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Title details for My New Granny by Elisabeth Steinkellner - Available

My New Granny

by Elisabeth Steinkellner
Michael Roher
ebook
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Fini's granny has changed. Before, she would comment on Fini's strange hair styles, help her feed the ducks in the park, had traveled all over the world, and was an amazing cook. Now, Fini's granny admires wacky hairdos, eats the bread crumbs meant for the ducks in the park, and does not travel or cook anymore. Eventually, Granny has to come live with Fini and her family because she needs to be watched, almost like a little child. She needs help dressing and washing, falls asleep underneath the kitchen table, and has a woman named Agatha that comes to care for her, like a babysitter. Fini is unsure of what to think of this "new" granny—she looks the same but she certainly acts like a completely different person.
My New Granny is a heartwarming and important story about a grandparent who is suffering from dementia and how a grandchild can learn to accept this change in personality in a loved one. With an estimated 5.4 million people affected by Alzheimer's in the United States, this is an essential resource for many children who may have a grandparent suffering from this disease. Elisabeth Steinkellner's text captures the thought process of children while Michael Roher's simple yet evocative illustrations paint a realistic picture of how to cope with dementia in a family.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    September 1, 2012

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781620875063

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781620875063
      • File size: 1987 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      August 20, 2012
      Roher's illustrations soften the difficult moments of Steinkellner's story, first published in Austria, in which a beloved grandmother goes from cooking "exotic dishes" and criticizing her granddaughter's expressive hairdos to needing constant supervision as a dementia patient in her daughter's home. Though Roher limits himself to a sepia palette, he imagines a complex life for the family, drawing spaces full of keepsakes and clutter. Fini takes Granny's strange new behaviors in stride, remaining unruffled when she falls asleep under the table ("We agreed that we would all help out," reproaches Fini's mother when Fini protests that she had only briefly left Granny alone). And Fini stays patient when Granny can no longer feed herself ("the spoon doesn't want to go into her mouth") or has to have her hair combed ("That can be my job," she says). Fini has some realistic moments of frustration, tooâdementia is hard even for adults to cope with. The portrait of Granny and her loving household serves as a memorial to all such grandparents and their families. Ages 4â8.

    • School Library Journal

      October 1, 2012

      K-Gr 2-Fini's grandmother extraordinaire is a well-traveled, exceptional cook of exotic dishes, who takes her to outings in the park. To Fini's young eyes, her granny became entirely different after a trip to the hospital. This granny can no longer live on her own, let alone travel. She also behaves oddly, eating breadcrumbs meant to feed the ducks and using the stove to warm her hands. Originally published in Austria, the story gives a gentle introduction to children about the effects of dementia on their loved ones and their family life. The sepia pages and illustrations allude to fading but still precious memories, while whimsical elements like friendly mice integrated into each scene keep the tone light. While stopping short of showing the truly heartbreaking aspects of the disease, the book as a whole effectively captures a child's coping process from sadness and misunderstanding to patience and acceptance. The lesson-that while granny has changed, love remains the same-rings true.-Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library

      Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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