We all have childhood memories of lifting the lid on a new box of crayons, eyeing all those beautiful colors with nice, sharpened tips, and diving into a coloring book world that was ours to adorn with hues of our choosing. Coloring is a form of self-expression – an opportunity to “color in” the world… Read More


Using well-known sayings for reminiscing and a bit of fun– Sky blue pink with a heavenly border ~ that was my Mom’s answer one day when I asked her to name her favorite color. I was six or seven, at the time, and just tickled by this “saying” that Mom loved to repeat just to… Read More


As dementia advances and words on a page become difficult, some may conclude that reading is no longer possible. The challenges of reading for someone with dementia are real and can be a source of great frustration. Hidden behind the frustration, however, is the desire to continue reading, and the preserved ability to do it.… Read More


Bookend generations come together through story– We generally think of reading aloud as something that is shared between an adult and a child; but imagine that the adult is an individual living with dementia . . . perhaps a grandparent.  Society often focuses on what people with dementia can no longer do, but researchers have… Read More


A beneficial tool for memory care– Older adults with dementia who have enjoyed reading all their lives can continue to read in different ways.  While some may read every word on a page, others may be more comfortable with single-word activities.   Three-part cards are illustrated, single-word activities that invite the participant to match picture to… Read More


Author Clare Helen Welsh and illustrator Ashling Lindsay deliver on a beautiful story that conveys, with sensitivity, a child’s perspective on the memory loss of her beloved grandfather. Recommended: Ages 4 – 7 In a poignant story of acceptance and understanding, The Tide explores the relationship between a little girl (the narrator) and her grandfather,… Read More


It was in 2016 that I was first introduced to the work of award-winning dementia educator, Jennifer Brush, and her use of the Montessori approach with people living with dementia. The focus, first, on what individuals with dementia can do rather than the deficits resonated with my experience as a Montessori educator.   I was… Read More


There’s a lot to unpack about diversity in children’s books. While there are many wonderful stories that celebrate the diversity of human experience; in 2018 there is still a disproportion of books with white protagonists, a tendency to tell a “single story” about marginalized groups, a distortion of historical facts, and a need for authenticity… Read More


The impact of story in children’s lives is powerful. Children learn how to experience the world through story. They form ideas about themselves and other people and their relationships. They learn to dream of possible futures. The books we read with our children can set the path for their own self-worth as well as how… Read More


British author/illustrator, Emily Gravett, adds a measure of intrigue, and a dash of humor to her deliciously simple, perfectly fun picture book, Orange Pear Apple Bear. With just the four words in the title (plus one), and expressive, yet uncluttered illustrations, this read-aloud is sure to take a prominent spot in any toddler book basket.… Read More