Resources on Dementia for Children

On some days, seven-year old Julie feels like she’s living in a Fun House. Hers is a topsy-turvy world where the toaster sprouts a toothbrush, and a watermelon gets dressed up in pink underpants for Fourth of July! But on other days, Julie struggles with understanding why her Halloween trick-or-treating got cancelled, or why Grandma can’t remember her name. Julie is struggling with understanding her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s disease. Authors Max Wallack and Carolyn Given believe that no child is too young to learn about this disease, or how to participate in providing safe care for their loved one. Why Did Grandma Put Her Underwear in the Refrigerator? is a sensitive, light-hearted children’s story that seamlessly provides its young readers with a toolbox to help them overcome their fears and frustrations. It shares easy-to-understand explanations of what happens inside the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, how to cope with gradual memory loss, with a missed holiday, or even a missing Grandma! This 40-page fully illustrated children’s book is told from a second-grader’s perspective in her own style and vocabulary, but it lovingly shares real strategies, scientific insights and lessons of dignity from which adult caregivers may also benefit.

Max Wallack has received numerous national awards for his work on behalf of Alzheimer’s patients. These include the Nestle Very Best in Youth Award, the Citizen’s Bank Trufit Good Citizen Scholarship, the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award, the Jefferson Award for Public Service, the Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Award, and the President’s Call to Service Medal. He has published in respected journals in the field of Alzheimer’s research and has presented his work at national and international conferences. Carolyn Given is an acclaimed middle and high school educator, an experienced caregiver herself, and recipient of an award from the Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition sponsored by the National League of American Pen Women. Together, Max and Carolyn have created a book that is a necessity for the millions of children and grandchildren who are currently dealing with this incurable disease.

Wordsworth, the little Hawaiian mouse who loves poetry, doesn’t understand why there is so much whispering around the house since Grandma came to live with his family. He remembers her last visit, when the house was filled with laughter, and he and Grandma danced around the room together. But now, Wordsworth and his siblings have to walk softly and be quiet so they don’t disturb Grandma. In “Wordsworth Dances the Waltz,” children are introduced to the concept that as grandparents age, they may become different, and even forget important things. Wordsworth finds comfort in writing poems that express his confusion over the changes in his beloved grandparent and the fond memories he has of her more vibrant days. He wonders, “Now that shes losing her memory/She’s still my Grandma, isnt she?” The answer, of course, is yes — nothing could ever change that. Wordsworth’s poems help his family understand that Grandma would still like to do things she always loved — spending time with the family, laughing and dancing.

“Wordsworth Dances the Waltz” is dedicated to author Frances Kakugawa’s late mother, Matsue, who was afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Frances was her primary caregiver for five years; during that time she found that poetry and journaling helped to ease the rigorous burden of caregiving.

“Wordsworth Dances the Waltz” received the Bronze Award in the Best Book Overall category and the award for Best Illustrated Children’s Book from the Northern California Publishers & Authors (NCPA) group for books published in 2007. “Wordsworth” is also a Mom’s Choice Award Silver Recipient.