Grandma Forgets

Description

When your grandmother can't remember your name it should be sad, but maybe it is just an opportunity to tell her more often how much you love her. Grandma Forgets is the heart-warming story of a family bound by love as they cope with their grandma's dementia. Over the years, the little girl has built up a treasure trove of memories of time spent with Grandma: sausages for Sunday lunch, driving in her sky-blue car to the beach, climbing her apple trees while she baked a delicious apple pie, and her comforting hugs during wild storms. But now, Grandma can't remember those memories. That's alright though, because she has her family to help her. Depicted with gentle, whimsical illustrations, the little girl and her Grandma continue to share a loving relationship despite Grandma's dementia. They play the games they used to play, although Grandma sometimes forgets the rules, or makes up new games like hiding Dad's keys! Sometimes Dad is sad because he has to hold onto the memories for both him and Grandma now, but his daughter is only too happy to help him make new memories to share. This is a warm, hopeful story about a family who sometimes needs to remind their grandmother a little more often than they used to about how much they care. She might not remember any of their names but she will always know how much she is loved, because they make sure to tell her every time they see her.

Paul Russell is a primary teacher, playwright and children's author. He is passionate about children's literacy and building young appetites for the written word. Nicky Johnston is an educator and author/illustrator, with a strong focus on children's emotional resilience and mental health awareness.

"It's evident that Russell's heroine knows that diminished memories don't diminish love in the slightest; families in similar situations should find this a useful resource for framing challenging moments in positive ways." "Grandma Forgets is a lovely uplifting story about a family whose Grandmother is suffering from Dementia. Written in the child's narrative, it offers an insight into the relationship the child had with the grandmother and how they are keeping the relationship positive and coping with the illness." Kid's Book Review "Grandma Forgets is a timeless treasure made especially for children (and their parents) who are trying to come to terms with dementia." "Dementia is difficult enough for adults to accept, let alone to explain to little ones. But this gorgeous picture book navigates this tricky territory with aplomb" "the love between them all just oozes from the page setting up the perfect opportunity to let the children tell and draw their own stories of their own special moments with their grandparents, perhaps cementing them even more firmly.. A family story that provides lots of comfort." "I found the book to be sweet, enlightening and it offered a positive spin on a situation that can be hard to explain to young children. I especially like how the book reflects on so many positive memories, and how it doesn't matter that the Grandma has forgotten, as this means that they get to make new memories for her." "I give this book five stars! The illustrations were so cute ... This is such a nice book." "Dealing with dementia is tough. It's sad and for children, it's confusing. I found this book to be really uplifting and teach a few coping mechanisms. It shows that even though Grandma may not remember any of their names she will always know how much she is loved "