In this book there is a boy, he is living a normal life but, one day he finds out his grandpa has Alzheimer's. One statement that supports whenever there is a problem there is when the boy´s (the boy's name is Zach) grandpa randomly goes missing the solution is that they look for him in every possible place they can think of including their house, the lake where they always go fishing and,finally the hiking trail where they find him.
Zach loves the three weeks he spends with his grandparents every summer, fishing Gramp's lake and eating Gram's good cooking. Fishing is so good the first day that Gramps calls it a "Memory Box" day. But when Gramps tells the story that explains the "Memory Box," Zach isn't quite ready for it. It's a box to keep written memories, forever, so that they cannot be forgotten. Gramps tells Zach he needs it because he has Alzheimer's Disease, and won't be able to remember some special things he's shared with family members without the box.The rest of the vacation is spent filling the box with memories, and the three who love each other give each other support as they confront the changes in Gramps, who sometimes can't find his way back home from the lake, or forgets his shoes when he walks outside. This sensitively written book may move you to tears as you contemplate the cruelty of this tragic disease. But it is just the book to explain it to a child with an afflicted loved one
Social- Handling encroaching dementia in a family member; illness in the family; value of preserving memories
Literary Element- Characters and setting move plot; topics of social relevance
Summary- "The Memory Box" is a touching story about a young boy who begins building a memory box with his grandfather. He later learns the memory is for his grandfather, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, to help him remember his time spent with his grandson. Great tool for talking to students who may be facing this issue as their grandparents age.
Tears are running down my cheeks. What a lovely way to explain aging and Alzheimer's to children. Best for grade school and older children, I can see using this book with my grandchildren as grandpa and I get older. In fact, why not start a memory box with them now while we're "young" and healthy?
Teary eyed as I read this story. My siter-in-law's father has Alzheimer's and it is affecting the entire family (especially my nephews). This book is a great book if you know of children who are dealing with this disease, and explain Alzheimer's in a manner they will understand.
Sparse, slow text and realistic insight into Alzheimer's, makes this a nice slow read for an older child (above 9 years or so). This is a very popular book on AlZheimer's suggested books for kids. On Hoopla ebook via local library.