Discover an Australian Picture Book Focusing on Alzheimer’s

Picture books focusing on Alzheimer’s help youngsters (and adults) learn more about this disease as it affects the people in their lives.  Yvonne  Russell calls this book to our attention, as well as Australia’s National Dementia Awareness Month. 

 By Guest Blogger – Yvonne Russell

Australia’s 2007 National Dementia Awareness Month runs from 17 September to 17 October. This is Alzheimer’s Australia’s national community education campaign. Let’s mark the occasion, by sharing one of Australia’s most famous and best loved picture books, which deals with Alzheimer’s.

  Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge & Mem Fox
Australian author, Mem Fox, is world renowned as a great picture book author. Her award winning, Possum Magic is Australia’s best known children’s book. My favorite, though, is Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, which is a beautiful story about Alzheimer’s and reliving precious memories.

This would be a great book to share with a child who has a loved one or neighbour with Alzheimer’s. For a school group it’s a chance to heighten awareness, especially as they sometimes visit old people’s homes as a class outing.

Mem Fox says that of all her books, this is the one which adults love the most. To truly relish it, you’ll need to read the whole book, but let me give you just the essence of this beautiful and touching story.

The Story – What Is A Memory?
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge lived “next door to an old people’s home and he knew all the people who lived there…But his favourite person of all was Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper because she had four names just as he did. He called her Miss Nancy and told her all his secrets.”

He was puzzled to hear his parents saying Miss Nancy had lost her memory. Wilfrid Gordon wanted to know what a memory was so he asked each of his friends in the old people’s home one by one.  He asked Mr Jordan who played the organ “What’s a memory?” “Something warm, my child, something warm.” Mr Jordan replied.

Gathering Memories
Wilfrid Gordon asked each of his old friends in turn. Something from long ago, something as precious as gold, something that makes you laugh, something that makes you cry were some of the responses. He set off to find some memories for Miss Nancy as she had lost hers.

He gathered together in a shoebox, a shell he’d found long ago, a puppet which made everyone laugh, his Grandfather’s medal which made him sad, a football that was as precious as gold and a fresh egg from the hen house.

Sharing Memories
He sat down with Miss Nancy and gave each thing to her one by one. When she picked up the warm egg she told Wilfrid Gordon about the tiny speckled eggs she’d found in her Aunt’s garden as a child. As she held the shell to her ear, she remembered going to the beach long ago and “how hot she felt in her button up boots.” Each memory was shared and “the two of them smiled and smiled.”

This simple and touching story is illustrated in soft watercolours, by Julie Vivas who also illustrated “Possum Magic.” 

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge was sparked by Mem Fox visiting her grandfather in an old people’s home. Her father later suffered from Alzheimer’s. This heartwarming book may be a catalyst for discussion and for sharing memories.  

For the story behind the book and more from Mem Fox about Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, visit the author’s site. Mem Fox has also contributed stories to “Memories”, a book produced to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Australia initiatives and research.

© 2007 Yvonne Russell

Yvonne Russell is an Australian freelance writer who works closely with allied health, social services and education professionals. She blogs at Grow Your Writing Business.  She recently became a co-blogger with me at b5media’s Home Biz Notes .)