THE MASK THAT LOVED TO COUNT

An N95 mask with counting ability (!) discovers how “special” it is.

Narrating, it speaks directly to readers/listeners, exhorting them to be aware of how important face gear and other personal protective equipment are in these critical times. The mask counts how many people are buying masks at a pharmacy, how long it takes for the doctor who buys it to get to his hospital, how many boxes of donated medical supplies are headed to “the center of the epidemic, “and how many intravenous drops help a hospitalized young virus patient feel better; this mask does plenty of reckoning. The mask isn’t actually worn by anyone, but then the child, recovered and homeward bound, donates the mask to a different doctor. The mask now realizes its purpose: “to give people hope and to help save lives.” This volume, a Chinese import, is one in a new series of hopeful, nonfrightening books aimed at helping youngsters understand the corona emergency. Whether they’ll buy the “counting mask” premise is another, er, story, but the narrative calmly conveys the ideas that there’s a “dangerous new virus” (never named) around and that all masks are protective. Busy, lively illustrations effectively show frontline medical personnel in full protective gear. Both primary characters have dark, straight hair and pale skin; others are racially diverse.

Should help children understand the crisis and the need to undertake currently recommended wellness measures.