Take a look at our recommended children’s books on dementia, as part of the Brainworks Dementia Library scheme from Suffolk Community Libraries.
Want more suggested books? Take a look at our recommendations.
Grandad’s Star
Frances Tosdevin
Fascinated by her grandad, a famous astronomer, a little girl could listen to his star stories for hours. But one day he starts to forget the constellations and eventually he can’t even remember her name.
Discover how love can reach across galaxies whether stars shine brightly or grow dim.
I Remember
Jeanne Willis
George’s granny is quite forgetful. Sometimes, she can’t even remember George’s name. But George doesn’t mind.
Together they play in the garden, dance, and share chocolate biscuits. Granny might not always remember the little things, but George knows she loves him more than words can say.
A celebration of the unforgettable love between a grandparent and grandchild, proving that even though the mind can sometimes forget, the heart will always remember.
Grandma
Jessica Shepherd
More and more children are encountering dementia and its effects on their families. This touching story, told in Oscar’s own words, is a positive and practical tale about the experience.
The factual page about dementia helps children talk about their feelings and find new ways to enjoy the changing relationship.
Lovely Old Lion
Julia Jarman
Lenny the lion loves his grandpa, King Lion. But when King Lion starts to forget things, Lenny begins to worry.
He can’t understand why grandpa keeps getting muddled and doesn’t want to play any more.
Lenny doesn’t know what to do, but with a little help from grandpa’s old friends, perhaps he can find a way to help him remember.
The Memory Book
Louise Gooding
I love visiting my grandma. We read together, play her piano, feed the birds in the garden and we love looking through her big box of photos.
But when Grandma starts to forget who the people in the photographs are, Mum explains that Grandma is living with something called dementia. She says, ‘Grandma is still the person we know and love, she’s just a little different now.’
Here is a reassuring story about the love between a little girl and her grandma, with practical information to help young children understand dementia and the changes it can bring.
The Tide
Clare Helen Welsh
Grandad doesn’t remember things like he used to. But I love him as much as I always have. And I know that he loves me.
A story about families, laughter, and how we can help a loved one with dementia live well.
Me and Mrs Moon
Helen Bate
Maisie and Dylan love Mrs Moon. She picks them up from school every day and they have great fun together.
But then things start to get strange: a coat without sleeves, old socks as Christmas decorations, a missing dog, an imaginary folk band. The children want to help, but what should they do for the best?
The Castle Rock Mystery Crew
Vicky McClure
Ten year old Jase is spending the summer holidays at the Castle Rock caravan park with his auntie and grandma, who has dementia.
Expecting to be totally bored, he meets three other curious, brave, funny kids and together they solve the mystery of a series of thefts happening across the site. The finger of blame has started pointing at the children – they must find the true culprit to clear their names and see justice done!
A warm-hearted, everyone’s-welcome, wonderfully plotted and page-turning mystery with an authentic, kind depiction of a relative with dementia at its heart.
Feather
Manon Steffan Ros
Huw often pops in to see his nan on the way home from school – she bakes him cakes and never fusses about his homework.
And so it’s a great shock when, one day, Nan forgets his name, and calls him Hywel – the long-unmentionable name of her late brother.
As Nan slowly slips into the grip of dementia, Huw and his friends go on a quest to learn more about Hywel and what happened to him.
Every Cloud
Ros Roberts
Amy feels like everything is going wrong. For a start, she’s just found out she isn’t going to the same high school as everyone else. Add to that her annoying younger brothers, Pops’ worsening dementia and Cassie, her supposed best friend, being meaner than ever, and Amy’s summer is not looking promising.
Especially when Mum tells her they’re moving in with Gran and Pops for the holidays – all the way on the other side of town. But then she discovers who lives over the road from her grandparents: Jay, the kind, quiet boy from school.
Soon Amy realizes that friendship isn’t always about who talks the most and the loudest, who does the most exciting things or throws the coolest parties. Sometimes a friend is just someone to talk to, someone to listen. But when outside pressures start to creep back in, can Amy hang on to her summer of silver linings?
Xanthe & The Ruby Crown
Jasbinder Bilan
Xanthe loves visiting her gran in her flat with its rooftop garden.
But Nani is becoming forgetful – and Xanthe wishes she could help her, if only she knew how.
A mysterious cat shows her a way. It leads Xanthe to clues about Nani’s childhood, and how, long ago, she had to escape her old life in Africa for a new one in Britain…
The Octopus, Dadu and Me
Lucy Ann Unwin
Fact – octopuses have three hearts. Fact – octopuses have beaks, like birds. Fact – the octopus at the aquarium is psychic!
Sashi feels like she has three hearts and they’re all breaking. She’s losing her beloved Dadu to dementia, and her parents don’t even want her to visit him any more. She hides from her grief in the aquarium, and that’s where she meets Ian.
Like her Dadu, Ian is trapped. Like her Dadu, Ian should be at home with his family. And then Ian tells her he’s in danger and only she can help him escape. Except Ian just happens to be an octopus.
Travels With My Granny
Juliet Rix
Granny has travelled all over the world, to India, Egypt, China and Peru. And she still travels – in her mind and in her stories.
The grown-ups say Granny doesn’t know where she is, but her grandchild can’t wait to go on another adventure. “Where are we going now, Granny?”
A sensitive introduction to old-age confusion and dementia, through the loving and imaginative relationship between Granny and her grandchild – and their colourful journeys.
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