Leesburg Author Reassures Children About Future Beyond Pandemic

LEESBURG, VA — Leesburg author and illustrator Kathleen Finnegan has come out with a new book that is written to help preschoolers understand the changes to their daily routines caused by the coronavirus crisis and why a brighter future is certain to come.

The book, "Why(r)us the Virus," provides reassurances and explanations for the need to wash hands and wear a face mask during the pandemic. The book aims to keep a child’s interest through a rhyming song and hidden objects within the illustrations for them to look for as the book is being read aloud.

Finnegan has pledged to donate a portion of the profits from the sale of the book to Mobile Hope of Loudoun, a nonprofit that assists homeless and at-risk children, where she was volunteering when the coronavirus hit. She plans to translate the book into additional languages to make it accessible to as many people as possible.

"Why(r)us the Virus" is Finnegan's first book. She previously worked at Dodona Manor in Leesburg during its restoration and worked in information technology for Loudoun County Public Schools and the town of Leesburg before retiring in 2018.

Finnegan found herself reading to her grandchildren during online video calls after the coronavirus crisis began. “They were asking a lot of questions about why we couldn’t visit," Finnegan said. "I thought it would be fun to create a book that would answer their questions and reassure them that life wasn’t going to be like this forever.”

Finnegan's grandchildren loved the song she had written for the book. “It was the reaction of my grandchildren that spurred me to publish” she said. "Both of them sang the song often. My grandson sang it while he was waiting in their car for their COVID-19 test."

At one point Finnegan's grandson asked her if she believed the "Whyrus" would go away. It was at that point that Finnegan decided to publish the story she had written.

"I wasn't intending to publish it," Finnegan told Patch. "It was just a fun project for the grandchildren that provided me with the opportunity to practice writing, drawing and painting."

The story pulls together a number of the questions and complaints that Finnegan's grandchildren have expressed over the past few months. "I have read a lot of children's books over the years and I think it's important that a children's book be enjoyable for both the reader and the listener," she said.

Finnegan said she has family members who have worked with nonprofit reading programs or have taught in schools, and others who work in the world of epidemiology. Their edits and suggestions helped make the book both accurate and accessible to children.

Her grandson also helped during the book's editing phase. "Of course my grandson informed me that I had not drawn a dragon. I had drawn a pterodactyl, so I had to correct that as well," she said.

In the book, Finnegan includes nurses, scientists and farmers who are working to keep everyone healthy. When she was reading the story to her grandson, it reassured him that many people are working hard to help people and make the coronavirus go away.

"Hopefully the book will help reassure others as well,” she said.

"Why(r)us the Virus" is available in ebook, paperback and hardback formats at most online book retailers.