“In this simple, enlightening, and nonthreatening story, Kathleen illustrates the behavioral and communication changes in an individual with Alzheimer’s disease in a way young children can understand and accept.”
—Dana Territo, Director of Services, Alzheimer’s Services
“A wonderful book that explains through a fun story how children can act with love and understanding in response to a loved one with memory challenges.”
—Cassie Barlow, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer,
Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE)
Author Kathleen Welch and her husband, illustrator Alan McGillivray, provide a child’s perspective in their tale for little ones experiencing Alzheimer’s and dementia in their family. As the elder elephant and her grandson spend the day together, she forgets her hat, loses her brush, gets lost, confuses her grandson’s name, and tells stories of things that happened long ago as if they just occurred. When danger threatens, her love for her family shines through the clouds of her memory and she remembers things she learned as a child.
About the Author
Author Kathleen Welch is a Public Health professor at Tulane University. Before earning her PhD in Global Health, Epidemiology, and Sociology, Welch attended Tulane and earned her BA in Literature, as well as an MA in both Education and Public Health.
About the Illustrator
Illustrator Alan McGillivray earned a BFA from the Maryland Institute and a BA and MA in Architecture from Tulane University. He is a recipient of the APA Public Affairs Award, and has been integrating art and public health for over twenty years.
Sometimes Even Elephants Forget:
A Story About Alzheimer’s Disease for Young Children
By Kathleen Welch
Illustrated by Alan McGillivray
32pp. 8.5x11 31 color illus.
JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Depression & Mental Illness
JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Multigenerational
JUVENILE FICTION / Health & Daily Living / Diseases, Illnesses & Injuries
Age: 3-8 Grade: Pre-K-3
Flesch Reading Ease: 86.9 Flesch-Kincaid: 3.5
ISBN: 9781455624690