Children's book review

Quote of the Day:  Picture books are for kids of all ages. They engage the reader and the listener. They provide relaxing lap time and stimulate conversation. They offer beauty and art that can be held and experienced. Mary Aalgaard, writer

How do you talk to young children about aging?  How do you explain changes in their grandparents and prepare them for visits to the nursing home or assisted care facility?

One great way is to read picture books and be open for their questions and comments. If they ask you something you don't know, tell them that you'll look for the answers together. If they ask you something that makes you feel uncomfortable, defer the question for a little while, gather your thoughts and information, and get back to them. Here are a couple picture books that deal well with memory loss.

A Young Man's Dance by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton, paintings by Layne Johnson.

 From the first line of the book, Grandma Ronnie isn't home anymore, we feel the pangs of loss and confusion that a boy experiences as his Grandma Ronnie is no longer in her own home, baking cookies, and doing the "cookie dance" with him as they wait for them to bake. He and his mom visit her in the nursing home where he is uncomfortable. He says, "I don't know why we bother coming here. She doesn't know who we are." His mom answers, "She's my mama. She raised me. I don't want her to feel forgotten."

We read on to learn of the relationship this boy had with his grandmother. That she taught him to dance and said, "A young man needs to know how to dance if he is going to get himself a girl." The dance of life is shown through their actions, as they learn how to live and love and remember for each other.

The illustrations are beautiful swirls of pastels and color. Some images are blurred, while others are clear, drawing our focus into eyes, smiles, feet, the moment.

This is a story that honors memory and the life someone lived, while giving us a picture of how to keep the spirit alive and live in the moment.

Another great choice is Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Patridge written by Mem Fox and Illustrated by Julie Vivas. This story is filled with whimsical words, illuminating illustrations, and creative connections. A young boy tries to help the folks in his neighborhood nursing home get their memory back. He does this by finding objects that have meaning to the indivuduals. This book engages young readers and opens their imagination to how they can bring joy and delight to older friends.

I have included the book links to Amazon.com for more information, or ask for these books at your local bookstore. Enjoy spending time together with the very old and the the very young. They know how to keep us connected and living in the moment.

What books did you enjoy reading as a youngster?

Remember This

A book review by Mary Aalgaard

Statistic of the Day:  Alzheimer's disease was first identified more than 100 years ago, but research into its symptons, causes, risk factors, and treatment has only gained momentum in the last 30 years. The cause is still unknown. from the Alzheimer's Association website.

Remember This by Susan Thompson Underdahl is a novel about a 17-year-old girl, Lucy, experiencing the usual teenage angst in small town America.  She has normal teenage girl experiences and problems - a cheerleading tryout that ends in disaster, misunderstandings with girlfriends, and conflicted feelings about a boy who shows interest in her.  She also has experiences and problems that extend beyond her age group.  Her grandma seems to be experiencing memory loss. As the family discusses what to do about Grandma, they invite her to live in their house, in Lucy's room, and everyone tries to find a new normal just as everything seems out of their control. 

Lucy is an interesting and lovable main character, with some flaws, but ones that make her real and accessible.  The setting is Williston, ND, the author's home town, but it could be any small town in America.  Susan Thompson Underdahl writes a story that touches on issues relevant to teens and multi-generational living.

I recommend this book to anyone from early teens on up. Click here to read more about Susan and her books.

Still Alice

Statistic of the Day:  Two-thirds of those with Alzheimer's disease – 3.4 million – are women.

Book Review by Mary Aalgaard.
I was emotionally drawn into this novel from the first few pages. We're quickly introduced to Alice, her husband John, and their family dynamic. Alice is a much loved and respected Psychology Professor at Harvard University, specializing in psycholinguistics. Words have been her life.  She's a brilliant woman, independent, and renowned for her mental sharpness. She's the first person to notice hiccups in her memory, not sure what lecture she's supposed to give to her class, asking the same questions over and over to her children, completely forgetting that she was going to Chicago for a guest lecture. 

Lisa Genova does an amazing job of getting inside the hearts and minds of the characters, especially Alice. We see how her mind fogs over. We feel her confusion and panic as she gets lost on her way home from a run - the same run, the same path she's been taking for years.  We sense the ache of her family and friends as they watch this brilliant woman slipping away.

Still Alice is an emotional journey inside the mind and life of a woman experiencing early on-set Alzheimer's disease. She is only 50-years-old when she first experiences symptoms. Although her life and her relationships change as the disease progresses, what remains, even grows, is the love between her and her family.