Categories: Kindness, Resilience / adaptability, Serious Illness

Grandma

A comforting (yet realistic) story of the relationship between a young boy and his Grandma who has dementia. Beautifully illustrated and sensitively written, this would be a great choice for any child who has a loved one who is suffering from dementia or is going into a care home.

Author: Jessica Shepherd
Illustrator: Jessica Shepherd
Publisher: Childs Play (International) Ltd

Oscar loves Grandma, and their time together is always lots of fun. As she becomes less able to look after herself, she has to go into a care home.
More and more children are encountering dementia and its effects on their families. This touching story, told in Oscar’s own words, is a positive and practical tale about the experience.

At Little Parachutes we love books which wrap up challenging subjects in a positive, comforting and reassuring story which is appealing and accessible for young children. Jessica Shepherd has delivered this on all counts. The gorgeous pencil illustrations may seem simple but we appreciate the thought that has gone into them and how many details there are within them that a child may recognise from their own experiences.

This video link is provided to help an adult assess the book's suitability for a child's situation before purchasing it. It has been filmed by a third party and hosted on YouTube and is not made by Little Parachutes. More info

The messages we found in this book:

Acknowledgement:

When a well-loved person develops dementia, it can be hard for a child to cope with the changes they see in that person. They may miss their old ways.
It can be very sad and confusing for a child when they experience a person with dementia being angry or unhappy.
Oscar is a bit scared when he first visits Grandma’s care home.

Guidance:

Oscar makes a box of happy memories to share with his grandma and to help her remember good times they have shared.
Sometimes a person with dementia may shout or get cross. This is not your fault and you have done nothing wrong.
Elderly people often have mobility problems and might need special equipment to assist them (one of the pictures shows a man in a hospital bed with a hoist and alarms).
People with dementia often like to tell stories about the past. They may appear to recall more about a long time ago than they can about recent events.
Grandma can still do lots of things with her grandson, but needs rest and quiet times.

Hope & Inspiration:

The story ends on a positive note: whether Grandma is having a good or a bad day, she is still the best Grandma and Oscar loves her.

Worth noting:

The factual page about dementia helps children talk about their feelings and find new ways to enjoy the changing relationship.

Review by: Claire Ward-Dutton