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The Little Word Catcher
Elise wonders why her grandmother’s words keep escaping her – do they fly off to play tricks on her? Elise’s grandmother used to know many marvelous words, but now she seems to be losing them all the time. Can Elise help her by catching them, like butterflies in a net? This award-winning picture book offers a gentle exploration of the effects of Alzheimer’s on the relationships in a family, and the special bond it creates between a grandmother and her granddaughter. By the end, Elise comes to believe that her grandmother has used up all her words and has passed them on to her, as a gift.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 5, 2020
"Did you know that words could get lost?" the young narrator of this poignant picture-book inquires, going on to relate the story of her beloved grandmother, a woman who once had a miraculous facility with words, and who now struggles to express herself. As the narrator and her mother attempt to help, completing grandmother's sentences, becoming "word catchers," the girl wonders what has happened to make her grandmother's words disappear, eventually concluding that they have been bequeathed to her...
Originally published in French as La Petite rapporteuse de mots, this book doesn't offer an explanation of Alzheimer's Disease - which is never mentioned in the text - to young readers. Rather, it depicts a child's sadness, at seeing a loved one's memory and cognitive ability deteriorate, as a result of the disease - "My grandmother looks very sad. Suddenly it seems like she's not with us. And yet she is right there." - and a comforting reassurance that some things - like love - don't change. The Little Word Catcher is one I'd recommend to anyone looking for a younger children's books dealing with this issue.
Originally published in French as La Petite rapporteuse de mots, this book doesn't offer an explanation of Alzheimer's Disease - which is never mentioned in the text - to young readers. Rather, it depicts a child's sadness, at seeing a loved one's memory and cognitive ability deteriorate, as a result of the disease - "My grandmother looks very sad. Suddenly it seems like she's not with us. And yet she is right there." - and a comforting reassurance that some things - like love - don't change. The Little Word Catcher is one I'd recommend to anyone looking for a younger children's books dealing with this issue.
February 7, 2018
A story that touched my heart. A beautiful way to look at what happens when we start to forget words.
September 22, 2020
Copyright © 2008, Concept Book, Grandparents, Old, Aging, Grandchildren, Family.
This book made me feel sad and happy at the same time because the granddaughter helped her grandmother without knowing that grandmother might have Alzheimer’s. This book would be a good book to read about grandparents and then discuss how the students feel about this.
This book made me feel sad and happy at the same time because the granddaughter helped her grandmother without knowing that grandmother might have Alzheimer’s. This book would be a good book to read about grandparents and then discuss how the students feel about this.
September 22, 2020
A touching story from the perspective of a child when her Grandma's memory is progressively fading, probably due to dementia. This book deals with the real emotions that arise within a family when someone they love is changing due to illness. but it has a sweet lightness due to the little girl loving her grandma and making the best of a hard situation. I would use this book in my future classroom with grades K-3 to teach about how some families care for the elderly or to talk about the feelings that arise when we loose a loved one either literally or to an illness that changes their mind.
Copyright: 2007
themes: aging within a family, dementia
Copyright: 2007
themes: aging within a family, dementia
September 23, 2020
Star rating: 4
Copyright date: 2017
Theme: Words, helping and gratitude.
This story made me a little sad but it is sweet. I have seen this with my grandma where she can't find her words. I can also relate to how she gets annoyed when we try to guess but it's not what she was thinking. As a young child you want to help and it is hard to not wonder certain things. It warmed my heart when she was so good at guessing the words her grandma couldn't remember that her dad said she was a word catcher. I would read this to my classroom to show how powerful words are.
Copyright date: 2017
Theme: Words, helping and gratitude.
This story made me a little sad but it is sweet. I have seen this with my grandma where she can't find her words. I can also relate to how she gets annoyed when we try to guess but it's not what she was thinking. As a young child you want to help and it is hard to not wonder certain things. It warmed my heart when she was so good at guessing the words her grandma couldn't remember that her dad said she was a word catcher. I would read this to my classroom to show how powerful words are.
September 23, 2020
Published: 2008
Concept Book
Themes: Grandparents, Dementia,Aging
I loved the theme of this book and being close to my grandmother, this book warmed my heart. The illustrations in this book are soft and beautiful which matches the tone of the book. I think this book would be good to read to students to teach them about aging and why their grandparents lose their memory. I love the concept that Elise's grandma teaches her the word 'miraculously' and she teaches it back to her.
Concept Book
Themes: Grandparents, Dementia,Aging
I loved the theme of this book and being close to my grandmother, this book warmed my heart. The illustrations in this book are soft and beautiful which matches the tone of the book. I think this book would be good to read to students to teach them about aging and why their grandparents lose their memory. I love the concept that Elise's grandma teaches her the word 'miraculously' and she teaches it back to her.
September 23, 2020
Published in 2007. Concept book. I think this is a great book for students who may have grandparents with memory loss because they can make that connection to the character, while also introducing students to words and guessing words based on a description. I think a fun activity to do with students after reading this book is a taboo- like game where the describe the word and classmates have to guess what they mean.
September 23, 2020
Copyright Year: 2008
This is a great book that emphasizes a grandmother and her granddaughter in "catching" words that seem to get lost. It's relevant especially for students who have aging grandparents or great-grandparents (which I relate to as a child and adult with a child). This would be a great story to read at the end of the day with a closing statement of "How many words can we catch for our adults today?". Definitely corny but I think it's cute.
This is a great book that emphasizes a grandmother and her granddaughter in "catching" words that seem to get lost. It's relevant especially for students who have aging grandparents or great-grandparents (which I relate to as a child and adult with a child). This would be a great story to read at the end of the day with a closing statement of "How many words can we catch for our adults today?". Definitely corny but I think it's cute.
September 28, 2020
Copyright, 2008.
This is a touching concept book revolving around family. This book is bittersweet while it goes over her grandmother's fading memory. I think it covers this subject really well. This book would be useful for students who may have family members going through similar situations, encouraging them to focus on the good.
This is a touching concept book revolving around family. This book is bittersweet while it goes over her grandmother's fading memory. I think it covers this subject really well. This book would be useful for students who may have family members going through similar situations, encouraging them to focus on the good.
September 23, 2020
Definitely labeled a high quality book. The author was able to depict a common issue that many families deal with when it comes to their Grandparents getting older. They forget things and I think this book did a great job transforming that reality into kid friendly language.
February 14, 2022
Quel joli petit album! Sujet traité avec mignonitude :) Grand-maman cherche ses mots, elle en perd de plus en plus. Ou vont-ils? La petite fille se met en quête de ces mots que grand-maman a perdu, et cherche à faire la lumière sur cette étrange situation.
September 13, 2017
Beautiful book about a grandmother losing her words to dementia. Luckily, her granddaughter helps her to find them again.
September 23, 2020
This books has a beautiful plot and amazing artwork. The story helps bring words and forgetful family so close to our heart.
October 6, 2020
Copyright: 2008
Genre: Concept Book
Themes: Aging, Family, Grandparents
This book makes me feel happy and sad at the same time. This little girl's grandmother forgets words as she is aging and the little girl tries to catch them for her. When the little girl says that her grandmother called her Francine, which isn't her name, it reminded me of my own grandparents. Both of them are well into their 80's. From time to time, they call me by my cousins' names, who are much older, but very similar to me. On one hand, I feel honored that my grandparents associate me with my cousins. On the other hand, they are getting older and more forgetful, which makes me feel sad. Overall, this is a super sweet book that could be used in my future classroom to introduce the topic of family or aging.
Genre: Concept Book
Themes: Aging, Family, Grandparents
This book makes me feel happy and sad at the same time. This little girl's grandmother forgets words as she is aging and the little girl tries to catch them for her. When the little girl says that her grandmother called her Francine, which isn't her name, it reminded me of my own grandparents. Both of them are well into their 80's. From time to time, they call me by my cousins' names, who are much older, but very similar to me. On one hand, I feel honored that my grandparents associate me with my cousins. On the other hand, they are getting older and more forgetful, which makes me feel sad. Overall, this is a super sweet book that could be used in my future classroom to introduce the topic of family or aging.
October 7, 2020
Copyright Date: 2008
Genre:
Theme(s): Family, grandparents, memory loss, old age
My favorite part of this book was the little girls optimism. She does everything she can to help her grandmother and is appreciative of what her grandmother has given her through the gift of words.
This book could be used in conjunction with other books to talk about different kinds of families.
Genre:
Theme(s): Family, grandparents, memory loss, old age
My favorite part of this book was the little girls optimism. She does everything she can to help her grandmother and is appreciative of what her grandmother has given her through the gift of words.
This book could be used in conjunction with other books to talk about different kinds of families.
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April 4, 2013Second Story Press has brought the Governor General’s Literary Award winning La petite rapporteuse de mots to English-language readers. The Little Word Catcher tells the bittersweet story of a young girl who is trying to understand Alzheimer’s disease. When little Elise notices that her grandmother keeps forgetting her words, she wonders whether they’ve been lost like a set of keys. Elise’s logic turns words – ethereal, light and airy entities – into tangible objects. According to Elise, words have the potential to be misplaced in purses, vases or cupboards. They can be lent to another person, hidden away, worn out or caught in a net. The same way one would catch butterflies, Elise wonders if she can catch all of her grandmother’s words… and give them back to her. This moving picture book will enchant readers through Danielle Simard’s delicate and pure writing and Geneviève Côté’s elegant yet playful watercolour illustrations. Côté was awarded the 2007 Governor General’s Literary Award for Illustration for La petite rapporteuse de mots. The soft, hazy and tragic effect of memory loss is captured through the technique of photocopying and re-photocopying her original illustrations. And her use of white space for the grandmother’s loss of words is simply heartbreaking. The highlight of The Little Word Catcher is Elise and her compassion for her grandmother. Her dedication to both understanding and loving her grandmother is inspiring.
Reviewed by Naseem Hrab in Canadian Children's Book News
Summer 2008 VOL.31 NO.3
Reviewed by Naseem Hrab in Canadian Children's Book News
Summer 2008 VOL.31 NO.3
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews