posted on 02 Aug 2019

Special Delivery by Jonathan Meres, illustrated by Hannah Coulson

I am always on the lookout for children’s books that include characters with dementia in a natural but informative way. This one written by Jonathan Meres does the job very well and also provides a spot on endorsement of the many benefits of being kind to other people.

Frank is desperate for a new bike but, as his mother points out, they are very expensive! She encourages him to start saving by helping his big sister Lottie with her paper round. While he goes out with her to learn some tips about delivering papers efficiently, they meet an old lady who has a collection of cowboy related ornaments on a table outside her flat and greets the two children with a cheery “Howdy pardners”!  She is one of the elderly residents at Riverside Court sheltered accommodation and this makes me keen to find out how many other children’s books include these places in stories, I suspect that it is unusual even though they are increasingly common. She is very friendly, but seems a bit muddled nevertheless. When Frank sees her walking in the park a few days later wearing a distinctive hat and pointy boots plus other cowboy related clothes she greet him, but it soon becomes clear that she doesn’t remember who he is or where she lives. She seems to be looking for her sister who, by co incidence is also called Lottie:

 ‘How funny!’ the old lady said. ‘That’s my sister’s name too!’

Frank looked at the old lady. He’d already told her twice that he had a sister called Lottie. But he didn’t say anything, because she was very nice and, again, he didn’t want to be rude’.

 They have a rather confusing and amusing exchange where he introduces her to his Lottie, and they talk about why they all like cowboys and cowboy films.

Anyone who knows people with dementia will be familiar with the kind of repetitive conversation that follows and I was impressed with the way in which the children listen carefully, acknowledge and then gently move it on to a point where she happily accepts their offer to help her find her way home where they are greeted by her son who had been about to visit her.  She is under the impression that she lives at 37 Primrose Avenue, which is her old address so he is very grateful:

‘I can see that my mother has really enjoyed talking to you’.

They have a chat about how they deliver her papers, explain that Frank is saving up for a new bike, find out that her name is Mary and leave her looking happy and relaxed.   The next morning Frank receives a letter from her son thanking him for making ‘an extra special delivery.’  It seems that he might be able to afford a new bike a bit sooner than he planned.

This book adds to the splendid ‘Little Gems’ series for younger readers published by Barrington Stoke. Once again, they need to be congratulated on the beautiful compact design and the generous use of illustrations by Hannah Coulson throughout that complement the text. The story is short but eventful with lots of examples of believable conversations between different characters – I think it would lend itself to a dramatic production for this reason. I can see it being used as a basis for a class assembly with its clear messages about intergenerational friendship and strong family relationships. I also intend to recommend it to The Alzheimer’s Society as a great way to help raise awareness about dementia. 

Strongly recommended.

Karen Argent

August 2019