The Great Pause
Perseverance Through the Pandemic
by Julia Manini and Anne-Joyelle Occhicone

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The Great Pause is a children’s picture book that honours the magnitude of the pandemic experience and its shared impact. With the book’s themes of perseverance, patience, gratitude, mindfulness, and compassion, it reflects on the human experience of COVID-19: all that was lost and found when we were called upon to change everything about our way of being. In a vivid yet sensitive way, the book illustrates how life suddenly and radically changed for all of us. For middle-grade children, The Great Pause will help them gain a better understanding of the pandemic. For adults, it is a vehicle for reflection on this remarkable time in our history. The Great Pause is intended for independent reading and reflection but aims to support parents and guardians when helping children to understand the depth of the COVID-19 pandemic. Balancing the severity of our shared circumstances with the magnitude of the pandemic’s reach, The Great Pause delicately, yet powerfully, encapsulates the experience. A timely contribution to classroom curriculums and discussions about this historic and life-changing event.

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“The Great Pause is a book that belongs in everyone’s home. It is a gentle reminder that nothing is more powerful than the human spirit. It is a great teaching tool for young people to understand that obstacles and challenges are an invitation for deeper connection, understanding and kindness.” —Theo Koffler, author of The RETHiNK Kit and founder of Mindfulness Without Borders

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Anne-Joyelle Occhicone and Julia Manini are, respectively, a developer of social policy and a doctor of educational leadership. The authors endeavour to practice a way of being that offers growth and a hopeful perspective to those they encounter. They are seekers of wisdom, honouring those who set out as change-makers. Most importantly, they are mothers raising another generation of spirited individuals to honour the complexity of the human condition. The pandemic offered a platform for innovation, reflection, and connection, inspiring this written work. With The Great Pause, the authors seek to explore our shared experience during a time of immense challenge. Julia Manini and Anne-Joyelle Occhicone both live in Toronto, Canada, with their husbands and children, surrounded by the support and love of family and friends.

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Contributors

Author

Julia Manini

Author

Anne-Joyelle Occhicone

Illustrator

Laura Catrinella

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Other eBook Editions

This book is also available in eBook format from these sites.

• Amazon Kindle Store
• Apple Books
• Google Play