I Love You to the Stars
When Grandma Forgets, Love Remembers
A beautiful resource for parents to help their children understand how dementia/Alzheimer’s affects someone they love.
Grandma has come to live with her grandson’s family, and he couldn’t be happier. They put together puzzles, read books, and play with Sunny, Grandma’s dog. And she never misses a chance to tell her grandson that she loves him “to the stars.”
But lately Grandma hasn’t been the same. She does funny things like lose her shoes in the bathtub, and not so funny things like getting lost and forgetting how to read. Mom explains that Grandma’s brain has gotten sick, and it makes her forget things. That means it’s their job to remember for her―and to make sure she always knows that she is loved as much as she loves them.
With thoughtful, child-friendly language and warm, painterly illustrations, I Love You to the Stars is a beautiful book that helps children understand the often-scary reality of a grandparent or older friend experiencing dementia. It can be read with an adult, along with the discussion questions included at the end of the book, or pulled from the shelf by little hands whenever they need a reminder that love is always there.
Available at AMAZON
Chuck says:
A MUST-HAVE RESOURCE FOR FAMILIES DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE! Crystal Bowman and Douglas Groothuis’ picture book, “I Love You to the Stars: When Grandma Forgets, Love Remembers,” depicts a tender story of the loving relationship of a young boy and his grandma – a love he continues to show her after she is diagnosed with dementia and needs to move to a memory-care home. When he and his mom visit Grandma, he reads her a book. Then, they sing one of her favorite songs. Before they leave, he hugs Grandma and whispers a loving rhyme in her ear, a rhyme she used to whisper in his. The love that Grandma has shown to him, he continues to show back to her. Grandma’s adorable dog, Sunny, adds to the endearing nature of the book. The beautiful illustrations by Robert Sauber complement the words to create a lovely children’s picture book on a timely subject.
D.W. says:
THIS BOOK SHOULD BE IN EVERY LIBRARY AND EVERY HOSPITAL GIFT SHOP! To say this lovely story is simply beautiful is an understatement. “I Love You to the Stars” is a poignant and powerful story of a grandmother and her dog, Sunny, moving in with her daughter’s family when she is old. As time progresses and Grandma begins to exhibit signs of dementia, this story beautifully illustrates in word and picture the path love takes to understand and do what is best for Grandma. It is a delight to read as the story shares the grandson’s thoughts and feelings, as well as the puppy’s humorous antics before and after Grandma’s dementia diagnosis. If your family is facing a loved one’s dementia today, you will want to buy this book. Share it with those you love. Excellent story!