Faraway Grandpa

By Roberta Karim

Book Overview

Dear Kathleen, Heard a new song. We'll sing it together this summer! Oops, almost forgot. The song is called "Danny Boy." Such a fine name! A poignant story about the changing relationship between a grandfather and his granddaughter as he succumbs to Alzheimer's disease Grandpa Danny sang bass, and Kathleen sang the high notes. That was the summer that Kathleen learned about listening with the heart and not the ears. But when it was time for her to visit with Grandpa Danny again, Gramps wasn't himself-he forgot things, and sometimes his mind seemed to be covered in clouds. Still, even on Grandpa Danny's most shadowy of days, Kathleen knew that when she sang "Danny Boy" he was listening with his heart. This poignant story about love and devotion will touch the hearts of readers young and old alike.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080506785X
• ISBN13: 9780805067859
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.4" x 10.4"
• Age Range: 5 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 4

Customer Reviews

Mister Rogers could not have explained it any better.

We could have used this book a few years ago when the live-in grandfather of our son's close friend was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. So many times, we rely on children's books to help us explain difficult subjects. Leave it to Roberta Karim, author of Mandy Sue Day, to provide us with a straightforward look into the life of an Alzheimer's patient. I marveled at Kathleen's loving response to her grandfather's illness and her determination to maintain their close bond despite his faraway mind. Karim's engaging prose and Rand's lively illustrations make a heartbreaking subject easy to digest.