Inside The Happy Mask with Aimee Chan
August 26th, 2021Hear all about the inspiration behind The Happy Mask with author Aimee Chan.
![](https://f.site-cdn.net/6cd93335c8/360-480-3ac3fb-9xs12u.jpg)
I wrote The Happy Mask because I find the whole experience of interacting with other people in masks very strange. When people are friendly to me in the streets or in a shop, I am always surprised because behind their mask, I cannot see them smiling. That's where the idea of the book came from.
I wanted to capture a bit about what it must be like for children to have to live without those really important social connections. You cannot exchange a smile with someone or wrinkle your nose at them or make a funny face to exchange a joke. If adults find that difficult, it must be even worse for kids.
I wanted to capture a bit about what it must be like for children to have to live without those really important social connections. You cannot exchange a smile with someone or wrinkle your nose at them or make a funny face to exchange a joke. If adults find that difficult, it must be even worse for kids.
![](https://f.site-cdn.net/6cd93335c8/360-307-3ac3fb-moor98.png)
In The Happy Mask I tried to document a bit of the experience of living through this very strange and surreal time of the COVID-19 pandemic from a child's perspective. I wanted to create a time capsule so we could remember what it was like to be homeschooling and trying to work from home and when we had to carry hand sanitiser everywhere. But I also wanted to offer a fun and easy solution for how we might be able to make things just a little bit easier for ourselves and the strangers around us in our community.
When I wrote the book I really didn't think that we would still be living with the effects of the virus and that so many of us would still be in lockdown and wearing masks. While I am glad my book exists to help families to find a gentle and positive way to process these tough times, I also really hope that soon this will all be over and my book will just be about remembering a strange time that happened long ago.
Thank you to Aimee for telling us all about the inspiration behind The Happy Mask!
You can find Aimee on Facebook, Instagram, and on her website.
![](https://f.site-cdn.net/6cd93335c8/360-504-3ac3fb-xhvz6p.jpg)
Author Aimee and her wonderful book, The Happy Mask, have recently featured in a local newspaper, The Border Mail. Read the article below!
![](https://f.site-cdn.net/6cd93335c8/360-732-3ac3fb-umcdv.jpg)
![](https://f.site-cdn.net/6cd93335c8/196-175-3ac3fb-yu6eqy.jpg)
The Happy Mask
Maggie doesn't want to wear a mask. She thinks masks make people look mean. So Dad has an idea for how Maggie can show people how she really feels and still stay safe.Purchase Here
Tags: Australia, author, book, children, children's book, corona, covid, fiction, lockdown, partner publishing, self published, inspiration
Comments (0)
No comments have been submitted yet.
Why not be the first to send us your thoughts
Leave A Comment
Thank you for your comments,
they will appear shortly once approved.
TOPICS
RECENT POSTSHAVE YOU SEEN...1
Meet Wendy Goucher, author of Eesha and the Mud Monster MysteryMarch 11th, 20242
Ride the latest wave with Samantha Bell, author of The Girl Who Saved the Ocean.April 21st, 20233
Behind the Story and Illustrations of The Great Guinea Pig Adventures with Hollie SmithFebruary 23rd, 20224
Behind the Illustration Process of Karma and Koo with Emma StuartDecember 16th, 20215
Inside the Inspiration for The Great Guinea Pig Adventures with Hollie SmithNovember 24th, 20211
Meet and Greet - Introducing the Kids to Your Partner for the First Time by Rachel BraceJuly 28th, 20212
Top Tips on How to Write a Junior Fiction/Middle Grade BookJuly 30th, 20213
Meet Chi Mary KaluOctober 29th, 20194
Get to Know Beverly Jatwani, Author of Pedro the Puerto Rican Parrot!May 5th, 20215
Inside the Inspiration for The Great Guinea Pig Adventures with Hollie SmithNovember 24th, 2021