Two children’s authors team up with Nonviolent Peaceforce to make a difference during the pandemic

monstersguidetolife.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[August 2020] Two children’s authors team up with Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) to make a difference during the pandemic.

In these times of fear, upheaval, and tension, children’s authors Katie Lee Koz and Laurie Theurer have partnered with Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) to help foster community, connection, and safety.

Fifty percent of all profits from their co-written picture book series A Monster’s Guide to Life…in a Pandemic will go to NP’s efforts, from now until a COVID-19 vaccine is widely available.

Simple actions of hygiene and distancing can make a huge difference in our lives right now. Yet simplicity isn’t always easy or fun. Through entertaining stories involving little monsters, the A Monster’s Guide to Life…in a Pandemic series of books reinforces these vital behaviors and habits. But underneath the humorous how-to storylines, there is an emphasis on the importance of unity, compassionate leadership, and a willingness to learn.

That’s where the alliance with NP comes in. Since 2003, the organization has focused on creating sustainable peace through unarmed, non-violent civilian protection, training, and connection. NP works in several countries around the world and, with the advent of the pandemic contributing to increased violence and divisiveness, the organization started a community project in the USA. This work includes training on violence prevention and civilian protection as well as safety, security, and peacekeeping strategies in Minneapolis, among other cities.

Although we are each affected differently, people of every status, background and race are confronted with the same crisis right now: the pandemic. We—meaning the human race as a community— are all expected to socially distance, cover coughs and sneezes, wash our hands, and wear masks when asked. However, these measures can be difficult for children to understand and follow. By promoting the hygiene measures that help control COVID-19 as well as the attitudes that foster trust, Katie Lee Koz, Laurie Theurer, and NP hope we will come out of this pandemic with a stronger sense of global connection and a better understanding of each other’s needs.

The Monster’s Guide to Life…in a Pandemic books, co-written by Katie Lee Koz and Laurie Theurer, and illustrated by Maria van Bruggen, include:

Mummy Wears a Mask: A virus arrives in Monstertown and Mayor Mummy tells everyone they should wear masks. But the other monsters aren’t so sure they want to. Will Mummy be able to convince them?

Werewolf Howls at Home: When a virus arrives in Monstertown, everyone must stay inside. But Werewolf longs to run free and howl under the moonlight with his pack. He’s never been so frustrated or bored. How can a pack animal like him be happy howling at home?

Zombie Covers His Coughs: When Zombie catches a sniffly, snuffly virus, he doesn’t want to give it to his friends. But it’s hard to cover his coughs and sneezes when his body parts keep falling off! Can Worm help Zombie figure out how to hold it together and stop spreading the virus, too?
 

Witch Washes Her Hands: A virus is in Monstertown and Witch wants to find the right spell to make it go away for good. But it’s tricky to make a virus vanish! Luckily, Witch’s friend Cat knows the best magic to use…and it’s not magic at all!

Katie Lee Koz is a Wisconsin native living in Switzerland. She writes under different names—Katie Lee Koz for children, Katie Hayoz and Catherine Hayoz for teens and adults.  She spent her high school and university years working as a peer health educator, so she understands the importance of change from the ground up.

Laurie Theurer is a California native living in Switzerland. She served as a volunteer English teacher with US Peace Corps Thailand and experienced firsthand the challenges in creating lasting change in developing communities with limited resources. Her debut non-fiction book Swisstory: The Untold, Bloody, and Absolutely Real History of Switzerland was published in October 2019 and received the SCBWI 2020 Crystal Kite Award for the region Europe, Africa, and Latin America.

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) works in conflict zones, such as South Sudan, Myanmar, Iraq or the Philippines, to protect people using unarmed methods and to build peace side-by-side with local communities. NP envisions a worldwide culture of peace in which conflicts within and between communities and countries are managed through nonviolent means.

Nonviolent Peaceforce values are:

• Nonviolence: it is the strongest and most-effective solution to working out conflict.
• Non-partisanship: Without taking sides in a conflict NP works to create a safe space for dialogue between conflicting parties.
• Primary of local actors: Through facilitation and creation safe spaces for local people NP helps them to work out their own solutions to conflict.
• Civilian to civilian: NP employs civilians to protect civilians in communities affected by violent conflicts.

Contact Information:

Katie Lee Koz
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +41 (0)77 441 0150

Laurie Theurer
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +41 (0)79 470 59 51

Nonviolent Peaceforce
Marna Anderson - Director of U.S. Office/Development
Email : [email protected]
Phone : +1 612-871-0005