A Doll for Grandma…A Story about Alzheimer’s Disease

A Doll for Grandma… A Story about Alzheimer’s Disease written by Paulette Bochnig Sharkey, with illustrations by Samantha Woo, is a heartfelt picture book that gently introduces young readers to the challenging topic of Alzheimer’s through the eyes of a Kiera.

The story follows Kiera and her beloved grandma, celebrating their strong relationship and bond with dress-up, baking, and picnics—before Grandma begins to show signs of memory loss and moves into a memory care home. During this time of difficult change, Kiera finds a compassionate and creative way to reconnect with her grandmother by sharing a doll, illustrating that love can adapt even as memories fade. Bright, warm illustrations support the narrative’s emotional depth, and a thoughtful back-matter page helps families talk openly about Alzheimer’s.

This book is a valuable resource for children and families navigating similar experiences, offering empathy, understanding, and hope.

I love the quotes at the end of the book written by Judy Cornish. They are good reminders for all ages such as “Dementia takes away our ability to recognize reality.” Judy Cornish is an author, founder of the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Wellbeing Network^® (DAWN), creator of the DAWN Method^® of dementia care, and a retired elder law attorney. Her two books (The Dementia Handbook and Dementia With Dignity) take person-centered care from theory to practice by identifying the skills not lost to dementia. Through DAWN, Judy provides education programs for families and professional caregivers, as well as staff training for agencies and facilities.