Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge

 Author: Mem Fox
Illustrator: Julie Vivas
Publisher:  Kane/Miller
Publication Year:   1985
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Children's Book of the Year by the Child Study Association of America, ALA Notable, NYT 100 Best Children's Books 

Summary:  A boy named Wilfrid hears his parents talking about the memory loss of a ninety-six year old neighbor who lives next door in the old people's home. He tries to discover the meaning of "memory" by asking the other residents who tell him, respectively, it's something warm, something sad, something that makes you laugh, something precious as gold.He gathers his own "memories" to bring to Miss Nancy, his favorite neighbor because she, too, has four names. Each of his treasures, a freshly laid egg for warmth, a toy puppet for laughter, his grandfather's war medal for sorrow, and his precious football brings back memories for Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper and smiles for the two of them. Sweet watercolors illustrate the poignant story.

Classroom Ideas: This is a semi-autobiographical story which could lead children to their own stories of things that are precious to them and bring back memories. It could also be linked to Alzheimers and aging and used by a school counselor.

Extras: The story behind the story on Fox's web page:
http://www.memfox.com/wilfrid-gordon-mcdonald-partridge.html

Grandpa Green

Author & Illustrator:   Lane Smith
Publisher:  Roaring Brook Press
Publication Year:   2011
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Caldecott Honor, Publisher's Weekly Best Books, School Library Journal Best Books,

Summary:  This is the story of a great-grandfather told through the eyes of his great-grandson. Grandpa Green was born and grew up on a farm. He built an incredible topiary filled garden with scenes from his life, but now he's starting to forget things. The garden remembers for him. The gorgeous pen and ink drawings with splashes of color, mostly green, just drew me into the amazingly detailed world. I honestly wanted to take off down the pebbled path into the garden.  This book is a feast for the eyes to stare at for hours.

Classroom Ideas: This would be a great introduction to horticulture (the word is used in the book) and topiary. It also would speak to aging and Alzheimer's in a very gentle way. Even though Grandpa never speaks, we learn a lot about him and it would be interesting to do a character study and describe him (and the grandson as well).