Explaining the pandemic to children is no simple task, but four high school students are educating children about coronavirus and raising money for charity with a coloring book that gives kids critical information without overwhelming them. 

Lauryn Hong, Ella Matlock, Sofia Migliazza and Erin Rogers are students at Long Beach Polytechnic High School and created the coloring book as an end of year project for their economics class. After developing a business proposal for their coloring book company, Be The Change Coloring Co. they decided to follow through with actually creating the company.

The 28-page covid-focused coloring book features characters Al E. Gator, Wally the Narwhal and Sam the Snail who explain how to stay safe during the pandemic including wearing a mask and proper handwashing. The coloring book even comes with a face mask. 

The coloring books can be purchased online for $5 and 40 percent of the profit is donated to a charity of the buyer’s choice. So far, they have sold 2,000 books. The company is all about teamwork. Hong writes the stories, Matlock and Migliazza illustrate, and Rogers digitizes the final product.

Although the coloring book was created for a class project, Be The Change Coloring Co. isn’t slowing down. The team is preparing for the launch of their second book, “Stand Up for Your-Shell-ves,” which tackles racism and discrimination. 

To learn more or order a coloring book, visit their website or Instagram page.