Grandma by Jessica Shepherd
| Grandma by Jessica Shepherd | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Zoe Morris
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| Summary: A wonderful book that helps explain various issues including dementia and moving into a nursing home for little ones whose grandparents might be reaching that stage. Perfectly pitched, this is sweet and clear. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: January 2014 |
| Publisher: Child's Play | |
| ISBN: 978-1846435973 | |
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Oscar loves his Grandma very much so it’s scary and frightening when she starts forgetting things and acting differently. She has to go and live somewhere else and it smells funny and is full of new people.
This is a very straightforward book about what it’s like when a grandparent develops Dementia and is unable to care for themselves anymore. It portrays the move into a nursing home as a positive thing that offers care and support when it’s needed, and allows people to maintain their individuality – in this case, Oscar still gets to go and spend time with Grandma, they can enjoy having drinks and cakes together and he can meet her new friends including dapper Albert who styles out a flat cap whether he’s on his zimmer or having a rest in bed. It’s realistic too, showing how sometimes things may change, and people might be confused or angry and not feeling up to visitors, but it doesn’t mean they don’t love you.
I was lucky in that my grandparents never became demented, but in my current job I design and commission dementia services and work closely with nursing homes so it’s an area I know well. I’ve never come across a book like this before and I have to applaud the author for her sensitive and accurate portrayal of a topic which is often not discussed in a way little ones can understand. It doesn’t set unrealistic expectations and clearly highlights the difficulties you might encounter while reminding you that your loved one is still the same person they always were, even if it feels a bit like they’re not any more.
This book is beautifully presented. Oscar’s Grandma is super fun and I would love it if she were mine. They do simple things like planting flowers and sharing books together, and even when they do the washing up it becomes an event rather than a chore. The nursing home is explained well as a place older people can live together and be cared for safely, and the personalised approach (her carers knowing which cakes she likes best, for example) is one I wish all homes could emulate.
This is a great book to use as a starting point for discussions about why an older relative behaves how they do and can be unpredictable, or why they might have to move into a nursing or residential home, but that none of these stop them loving you. But, because it’s not too preachy, it’s a nice book you can read together even if you don’t have a relative who fits that description. I thoroughly enjoyed it and thought it was perfectly executed. I’d love it if the author went on to do a whole series of books on things like this because she has found just the right voice for it, and I can imagine a cancer book or even one on an unwell pet would be equally useful and well done.
I’d like to thank the publishers for sending us this one.
Last Christmas by Julia Williams talks about dementia from an adult perspective as does the highly recommended Grace and Mary by Melvyn Bragg. If you have to explain about diabetes to a child, we don't think you can do better than Grandpa Diet and Diabetes by Laura Williams.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Grandma by Jessica Shepherd at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Grandma by Jessica Shepherd at Amazon.com.
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