Grandma by Jessica Shepherd Review

Reviewed by Brian Grehan

When I picked this book up I thought “how nice… a story about a little boy and his grandma”. I was partly right it is a really nice story well written and beautifully illustrated but it’s so much more.

I have read many stories about young people and what they do for my children but this story is so completely original I was very moved by it. The book deals with dementia and explains to young people what happens when older members of the family are stricken by it.

The open and honest way the author deals with it is amazing and it is refreshingly simple. Jessica Shepherd does not patronise the reader so that they feel they are actually learning something meaningful that may affect them directly or indirectly.

At the back of the book there is a section that deals with the questions that young people can ask and help children talk about their feelings of how dementia can affect them.

I think this book is brilliant and it is Jessica Shepherd’s first book. I do hope that it’s the start of what could be an amazing series of books that can educate children about difficult themes that some parents might not know where to begin. I suggest they begin with this book!

Rating: 5/5

RRP: £6.99

Available to buy from Child’s Play here.