posted on 30 Dec 2015

Grandma by Jessica Shepherd

This book has already been given plenty of acclaim by organisations like The Alzheimer’s Society because of its unusual but highly topical subject. To my knowledge it is the only picture book that focuses on a grandparent living in a residential care home and the way in which this represents a difficult transition for all the family. Storybook grandparents still tend to conform to the cosy stereotype, often living in snug rose clad cottages crammed with interesting artefacts. Nothing wrong with that of course but there is definitely space for a different kind of grandparent  scenario. In this book, as well as the Grandma being in a communal living environment, she is clearly displaying symptoms of dementia – which is an increasingly familiar change for grandchildren to have to come to terms with.

The success of the book is that all the above information is conveyed in a matter of fact, positive way through a very distinctive light-touch, naive,  illustrative style and well paced text. This very young author / illustrator originally hoped to become an art therapist and combined working for her degree with working part time in a care home. She wanted to use a picture book to tell the story of a journey towards understanding what it is like to see someone close affected by dementia. The story takes us through some of these changes with great competence and sensitivity. 

The book has a deliberately upbeat tone suggested from the outset on the cover where we see the little boy Oscar sitting on his grandmas lap, both smiling. The colourful floral pattern of the capacious armchair is repeated on the end papers. For me, there are some echoes of the picture book  'Grandpa' by John Burningham in the soft sketchy colours throughout, the iconic armchair and the depiction of the close relationship between old and young prior to illness as they enjoy playing and sharing ordinary experiences together.

The first visit to see grandma in her care home is portrayed very positively with the decidedly uninstitutional exterior ( more flowers evident in the windows). As they walk up the path we spot a jolly group of residents playing cards in the garden who smile across at the visitors.

The next double page is a very useful detailed map to help Oscar and the reader make sense of the very different living space, presumably drawn by Oscar himself. 

The confusion and concern about grandmas sometimes difficult behaviour is never dodged but it is well balanced with lots of other new experiences. After all, visiting somewhere with lots of people who have all kinds of mobility gadgets and curious little ways can be a pretty interesting place to visit. 

There is plenty of information about to help someone with dementia all cleverly inserted into the story and drawn with loving intricate attention to detail that is very like the drawings of young children before they start worrying about stuff like perspective.

There is also the bonus of talking to lots of other people when visiting the home which can make young visitors feel like honorary grandchildren. 

The book ends with the cover picture, again affirming that the warm relationship is to be treasured. This is Shepherds first picture book and I hope that there will be many more to come. This one is an uplifting, informative beautiful creation. As such, it needs to be made available to and enjoyed by children in educational settings and families living with dementia in all kinds of homes.

This book was published by Childs Play on 27th January 2014

Karen Argent

29th December 2015