Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Wash Your Hands! Coronavirus prompts 2000% surge in sales of The Little Princess book

Parents are keen to encourage their children about the importance of handwashing to prevent the spread of Covid-19

Roisin O'Connor
Monday 23 March 2020 11:57 EDT
Comments
Tom Fletcher demonstrates importance of washing hands to children using soap water and pepper trick

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sales of a book from the Little Princess series, in which the popular children’s character learns to wash her hands, have surged by 2,000 per cent amid the coronavirus outbreak.

According to The Guardian, publisher Anderson Press has seen “unprecedented” demand for I Don’t Want to Wash My Hands!, with sales prompting an “immediate hasty reprint of the title”.

The book follows the Little Princess as she plays outside, sneezes, goes on her potty and plays with her dog, all the while being asked to wash her hands.

“WHY?” she demands. “Because of germs and nasties,” the Maid says.

Author and illustrator Tony Ross said the book was inspired by his own children, as he struggled to get them to wash their hands.

“We’re in strange times,” said Andersen Press representative Paul Black, “and all just trying to find our way through it – now more than ever with children at home and parents feeling the pressure of home-schooling as well as working from home, it appears that books are helping people have open and honest conversations with youngsters, without being too dramatic and scaring them.”

Audible currently has hundreds of audiobook titles for children, teenagers and adults available to stream for free.

The website has said the books will remain free for “as long as schools are closed”.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in