Sally Yule (text), and Cheryl Orsini (illustrator), Dancing with Memories, Harper Collins, July 2022, 32 pp., $24.99 (hbk) 9780733342578
Lucy has a special occasion coming up. Her granddaughter is getting married. Keen to get to the wedding by herself, Lucy plans her day, with a note from her daughter to help her remember. Lucy has dementia.
Sally Yule brings us a heart-warming story that celebrates our ageing communities. Her choice of first-person narrative sensitively conveys the challenges facing older people with dementia, and keeping Lucy at the heart of the story demonstrates the value of a person-centred approach in communities. Colourful illustrations by Cheryl Orsini are emotive and will connect young readers with Lucy’s sadness when she experiences moments of memory loss but also her joy in her everyday life with dementia.
Fun and useful additions come in the form of lunchbox recipes by Maggie Beer for a healthy brain and heart, and a Q & A with Professor Ralph Martins explains what dementia is and how young children can help.
There are plenty of opportunities for discussion with young children about older people living with dementia, especially in their own families, and a set of online classroom ideas and worksheets offer teachers in K-Year 2 countless ways to deepen conversations.
A wonderful collaboration of efforts with a portion of the proceeds going to the Maggie Beer Foundation and the Lions Alzheimer’s Foundation, Dancing with Memories is an inspiring and poignant story to help families understand and navigate through this challenging season of life.
Reviewed by Shelley Stephens
