Always My Grandpa by Linda Scacco

 

Always My Grandpa
by Linda Scacco

Every summer Daniel and his mom visit Daniel's Grandpa, who is great fisherman and storyteller that lives by the sea.

On the way to their visit, Mom reminds Daniel that Grandpa will probably be different this summer.  When Grandpa had begun to forget daily things, it was discovered by the doctor that he has the onset of Alzheimer's.  But when they first arrive to Grandpa's, he seems like his old self, telling tall fishing stories and playing with Daniel.

After some time, Daniel begins to see how Grandpa is different.  He left the stove on, which could have created a fire.  He forgot who Daniel and his mom were once.  He couldn't remember Daniel's friends name, even after being told numerous times.  All of this together was very upsetting to Daniel, but his mom handles it very well.

By the end of the story, Mom has decided that Grandpa is moving back home with them.  Though this may not happen so neatly in real life, it was a clean ending to the book.  The reader feels the love of the family.


Written for a younger school audience, 1st-4th grade, this would be a great story for any family dealing with grandparents or older loved ones diagnosed with dementia or alzheimer's, whether as a read-aloud or read-alone.  The soothing, watercolor sketch pictures offer an extra comfort to the story.