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Grandpa's Music

A Story about Alzheimer's

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Grandpa takes care of the garden, kneads bread, and makes music on the piano. Everyone in Callie's family helps out around the house, now that Grandpa, who has Alzheimer's, lives with them. The family becomes Grandpa's "home team," and Callie loves spending time with them. As months go by, Grandpa forgets more, and he can't do as much as he could before. But he can still make music—his fingers remember the notes on the piano. And when he can't recall the words to a favorite old song, Callie helps him come up with new things that they can sing about together. Alison Acheson's thoughtful storytelling and Bill Farnsworth's touching paintings portray a family that learns to adapt to the challenges of Alzheimer's disease while making the very best of their time together.

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  • Reviews

    • School Library Journal

      October 1, 2009
      K-Gr 3-This story concentrates on how the relationship between a child and her grandfather, who has Alzheimer's disease, changes but remains loving and strong. When Grandpa comes to live with her family, Callie's parents make a chart so everyone can remember their responsibilities. Grandpa's jobs are to garden, knead bread, and peel potatoes. Callie impulsively adds, "Make music," thereby establishing a bond that will link the two of them even as her grandfather's memory worsens. When he can't remember a song's lyrics, he and Callie cheerfully make them up. The passage of a year realistically depicts Grandpa's changing medical condition. Even when he must go to a nursing home, however, Callie and Grandpa play the piano and sing together. The illustrations, rendered in oil paint, are lit with a warm glow that captures the family's feelings. Grandpa's face shows his confusion as well as his enjoyment of the music. By concentrating on the girl's perspective, the book presents a simple but powerful message for children who may face a similar situation. The story does not deny the sadness of Alzheimer's, but demonstrates a way to continue loving the person the relative becomes."Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA"

      Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • The Horn Book

      January 1, 2010
      Grandpa comes to live with Callie's family. His tasks include tending the garden, kneading bread, and playing the piano. Grandpa doesn't always remember the lyrics, so he and Callie make up their own. The text and illustrations are overly sentimental in this bibliotherapeutic book; nevertheless, it could be useful for families dealing with Alzheimer's disease.

      (Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • PDF ebook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:570
  • Text Difficulty:2-3

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