This is a very touching book as it deals with elder dementia and losing a beloved grandparent to this neurological disorder. And it does it in a lighthearted and child-friendly way because the main characters are bunnies (who doesn’t love bunnies)! In many ways, the person that they once were and what you loved about them, dies, once they lose their ability to recognize you and the remembrance of their love for you. You may even want to have a discussion with your child about philosophical things like, “What makes a person?”; “Is love something that lives forever or does it only survive as long as the memory of it survives?” With younger readers, you can even ask them why they love their grandparents or what it is about their grandparents that they love? Or what is their favorite memory of them? My grade schooler read this book by himself and then I discussed the subtext of the story, which is about GrandMa Bibi’s dementia and what dementia is. The author was inspired to write this book based on her own mother who was living in a long-term care home due to her dementia. However, the author’s mother passed away earlier this year due to COVID-19, that has ravaged through long-term care homes worldwide. So after you read this book, please think of all the beloved elders you have in your own life and continue to practice strict hand hygiene (wash your hands with warm water & soap frequently); mask wearing while out in indoor settings in public (3 ply face masks recommended. Mask & face shield add an extra layer) and DO NOT gather in big groups during the Holidays, as much as it’ll hurt not to see your own loved ones in this special time of year. We all need to do our part to not only reduce infection rates but also to protect the health of our loved ones and our community too.Did you also know that the author is a puppeteer too? You can check out her website to order Puppets, Make an Order for your uniquely designed Puppets and print off your own DIY Puppets. Check out: https://wearepuppeteers.com
We Are Puppeteers will be at the Payson Book Festival.
The Payson Book Festival, In.c. is brought to you by the Rim Country Chapter of Arizona Professional Writers (APW). It features appearances by authors from Rim Country and around Arizona. The book festival also features book signings and book sellers, projects for the kids, presentations, live music, and food available in the hotel & casino premises.