Newspaper Hats

Georgie visits Grandpa at the home where he lives, but he doesn’t always remember who she is. He does, however, remember things from his past, including how to make newspaper hats. Together they fold enough for all his friends.

It’s a poignant and age-appropriate story about a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Many children know someone with the disease or who suffer from memory loss, and Georgie’s story is an approachable and relatable discussion starter. Phil Cummings adds touching moments, which portray the difficulties and nuances of memory loss from a child’s perspective, and an uplifting ending leaves readers hopeful.

Owen Swan’s spare watercolor and pencil illustrations utilize plenty of white space and frames to gently reinforce the book’s themes. It’s a multigenerational family story that will also appeal to bibliotherapy seekers.