depth of the COVID-19 pandemic. Balancing the severity of our shared circumstances with the magnitude of the pandemic's reach, The Great Pause delicately, yet powerfully, encapsulates the experience. A timely contribution to classroom curriculums and discussions about this historic and life-changing event.