Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. 32 p., Whitman, 2009. Alzheimer's disease can challenge children to find new ways to connect with people they've always known. As this story begins, Callie's Grandpa, who has Alzheimer's disease, moves into her home. Callie participates in his care, along with her parents and older brother, in very age-appropriate ways: she not only commits to playiing catch with Grandpa and helping him remember his hat, but also, she steps in to welcome him in special ways, inviting him into a new role in the family that helps him to structure his days, and especially, making music with him. As time goes on, he forgets how to do several things, but he always remembers how to play the piano, and he and Callie continue to sing together. When he forgets song lyrics, Callie encourages him to invent new ones with her, and he's happy. Toward the end of the story, he moves into a nursing home, and brings with him his ability to play music, his enjoyment of making up lyrics, and his connection with Callie. Illustrated with oil paintings, this story offers hope of connection in spite of the helplessness than children can feel when a relative has dementia. Ages 6-9
Showing posts with label dementia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dementia. Show all posts
Little Mamá Forgets by Robin Cruise
Illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen.40 p., Farrar/Kroupa, 2006. When someone has dementia and forgets many things, we can still appreciate the things she remembers. Although Lucy's grandmother sometimes forgets to wake up in the morning, Lucy reminds her by tickling her awake, and Little Mamá remembers to tickle her back. Although Little Mamá forgets how to tie her shoes, Lucy reminds her - and Little Mamá remembers how to button her dancing shoes and remembers dancing with Papi, she and Lucy enjoy dancing together. Little Mamá may forget to wait for a green light to cross the street, but she remembers how to skip, and the whole family enjoys skipping together. In spite of her forgetting, Little Mamá recreates the warmth and family closeness that she remembers from Mexico. With its lively illustrations, this story shows children that even when someone forgets important things, closeness and joy are still possible. Ages 4-8