22 Mar 2018
Community News: Hepatitis Victoria ‘Little HepB Heroes’ Project
Hepatitis Victoria has launched a new children's book and animation, called The Little Hep B Hero, to help families talk about hepatitis B.
The Little Hep B Hero children’s book is now a tangible answer to a question posed and conceptualised by a group of Hepatitis Victoria’s community advocates in early 2016: “Hepatitis B is considered ‘family business’…but why has it never been part of our family conversation?”
The evidence is that hepatitis B remains a hidden disease. It is estimated that 38% of those living with hepatitis B in Australia approximately 90,000 people, are unaware they have it.
Little Hep B Hero will be published in English, Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese by the end of April. The book is written primarily for 6 to 12 year-olds. It contains a glossary and discussion section for families and is engaging for younger children. A 6-minute animation and audiobook version will also be available by the end of April.
The official launch of Little Hep B Hero will be at the Brunswick Library, Dawson Street Brunswick on Thursday, 26 April at 10.15 am. There will be a reading of the book and viewing of the animation to the pre-school family reading group. This will be followed by children’s activities and morning tea.
The book is part of The Little Hep B Heroes Project, which aims to help families have important conversations about hepatitis B.
Cover of the English version of Little Hep B Hero book