Alzheimeer’s and dementia are hard diseases for adults to cope with and are even harder for children.
Here is a collection of picture, middle grade and young adult books that explore Alzheimer’s, dementia and other brain-related memory loss diseases.
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Sticky Notes by Dianne Touchell
Foster Sumner is ten years old. He likes toy soldiers, tadpole hunting, going to school, and the beach. Best of all, he likes listening to his dad’s stories.
But then Foster’s dad starts forgetting things. No one is too worried at first. Foster and Dad giggle about it. Dad would go out for milk and come back with cat food, when the cat had been dead for five years. But then the forgetting gets worse. And suddenly no one is laughing anymore.
Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
For as long as ZJ can remember, his dad has been everyone’s hero. But lately life at ZJ’s house is anything but charming. His dad is having trouble remembering things and seems to be angry all the time. ZJ’s mom explains it’s because of all the head injuries his dad sustained during his career. ZJ can understand that–but it doesn’t make the sting any less real when his own father forgets his name. As ZJ contemplates his new reality, he has to figure out how to hold on tight to family traditions and recollections of the glory days, all the while wondering what their past amounts to if his father can’t remember it.
The Space Between Lost and Found by Sandy Stark-McGinnis
Cassie’s always looked up to her mom, a vivacious woman with big ideas and a mischievous smile. Together they planned to check off every item on a big-dream bucket list, no matter how far the adventure would take them. But then Mom was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and everything changed.
Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
Merci Suarez knew that sixth grade would be different, but she had no idea just how different. In a coming-of-age tale full of humor and wisdom, award-winning author Meg Medina gets to the heart of the confusion and constant change that defines middle school — and the steadfast connection that defines family.
The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue
Sumac Lottery is nine years old and the self-proclaimed “good girl” of her (VERY) large, (EXTREMELY) unruly family. And what a family the Lotterys are: four parents, children both adopted and biological, and a menagerie of pets, all living and learning together in a sprawling house called Camelottery. Then one day, the news breaks that one of their grandfathers is suffering from dementia and will be coming to live with them. And not just any grandfather; the long dormant “Grumps,” who fell out with his son so long ago that he hasn’t been part of any of their lives. Suddenly, everything changes.
The Remember Balloons by Jessie Oliveros
James’s Grandpa has the best balloons because he has the best memories. But when Grandpa’s balloons begin to float away, James is heartbroken. No matter how hard he runs, James can’t catch them. One day, Grandpa lets go of the silver balloon—and he doesn’t even notice!
Grandpa no longer has balloons of his own. But James has many more than before. It’s up to him to share those balloons, one by one.
Dad's Camera by Ross Watkins
One day Dad comes home with one of those old cameras, the kind that uses film. But he doesn’t take photos of the regular things people photograph. He takes pictures of his keys, his coffee cup, the objects scattered on his desk. He starts doing a lot of things that are hard to understand, like putting items that belong in the fridge in the cupboard and ones that belong in the cupboard in the fridge. In a sensitive, touching tale about losing a family member to a terminal illness, Ross Watkins and Liz Anelli prove that love is the one thing that can never be forgotten.
Where the Lost Ones Go by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Where the Lost Ones Go by Akemi Dawn Bowman truly has healing powers. In it, we meet Eliot. She is reeling from her grandmother’s decline and ultimate death from dementia and is devastated when her parents decide to move her across the country from California to Maine is an attempt to make a fresh start. But Eliot cannot leave her grief behind. She is determined to connect with her Babung in the afterworld. She’s terrified that Babung’s memory loss will impact her in the world beyond. If she had no memories when she dies, how will she find her way in her new world? Much to her parents’ dismay, she becomes obsessed with all things ghosts and spirits in an attempt to find Babung. This obsession leads her to Honeyfield Hall, Mrs. Dalvaux and Hazel. But not everything is as it seems and Eliot just may get what she hoped for. It’s for readers who understand the pain and suffering that dementia can bring to a family. It’s for readers who have experienced loss and are having difficulty moving on. And it’s for readers who don’t always feel seen by those who love them and are trying to find their way. This book pulls at all the heartstrings.
