Copyright Date:
2017
Edition Date:
2017
Release Date:
08/01/17
Illustrator:
Johnston, Nicky,
Pages:
1 volume (unpaged)
ISBN:
1-925335-47-X
ISBN 13:
978-1-925335-47-7
Dewey:
E
Dimensions:
26 x 27 cm.
Language:
English
Reviews:
Publishers Weekly
(Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
A girl affectingly describes spending time with her grandmother, who has dementia and doesn-t remember her granddaughter from visit to visit. -Every time we meet, it-s like meeting someone new,- the girl says. Australian author Russell doesn-t dwell on the potentially upsetting aspects of the woman-s lost memories and instead has his young narrator highlight how the family has adapted. -Even though Grandma can-t remember us, we have so many memories of her,- she says; in the pages that follow, Johnston shows the grandmother and her grandchildren taking trips to the beach, cuddling up during a thunderstorm, and lounging in the summer grass. Indeed, it-s the girl-s father who-s having the hardest time watching his mother-s decline (-Sometimes Dad is sad because he has to hold onto the memories for both of them now-). Johnston-s loose pencil outlines and cheerful palette play into the comforting, even upbeat, mood. 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. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)
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Publishers Weekly
(Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
We smell baking apples in the winter and remember climbing as high as the sky in Grandma's apple trees. We remember Grandma's big old house and sunny picnics in her big old garden. Now Grandma lives in a room with a painted garden. She lives with people who remember for her.
Excerpted from Grandma Forgets by Paul Russell
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
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.