Review: Do You Remember?

Do you remember how much we loved each other?
The times we would spend all day in the fields?
You’d tell me stories and we would laugh for hours.
Those fields always remind me of you.

Do You Remember? is a beautifully written and illustrated story by Kelly O’Gara and Anna McNeil that deals with the difficult topic of dementia. The story is narrated by a young field mouse, who explores their special relationship with their grandmother whose memories are slowly drifting away.

As with Debra Tidball’s touching When I See Grandma, reading Do You Remember? never fails to bring tears to my eyes. The text captures the emotional impact of having a family member no longer remember who you are, or recall those shared experiences that are such treasured memories for you, in a way that is sensitive and appropriate for children. The story helps children to understand that they aren’t to blame and encourages them to continue to treasure both their own special memories and their aging family member.

The book concludes with some basic information about dementia and some simple tips on how to help children to continue to connect with a family member who might be having difficulty with memory loss or dementia.

Beautiful, touching, emotional and important, Do You Remember? is a very special picture book for families dealing with a loved one with dementia, as well as families who simply want to encourage their children to appreciate how special relationships and shared memories between grandparents and grandchildren can be.

There are teachers' notes available for this book.

Title: Do You Remember?
Author: Kelly O'Gara, Anna McNeil
Illustrator: Kelly O'Gara
Publisher: Wombat Books, $24.99 RRP
Publication Date: 28 April 2015
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781925139242
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture Book