Medical student creates coronavirus coloring book
Emily Kragel has a way of weaving art into her approach to the world—from everyday life to her medical education. The fourth-year Brody School of Medicine student has teamed up with a friend to create a series of age-appropriate children’s coloring books that address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kragel and Logan Beyer, a student at Harvard Medical School and aspiring pediatrician like Kragel, combined their talents in efforts to educate children on coronavirus and the impact it has had on health care and daily life on a level they identify with.
Brody School of Medicine student Emily Kragel helped create a coloring book to help children understand the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Contributed photo)
“Logan studied child development in undergrad, and I studied computer science and visual arts,” Kragel said. “With each of our backgrounds, we were able to put our knowledge and skills together to approach the project. She wrote the books—there are three based on age—in an age and content appropriate manner to provide factual knowledge, address emotions and empower children.”
As best friends during their undergraduate years at Duke University, the coloring books’ creators realized early on that they could not only use their pediatric aspirations and their penchant for the arts for the greater good, but also that together, they could accomplish even more. They were already planning a coloring book project geared at other health topics.
“In the months before COVID-19 hit, we had just begun discussing creating a children’s book to help reduce social stigma around certain health conditions in global health settings,” Beyer said. “After coronavirus took hold in the United States and public schools closed, Emily and I began to realize how confusing the pandemic was for the children we knew. There was a lot of scary new information, big emotions, and unanticipated time away from school and friends, yet a striking lack of resources designed just for kids.”
Kragel took the lead on the illustrations and Beyer wrote the main storyline, which introduced “Germ Busters” that connected with children on their level to communicate accurate information on coronavirus in a way that would make sense to children and give them something to focus on, while also reminding them that health care providers are working hard to keep them safe.
“What an educational, creative and fun resource for our children to learn about what they can do to keep themselves and others safe and healthy,” said Dr. Drew Baker, clinical professor of pediatrics and division chief of general pediatrics at Brody.
So far, the project has been well received, with more than 2,000 downloads of the coloring books. Kragel and Beyer have brainstormed how they can reach even more families and children.
“We realize that not everyone has access to a printer and are working on creating an online ‘click and paint’ feature on our website,” Kragel said.
A Brody School of Medicine student helped create a series of coloring books that addresses children’s fears surrounding coronavirus. (Photo by Rob Spahr)
In addition to being shared through Pitt County Arts and Pitt County Schools, the book is also available at Wide Open Schools, along with many other resources for children.
Kragel spent two years as editor of Typecast, Brody’s student arts magazine. She also regularly submitted art that was published in the publication that has since expanded to solicit entries from all Division of Health Sciences students.
Kragel said the coloring book was another way for her not only to express herself through art but also to lend her skills to helping people get through the pandemic.
“I think that one of the things that has really stuck out to me throughout this whole time is how incredible our society is,” Kragel said. “Many of my classmates are also utilizing their unique talents during this time to help out—whether it’s by organizing food deliveries to the hospital or by pet-sitting for a colleague while they are working. My artistic talent is no different than this—I have always had a strong desire to do what I can to help others, and art has been a prominent feature in a lot of these efforts.”