Below is the description of the storybooks with reading guides:

Ferguson the Frog

Ferguson the Forgetful Frog: A Story About Dementia

Author:  Marta Schmidt Mendez 
Illustrator:  Andreea Mironiuc

Description:  This is a story about a frog named Ferguson who has dementia.  The author uses this animated character to help young children understand and talk about dementia.  Thisstory explains the difficulties someone with dementia could experience, the feelings they could have, and the behaviors they may have because of dementia.  The bookprovides the young reader the knowledge and awareness they need to interact withtheir loved one in a caring and empathetic way.

Download Reading Guide

A Garden of Flowers

A Garden of Flowers A Story About Alzheimer's

Author:  Marta Schmidt Mendez 
IllustratorAndreea Mironiuc

Description:  Lily’s grandfather has lived with her and her family ever since Lily was a baby. Lily has always done so many fun things with her grandfather and they are very close. As Lily gets older she starts to notice that her grandfather calls her the names of different flowers, but not her name. At first this seems a funny game but soon Lily starts to become frustrated as her grandfather does not seem to notice that she does not find the game funny. Lily’s parents step in and explain to her that her grandfather has developed Alzheimer’s. Lily has to decide and figure out how she will interact with her grandfather now that the ability to build memories is mainly one sided. A loved ones diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can impact a family greatly. 

Download Reading Guide

My New Granny

My New Granny

Out of Print, But Numerous Used Copies Available at Amazon

Author:  Elisabeth Steinkellner
Illustrator:
Michael Roher

Description:   This story explores the difficult reality of dementia and the bittersweet changing relationship between a granddaughter and her grandmother. By including children in the family discussion, parents help them become resilient and empower them to provide comfort for the grandparents or loved ones with Alzheimer’s.

Download Reading Guide

A Remember Balloons

The Remember Balloons

Author:  Jessie Olivero 
Illustrator:Dana Wulfekotte

DescriptionThis is a story about a young boy named James and his grandpa. In the story, balloons represent memories.  James notices that he has more balloons than his youngerbrother but not as many as his mother or father.  His grandpa has the most balloons. One day Grandpa’s balloons start drifting away.  James soon realizes some of Grandpa’s lost balloons are now his to hold.  This book has a unique way of explaining memoryloss and can be useful when explaining the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

Download Reading Guide

Striped Shirts and Flowered Pants Image

Striped Shirts and Flowered Pants:  A Story About Alzheimer's Disease for Young Children

Out of Print, however if you find a used copy you can buy it

Author:  Barbara Schnurbush 
Illustrator:Cary Pillo

Description:  A young girl is worried when she notices that her grandmother is having trouble reading and remembering simple things, until her parents explain to her that her grandmother is sufferingfrom a disorder known as Alzheimer's disease.

Download Reading Guide

What a Beautiful Morning

What a Beautiful Morning

Authors:  Arthur Levine andKatie Kath

Description:  Every morning is beautiful when Noah visits his Grandparents. When Grandpa and Noah wake up, they take off singing and hardly stop: walking the dog, splashing through puddles, and eating French toast with cinnamon. But one summer Grandpa seems to have forgotten how to do the things they love. Does he even know who Noah is?Grandma steps in energetically, filling in as best she can. But it is Noah who finds the way back to something he can share with Grandpa. Something musical. Something that makes the morning beautiful again.

Download Reading Guide

When My Grammy Forgets

When My Grammy Forgets, I Remember: A Child’s Perspective on Dementia

Author:  Toby Haberkorn  
IllustratorHeather Varkarotas

Description:  This story explores the difficult reality of dementia and the bittersweet changing relationship between a granddaughter and her grandmother. By including children in the family discussion, parents help them become resilient and empower them to provide comfort for the grandparents or loved ones with Alzheimer’s.

Download Reading Guide

 


Below is a list of other storybooks (Note:  These books don't have reading guides yet):

Dancing with Granddad

Dancing With Grandad:  An Alzheimer's Story for Children and Their Families

Author:  Linda Bozzo 
Illustrator: Mudassir M. Abid

Description: Dancing with Granddad  is a teaching tool adults can use to have a conversation with a child about Alzheimer’s disease.  The book takes young readers on the journey of learning in an age-appropriate way that seven-year-old Nia’s Granddad has Alzheimer’s and will need to move to a new home.  They also learn that while Nia’s Granddad is changing, the love they have between them never will.  Suggested for children ages 5 through 8.  Alzheimer’s Foundation of America has published the book.  https://shop.alzfdn.org  

Weeds in Nana's Garden

Weeds in Nana's Garden

Author and Illustrator:  Kathryn Harrison

Description:  A young girl and her Nana hold a special bond that blooms in the surroundings of Nana’s magical garden.  Then one day, the girl finds many weeds in the garden.  She soon discovers that her beloved Nana has Alzheimer’s Disease; an illness that affects an adult brain with tangles that get in the way of thoughts, like how weeds get in the way of flowers.  As time passes, the weeds grow thicker and her Nana declines, but the girl accepts the difficult changes with love, learning to take-over as the garden’s caregiver.  Extending from the experience of caring for her mother, artist Kathryn Harrison has created this poignant children's story with rich illustrations to candidly explore dementia diseases, while demonstrating the power of love.  It is a journey that will cultivate understanding and touch your heart.

Grandma and Me

Grandma and Me:  A Kid's Guide for Alzheimer's and Dementia

Authors:  Beatrice Tauber Prior and Mary Ann Drummond
Illustrated by:  Julia Walther
Description:  A young girl and her Nana hold a special bond that blooms in the surroundings of Nana’s magical garden.  Then one day, the girl finds many weeds in the garden.  She soon discovers that her beloved Nana has Alzheimer’s Disease; an illness that affects an adult brain with tangles that get in the way of thoughts, like how weeds get in the way of flowers.  As time passes, the weeds grow thicker and her Nana declines, but the girl accepts the difficult changes with love, learning to take-over as the garden’s caregiver.  Extending from the experience of caring for her mother, artist Kathryn Harrison has created this poignant children's story with rich illustrations to candidly explore dementia diseases, while demonstrating the power of love.  It is a journey that will cultivate understanding and touch your heart.

Granny Needs My Help

Granny Needs My Help:  A Child's Look at Dementia and Alzheimer's

Author: Deborah L. Mills
Illustrated by:  Julia Walther
Description: This Alzheimer’s book for children explains Alzheimer’s in kid-friendly terms. The book presents memory loss in an easy-to-understand narrative.  Zeh discovers what is going on with her granny’s brain. The book peers into the feelings and confusion children can face when a loved one is diagnosed with memory loss like Alzheimer’s.  The book presents memory loss in an easy-to-understand narrative. The storybook follows a family facing their challenge together and making the most of every available moment.

Remembering for Both of Us

Remembering for Both of Us:  A Child Learns about Alzheimer's

Author: Charlotte Wood
Illustrated by:  Dennis Auth
Description: asha loves her grandfather, and she knows that PaPa loves her. But lately, PaPa has begun to forget things. He is often confused and upset. Sometimes, he does not even recognize his own family. How can Tasha's grandmother help her see that while PaPa is changing, his love for Tasha has not? Remembering for Both of Us is a touching story of a child's first glimpse of Alzheimer's and a reminder that ties of the heart transcend age and illness.

Sometime Grandma and Grandpa Forget

Sometimes Grandma and Grandpa Forget

Author: Kacy C. Chambers
Editor:  Dr. Carolyn M. Johnson  
Description: asha loves her grandfather, and she knows that PaPa loves her. But lately, PaPa has begun to forget things. He is often confused and upset. Sometimes, he does not even recognize his own family. How can Tasha's grandmother help her see that while PaPa is changing, his love for Tasha has not? Remembering for Both of Us is a touching story of a child's first glimpse of Alzheimer's and a reminder that ties of the heart transcend age and illness.

 


We were unable to find any storybooks about Alzheimer's disease for Native American Children.  However, we discovered there are educational materials for adults about Alzheimer's disease.

 

Memory Loss and Alzheimer's Disease in Native People

Booklet:  Memory Loss and Alzheimer's Disease in Native People

https://alz.org/media/Documents/Memory-Loss-and-Alzheimer-s-Disease-in-Native-People.pdf  

Author:  Bureau of Health Professional, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services
Description:  Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease. American Indian people are not strangers to Alzheimer’s. This tragic condition has affected Tribal Elders.  Families are faced with the struggle of understanding how to cope with caring for their loved ones who have been touched by Alzheimer’s while at the same time caring for their children.

Road Map for Indian Country

Booklet: Road Map for Indian Country

https://www.cdc.gov/aging/healthybrain/indian-country-roadmap.html  

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, and with greater age comes increased risk. Between 2014-2060, the number of American Indian and Alaska Natives aged 65 and older living with memory loss is projected to grow over five times. Today, one of every five American Indian and Alaska Native adults aged 45 and older reported experiencing subjective cognitive decline—increased difficulty in thinking or remembering over the past year—which can be a precursor to dementia.

Below are fact sheets for download and printing for reference: