Dear Girl

"This Dutch/Belgian import sensitively but directly addresses a grandparent’s dementia. Cathy’s grandparents own a toy shop. Cathy’s grandpa has been getting more and more forgetful. He leaves his glasses between the dolls on the shelf and doesn’t remember transactions that happened moments before. When Grandpa’s doctor suggests that he see a neurologist, they learn that “Grandpa has an illness which makes it more and more difficult for him to remember things.” Dementia is never named, but Swerts doesn’t shy away from other details. A brain scan is explained, and when Grandpa needs more help, terms such as assisted-living center and health care providers are introduced. Cathy is surprised and confused by Grandpa’s diagnosis, but she is determined to collect Grandpa’s favorite sights, sounds, and smells because she knows it will help later on. Grandpa eventually forgets Cathy’s name but instead affectionately calls her “dear girl.” Van Lindenhuizen’s soft palette shears off sharp edges, giving everything a cozy, comforting glow, just like a memory. No parents are ever depicted, suggesting a grandparent-led family. All characters are White. The backmatter is a puzzling misstep—instead of offering more information on dementia or coping methods for the subject, there is a maze to solve and open-ended questions about the beach. However, this, along with some clunky prose, may be related to the (uncredited) translation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.2-by-19.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 30.8% of actual size.) Sheds some light on a disease fraught with confusion. - Kirkus Review" "I enjoyed this sweet story of a young girl who watched as her grandfather was diagnosed and lived with dementia. It raised questions that I think any child would wonder about if they see someone they love changing this way. The author handled the information in a delicate yet informative way." - Grant Public Library "It can be difficult when people we care about are ill, and even hard when that illness is permanent with conditions that seem to only get worse. In the book Dear Girl, this little girl Cathy's Grandpa begins to forget things so he ends up going to the doctors. He finds out that he has an illness that makes it hard for him to remember things and even the meaning of simple words, such as the beach. Cathy becomes up with a plan to help her grandpa to remember who she is along with other things that he enjoys. An Swerts does a wonderful job of explaining Alzheimer's to a little kid in Dear Girl. I also love the little surprise for the kid at the end of the book." - Mama's Bookworm Cafe "A heavy book for young children (7 years and up) dealing with family members that are dealing with dementia. Needless to say, this should be read with an adult to talk about fears and what a grandparent or relative is going thru when they become more absent-minded. Dear Girl is a little girl whose grandfather is becoming forgetful. She discovers way to make memories now for herself and her grandfather." - Cross Media, Innov