MONCTON, N.B. -- Author Suzanne Belliveau hopes children will have some good clean fun reading her new book “Scrub.”

“The story is about a little soap who likes washing germs away. He loves the bath, loves little dirty hands, but he’s dreaming of fighting a nasty virus,” says Belliveau.

That nasty virus is COVID-19. Belliveau decided to write the book to teach children about the virus in a fun and educational manner.

“A book is a great way to explain things that are confusing for kids, something new, that new experience for them to cope with,” says June Jefford, a retired teacher.

The story of how a simple soap saved the day has been a platform for parents and teachers to explain a complicated issue in a light-hearted tone.

“I couldn’t resist buying one,” says Keltie Campbell.

“I’m a tutor in language for one of the local schools and the children there are seven-years-old and eight-years-old and this just fit right in.”

Belliveau is a Moncton native who now lives in Ottawa. She worked for several years with the Red Cross in South America, including during the H1N1 outbreak.

The author says “Scrub” is a full-circle moment. Soon to be translated in French, Belliveau hopes the book will open the chapter on coronavirus conversations at home.

“I have that element of truth within the book,” she says.

“There’s a line that the soap breaks down the virus and washes it away and so I make this story sort of around that, but framing that message in a simple and fun way."

The book is available to be purchased in softcover or e-book form and is formatted for library use.

Proceeds will go to Food Banks Canada to help with the COVID-19 crisis.