A Doll for Grandma: A Story About Alzheimer’s Disease

When Kiera discovers Grandma’s keys in the refrigerator next to the orange juice, and Grandma starts knitting hats that are much too small for a human head, she becomes perplexed, confounded by the changes she is witnessing. Her mom lovingly explains that Grandma’s brain is having trouble remembering. Soon, Grandma moves to a memory-care home, and as her disease progresses, she loses her ability to walk. The once vibrant, active, and animated woman Kiera loved so deeply as a young child seems to be fading into the background of the person she has become. Through compassion, creativity, and unwavering determination, Kiera is able to connect with the person she has become, and the love between them shines bright.

This heartwarming story is inclusive, yet relatively short and concise—perfect for young children who are emerging readers. It’s likely to ignite an array of emotional responses from its readers, from sadness to joy, from pensiveness to laughter. Though this topic (Alzheimer’s disease), and more broadly, degenerative diseases, may ignite a negative reaction from children, the author’s style of presentation is masterful. She sprinkles her story with moments of hilarity and touches of sweetness that are gripping. Youth whose lives have been impacted by aging loved ones will be transformed by insight and hope after reading this exquisite picture book.