An NHS worker from Hampshire has written and illustrated four children’s books to explain about the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of a pharmacist.
Prescribing Support Pharmacist Louise Shone, who works for the Integrated Care Board (ICB) for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, is using sales from the books to support NHS Charities Together.
The mother-of-two from Waterlooville said: “When COVID started, my daughters Imogen and Evelyn were only one and three years old (now 4 and 6), so they didn’t really know what was happening.
“I used ‘Fred,’ a character that I have been drawing on and off for years, to help explain to them what was happening.
“These books are to try and teach children about coronavirus (via Mr Coronavirus) using some characters called the Yankees that I have been drawing for years.
“My daughters liked the story more than I anticipated so I thought I would turn it into a published book. The books also explain the role of a pharmacist to children, as I don’t think many children know what a pharmacist does.”
Louise moved to the ICB’s Medicines Optimisation Team in south east Hampshire in October 2022, after working at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, for 15 years.
She said: “It took me about two years to write and illustrate the books and there are four books for this story. I was writing the books whilst working and looking after my daughters and took a break from writing them when my mother-in-law sadly passed away from COVID.”
Louise’s books are available on Amazon, Lulu and via her website www.worldofyankees.com
She has also started work on two more books to help children and adults understand about anaphylactic allergies.
Louise said: “My daughters both have anaphylactic allergies to different foods, and I want to raise awareness about them.”