Today I welcome author Crystal Bowman as she shares her children's book--and touches on a subject we'll all probably face at some point, either for ourselves or somebody we love.

Crystal, please share your heart and your story.

As we age, we joke about being forgetful or having a senior moment. But when memory loss is the result of dementia or Alzheimer’s, it isn’t funny anymore. With the Baby Boomer population aging, dementia is on the rise. It is estimated that 1 in 10 adults over the age of 65 have some form of dementia.

This debilitating disease affects not only the person with dementia, but the extended family as well. How do parents explain to their children that Grandma or Grandpa no longer knows their name? Children are sad and confused when the relationship they enjoyed is no longer there. Parents need resources to help children understand why things are different.

A professor from Denver Seminary lost his brilliant wife to dementia in her early 60s. He wrote about his painful journey in a memoir but wanted to reach children as well. The story of his wife was the inspiration for a picture book that he asked me to write. The story is considered fiction, but many of the events actually happened.

The story begins when Grandma and her dog, Sunny, move in with a young boy and his mother. The boy enjoys spending time with his fun, energetic grandma. They read books, put jigsaw puzzles together, and play fetch with Sunny at the park. One day, when the boy returns home from school, Grandma is with a police officer in front of their home. She and Sunny had gone for a walk and gotten lost. Things continue to worsen when she puts her shoes in the bathtub and her purse in the pantry. After a while, she no longer engages in fun activities with her grandson. The mother explains that Grandma’s mind is sick and now it’s their turn to help her. When they can no longer care for her, she moves to a home where caregivers can help with her daily needs. The mother takes her son to visit his grandma, and they always bring Sunny along. They soon learn that they can  enjoy spending time with her again. The message in the story is that even though memories may fade, love will always last.

I Love You to the Stars, When Grandma Forgets, Love Remembers (Kregel Publishing 2020), is a picture book inspired by the professor’s wife, that enables parents to explain memory loss to a child. No matter what happens to our minds, the love we have will always be there.  

About Crystal:

Crystal Bowman is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 100 books for children and families. She is the creator and coauthor of Our Daily Bread for Kids, My Arms Will Hold You Tight, and M is for Manger. She also writes lyrics for children’s piano music and stories for Clubhouse Jr. Magazine. When she’s not writing, she enjoys going for walks and spending time with her 8 huggable grandchildren.

Please visit Crystal’s website at: https://crystalbowman.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystaljbowman

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Love-You-Stars-Grandma-Remembersdp/0825446473

Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-love-you-to-the-stars-crystal-bowman/1136630898

 Christian Book Distributors https://www.christianbook.com/love-stars-when-grandma-forgets-remembers/crystal-bowman/9780825446474