posted on 02 Jan 2017

Forget me not: dementia portrayed in picture books for younger children

I've written before about the need for children to read about dementia as part of a ''normal' social landscape. So many children have relatives that are and will be affected by this disease that it seems like a good idea for it to be included where relevant, particularly in picture books about elderly grandparents. I still rate Grandma by Jessica Shepherd as one of the best but now have a few others in my collection that also do the job pretty well. 

Little Mama Forgets by Robin Cruise is one of my favourites because of the splendidly exuberant and colourful illustrations by Stacey Dresden- McQueen. This story about an extended Mexican family living in Los Angeles is a lovely mesh of ordinary everyday moments where a grandma is becoming increasing forgetful - dementia is not specifically mentioned but it's there in the background. The message is that this family will cope very well with her increasing frailty and dependence.

Another warm family is depicted in Mile-High Apple Pie by Laura Langston, beautifully illustrated by Lindsey Gardiner. Grandma lives with her extended family and her memory problems are clearly stated by Margaret, the little girl from the first pages but every problem is immediately solved:' Grandma still reads me stories, only now I help her with the words' and 'When Grandma gets mixed up, I tell her it's time for a nap, I keep her company while she rests'. The title of this charming story refers to the apple pie making method she has passed down and one that continues to be made under her supervision (there is even a recipe included at the back of the book). There is sorrow and some gentle reassurance in this story but it doesn't batter the reader too hard. When Grandma goes into temporary respite care the family have a great time but Margaret is delighted to welcome her back to the family home, even though she has forgotten her name.

Weeds in Nana's Garden by Kathryn Harrison was partly written to support The Alzeimers Society of Canada and the author tries to explain the gradual and rather disturbing changes in a beloved grandparent. I quite like the metaphor of the garden in helping to show this complicated and fascinating process. It also means that there is an overall feeling of colourful richness portrayed through the detailed illustrations. The close relationship between a little girl and her grandmother is central to the story as they enjoy planting seeds and looking after the plants together. After a while the weeds start to take over and the girl’s mother explains that this is because she is sick and then a link to dementia is suggested ' These tangles get in the way of Nana's thoughts ....her ideas can't grow as they used to. Her memories get hidden. She mixes up and forgets ... like the beautiful blooms beneath the weeds, Nana is still Nana underneath'.

Despite the difficulties, the girl finds a way to help Nana take some control over the weeds in the garden, singing together as they do so. Soon she is confusedly pulling up flowers as well and this is a turning point where they can both have fun together with Nana leading the way as they dance through the garden together. Her condition becomes much worse and we are told that she has to go into a home but the girl keeps her memory alive by looking after the garden. I think I would have liked to see Nana looking out at or sitting in a new garden in the home as a more upbeat conclusion to what is otherwise a positive little story.

Grandpa Sea Shells by Jo Johnson, illustrated by Laura Densham tells the story of three young children who spend a day with their grandparents who live in a house decorated with seashells. He has recently been diagnosed with dementia and the extensive notes at the front of the book by the author who is a Consultant Neuropsychologist, state that the book has been written to help parents talk about the subject ' in the same way that you talk about all other aspects of your life as a family'. A trip to the beach shows him behaving in a slightly off kilter way but otherwise they have a good time. On the journey home mum explains in a matter of fact way why he keeps forgetting things and getting muddled. I liked what the children say on the final page about him because he still sings, has big muscles, lets them cheat at football and gives them peppermints.

Really and Truly, A Story about dementia by Emilie Ricardo, illustrated by Anne- Claire Delisle is pretty successful in my view because it starts with ' When I was little, my grandpa used to tell me a lot of stories ...' and this story world, fondly remembered, becomes the basis for the little boy, Charlie to create a fantasy world that his grandpa can step into as his dementia progresses. This is not a frightening place but one where anything can happen - and that makes life an adventure. Visiting him in the care home is very sad until Charlie wakes up his imagination in this way and from this point he thinks up lots of stories to make his grandpa smile again, which he does.

It is a tricky task for authors and illustrators to get the right balance between telling a good story and providing information about dementia. All the picture books discussed above achieve this pretty well and I hope that I will soon be able to add others to my collection.

Karen Argent

January 2017