Image by Miriam and Carol Ungar

Like many grandmothers, I’ve been trying to find a way to connect with my grandkids in this pandemic. I penned a poem for my granddaughter Livia who lives in Hollywood, Florida — the other side of the globe from me in Israel; we now visit on Facetime. My daughter, Miriam, a self-taught painter, took it to the next level with her wonderful painted collage illustrations.

It wasn’t until I started wearing a mask myself to protect myself and others from coronavirus that I realized what a challenge it was. They do smell bad, they aren’t pretty and they squash the face and the air passages. I’ve ditched my pasty white N95 for an aqua blue surgical model which offers a bit of a chance at breathing.

Miriam and I both hope that the book will help kids and the grownups who love them adjust to mask wearing until a vaccine or cure, or a miracle occurs so that we too can safely “toss our masks to the sky.”

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Image by Miriam and Carol Ungar

Image by Carol and Miriam Ungar

Image by Carol and Miriam Ungar

Image by Carol and Miriam Ungar

Image by Carol and Miriam Ungar

Image by Carol and Miriam Ungar

Image by Carol and Miriam Ungar

Image by Carol and Miriam Ungar

Image by Carol and Miriam Ungar

Carol Ungar is a freelance writer, Mom, and grandmother who lives and works in the Jerusalem suburbs. Her first kids book “the Surprise in the Desk” is slated for publication later this year.

Miriam Ungar lives with her husband and daughter in Hollywood, Florida. She is a real estate executive who loves to cook and make art.

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