Don't Forget: Picture Books About Memory Loss

As family and friends gather for the holidays, some awkward moments may arise as younger people in your circle notice changes in older people, people they know and love. Questions may arise, and, in the moment, young ones may get a message that there are things we "don't talk about". Two recent picture books approach such situations with gentle understanding and realistic suggestions, and both are presented in the context of appealing stories. 

THE REMEMBER BALLOONS is written by Jessie Oliveros and illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte. 
There can't be enough picture books about memory loss or Alzheimers or dementia, in my opinion. The numbers of young kids who will experience both the blessing of having elders in their lives and the struggle of watching those beloved elders become confused strangers will increase rapidly as the boomer generation lives longer. Many titles do a good job of exploring this topic in an age-appropriate way, as this one does. 
But this one has a special quality of family, universality, emotional honesty, and satisfying resolution. 
More importantly, of the many titles on this topic, I can't recall another in which the characters are African American. (If I've missed something, please add a comment to this review so I can explore it, soon.) 

I have a vague memory (no pun intended) of a picture book on this topic with Asian characters, but I can't come up with a title for it.
This issue, as with so many of life's experiences, unifies the human race. Even so, young audiences need to see themselves and their loved ones in pages dealing with such transitions. This is a very welcome book. 

Not all "changes" kids may notice are in elders or in those whom they only see occasionally. Sometimes young lives are affected when a parent undergoes undeniable changes with serious impacts on their family's lives. DAD'S CAMERA is written and illustrated by Ross Watkins and  Liz Anelli.  

This powerful picture book carries the weight of serious issues within its pages. The father confuses and upsets his young son and wife while pursuing his unexplained mission to capture daily life on film. He is dealing with an unnamed deterioration of his mind- perhaps early onset Alzheimers, or a progressive brain tumor. Whatever the cause, the son and wife are well aware, as is the dad, that their time together is limited, that his memory is disappearing and that he will not last long- in spirit or in body. 
Subdued colors, softened edges and details, and simple, direct text share the burden of this sad tale about Dad's puzzling mission, one that eventually offers a resolution of understanding and increased appreciation of Dad's final legacy. This is a real conversation starter and an example of a picture book for every age.

The wonder of books as powerful as these is that they will be enjoyed and explored by any young audience, whether they apply to personal lives or not. They can open discussions, even ones about unrelated challenges. Silence is rarely a solution, and never is when it comes to dealing with change and loss.

I hope you'll share other titles that might be useful, too.