When My Grandma Sings by Robena Egemonye

One little girl and her grandmother face an obstacle that erases memories and takes away the voice of love.

Della is so proud of her grandmother who was once a famous gospel singer. She wants to sing and travel just like Grandma did. She even dresses like Grandma. But the security of Della and Grandma’s loving relationship is shaken by the fact that Grandma has the “forgetting disease”, also known as Alzheimer’s disease.

One Sunday morning, Grandma wants to sing once more solo in church, but she’s having trouble remembering the words. Can Della help Grandma sing one more time so she can have the joy of what might be her last song?

ISBN: 978-0981989693

Released: 09-01-2010

Kindle | Paperback

Reviews

5 stars
D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) – (Amazon)

It is so good to find a book that addresses Alzheimer's disease for the younger child in such a sweet and sensitive way. The "forgetting disease" has inserted itself into so very many lives at this time that is it a rare child that is not affected in one way or another by its consequences. Unfortunately there are few books; books of quality, out there which addresses this problem on such a personal level.

This is the story of a small girl whose grandmother has this "forgetting disease," as the little girl refers to it. The grandmother has had a rather famous singing career which has spanned several decades. She is asked to perform at her local church.

"As my grandma faces the congregation, she is greeted by a hand-clapping, foot-stomping explosion, which overflows into the pianists pounding introduction.

Everyone is waiting. Grandma hesitates as her eyes crinkle. She looks as if she is about to cry. I can tell she has been taken over by the forgetting disease. People start to murmur and look around. No one seems to know what to do."

This is the story of a deep and loving link between one generation to another; the love of a devoted young granddaughter for her loving grandmother and as so often happens, children are the first to truly understand, even though they might not know what it is they understand.

The author has given us some very insightful thoughts on this disease process and included a very nice history lesson along with a few social comments. The art work Jodi Spooner is quite good and goes perfectly with the well written and moving text.

As the author informs us, more than five million adults are affected by Alzheimer's disease. Most of those are over 65 years of age. I have worked with these folks for quite a number of years now and am continually amazed that a disease that is so common, one that is so devastating to families all across our country, is so misunderstood. Every single bit of good information we have access to is a tremendous help and most certainly children have the right to understand what is going on with a dearly beloved family member. Books like this one give we adult's tools to use; to teach our children of a real life problem that, as I indicated above, in one way or anther will touch most of us sooner or later.

I really could find no fault what-so-ever in this work and in fact found it to be one of the best works of this kind I have encountered.

5 stars
Tiffany W. Osborne (Amazon)

As a former student of the author and a current fellow teacher at our middle school, I am so proud of Dr. Egemonye! What a heart-warming story about the love between a grandmother and a grandchild which reaches beyond the circumstances which find their way into our lives! This book is an excellent tool families can use to educate children about Alzheimer's Disease and the meaningful ways in which we can help our loved ones. Almost all of us have loved someone affected by this disease so the book is very relevant in our society today. The story is sweet and gripping, evoking the same emotions I had when reading and watching Nicholas Sparks' "The Notebook."

5 stars
USCPRProf. (Amazon)

I liked this book. It told a compelling story from a little girl's eyes. Having lost a grandmother to Alzheimers/Dementia, I found this book a sensitive, positive treatment of a sad story that doesn't end well. When My Grandma Sings is effective communication that takes place in the African American community but coud just as easily been set in anywhere USA. The story is compelling, an easy read and is a great tool for reducing stymga and fostering acceptance of what can be a scary, disturbing experience for adults and children alike.

I recommend it.

5 stars
Daniel H. Renedo "D Renedo" (Columbia, SC USA) (Amazon)

This book is an excellent way to explain Alzheimers to children. It tells the story through the eyes of a child coming to terms with her grandmother's disease. It deals more with the emotional aspect of the disease without talking down to the audience. This book would most certainly be helpful to any family dealing with this complex disease.

5 stars
understandingisbliss (Amazon)

The author of this book did a magnificent job of dealing with such a hard subject. Without forcing the informational aspect, this story is told in a way that might help children talk about their worries or questions. It sets the scene for an open dialogue and an appreciation for the struggle that so many adults experience. It acknowledges that Alzheimer's is a scary thing, and shares a positive story of coping.

4 stars
corderl – (Amazon)

I thought this short book handled the subject manner of Alzheimer's Disease very well. The story line placed a complicated/emotional topic into a way that a young child could understand. My grandmother had Alzheimer's and I wish I'd had this book as a child to help me understand the complexities of the disease. I definitely suggest this book for anyone that is looking for a way to educate their child.

5 stars Six star tender story about a girl whose once famous gospel singing grandmother has Alzheimer's disease.
Karen Young (Amazon)

When My Grandma Sings chronicles one girl's loving commitment to her beloved grandmother, who has the "forgetting disease." The author approaches a diffcult and complex subject thougtfully and tenderly.

This well written, inspirational, and beautifully illustrated story helps children understand Alzheimer's disease and teaches children concrete ways to support the adults in their lives who are afflicted by it. The Author's Note gives additional information and resources about Alzheimer's disease. The story deserves six stars and is recommended for everyone interested in introducing children to the realities of Alzheimer's disease.

5 stars When
Jacky Stamps (Amazon)

Being a middle school principal, I found this book an enjoyable reading experience and would recommend it to any middle school student. It also brought back memories of my own grandmother. It is well written and since it was written by one of our teachers, I purchased a copy to place in our library.

5 stars BEST children's book about Alzheimer's disease
Soccer Mom (Amazon)

"When My Grandma Sings" is my favorite educational children's book of all time! It is an excellent book to explain Alzheimer's disease to young children. "When My Grandma Sings" is told through the eyes of a child. Young readers will journey with Della, the main character, through her acceptance and understanding of her Grandma's condition. You will feel encouraged and inspired at how Della helps her grandmother as she goes through this difficult time. What makes this book truly unique and amazing is that it not only address Alzheimer's disease, but readers also learn about social studies, the arts, diversity and civics. Also, it is one of the few children's books that can be read by an adult or child and then re-read day after day without becoming the least bit stale. The illustrations are also warm and delightful.

Hopefully every child and every adult will have the chance to read this book. It is a wonderful starting point to begin discussions about Alzheimer's disease with classes and/or your children at home. The book is written by teacher who has been in the classroom for more than 30 years! As a result it successfully deals with Alzheimer's disease, an issues which, at times, can be difficult to address with the young child. Once again, the story is fantastic, particularly the positive way in which the main character deals with the "forgetting disease."

Hands down the best book for children about Alzheimer's. I HIGHLY recommend this book! A worthy addition to every library!

5 stars
D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) (Amazon)

Della smiled as she sat clutching her little red purse. She was sitting in church waiting for her Grandma to sing. Grandma was once very famous and cut records with two other women. They were known as the "Heralds of Joy" and even entertained soldiers during the Vietnam War, performed for the queen, and before presidents. To Della she was just Grandma, even though the mantel was covered with awards. It was lots of fun to sit under the covers and read her fan mail or visit the music store just to take a peek at a poster with her picture on it. Of course everyone always wanted to know what she was really like. What are most grandmothers like? Well, Grandma was just Grandma and Della loved her.

Everyone was excited that Grandma was going to sing in church and Reverend Lee claimed her voice was like "a marvelous instrument." When Della's father was young, he sometimes went on the road with Grandma and when she brought her special gospel music into nightclubs she angered a lot of people. Della would have liked to travel with Grandma, but something about her was different these days. She began to forget little things such as where she put her keys, but it started to get worse when she forgot to feed the cat. Eventually Grandma even forgot her Daddy's name. Della called it the "Forgetting Disease," but her parents said it was something called "Alzheimer's Disease."

Grandma got up in front of the church and was "greeted by a hand-clapping, foot-stomping explosion," as the pianist began to play, but all of a sudden, Grandma had that forgetting look. She looked like she was going to cry or something. This was supposed to be part of a way to "Celebrate Black History Month," but people started to "murmur and look around". She started to move to the front of the church. Was there any way that Della could help Grandma?

This is a heartwarming look at Grandma, a woman who developed Alzheimer's, and a granddaughter who loved her. I loved the gracious and loving way this story unfolded and presented itself. It was told from the vantage point of a young girl who had great admiration for her grandmother and her accomplishments, yet when she was afflicted, simply transferred those loving feelings to a woman who became trapped by the "Forgetting Disease." The artwork was very appealing and complimented this tale with its soft tones. I especially liked the portrait of two matching grandmother/granddaughter pink outfits hanging on hooks awaiting a special outing. Young children need to be aware of Alzheimer's Disease and this would be a lovely, comfortable way to broach the subject!

This book courtesy of Vintage Imaginations in exchange for an honest review.