Grandma Forgets: The picture book that helps families cope with pathos of dementia

In a publishing first, Paul Russell uses his own experience to bring the disease out of the shadows for young readers

From the earliest fairytales warning of the dangers of talking to strangers in the woods, to Roald Dahl’s moral messages about selfishness and greed, stories for children have been useful devices to broach difficult subjects. Now a new picture book tackles an issue largely overlooked by children’s literature, yet which affects an increasing number of families: what happens when a grandparent has dementia?

Grandma Forgets, by Paul Russell, tells the story of a little girl dealing with her grandmother’s illness, touching on the cruelty of a condition that robs sufferers of their memories. In the story, Grandma does not recognise family members, forgets how to play their games and frequently loses Dad’s keys.

Related: Jenny Downham: 'I hope readers will be less afraid of dementia after reading Unbecoming'

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