The Day Abuelo Got Lost: Memory Loss of a Loved Grandfather

by Diane de Anda, Alleanna Harris (Illustrator)

Overview

2020 Most Inspirational Children's Picture Book, Honorable Mention, International Latino Book Award

While grandfather's loss of memory is very upsetting, it makes Luis find new things for them to do, and helps him realize that they still love each other.

A touching story about a boy and his grandfather who enjoy a special relationship—until Abuelo starts to lose his memory. Instead of building model planes and cooking together, Luis and his father have to search the neighborhood for Abuelo, and Luis and Abuelo have to find new activities to enjoy together.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807514931
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	09/01/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Lexile:	AD670L (what's this?)
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Diane de Anda, a third generation Latina, is a retired professor in the Department of Social Welfare at UCLA. Author of several children’s books featuring Latino families, she published five books in 2018 and 2019.

Alleanna Harris received a BFA in Animation with Honors from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She has illustrated several children's books, including The Journey of York: The Unsung Hero of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Her work is inspired by the beauty in everyday things. She lives in New Jersey.

Editorial Reviews

2020 Most Inspirational Children's Picture Book, Honorable Mention, International Latino Book Award

"A touching and well-told story of the heartbreak of memory loss through the lens of family-oriented Latino culture. A lovely and needed story of familia in which love conquers loss."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

09/01/2019

PreS-Gr 2—The topic of memory loss due to Alzheimer's is the focus of this picture book. This first-person narrative is from the perspective of Luis, whose grandfather lives with his family and cares for him each day after school. During their time together, the two make model planes, cars, and boats, and enjoy painting under the watchful eye of the family dog, Sancho. Quesadilla snacks are a highlight of the afternoon thanks to Abuelo's cooking talents. However, these activities begin to change when his grandfather cannot remember how to fit model pieces together, and then starts to leave the stove on after cooking. He even becomes confused, calling the dog the name of his own childhood pet, "Café," and Luis,"Chico." However, life really changes when grandfather is missing from the home one afternoon. The family searches for him, relieved to find him just a few blocks away, confused and unable to recognize Luis's father. Harris's bright illustrations illuminate the protagonists and their loving relationships. VERDICT This simple, gentle story makes for a one-on-one read-aloud, and will easily evoke conversations around a disease, as well as its impact on family relationships, in a way that otherwise may be difficult for young children to comprehend.—Ruth Quiroa, National Louis University, Lisle, IL

School Library Journal

2019-06-30
Family love in the face of loss is poignantly shared by de Anda and Harris.

Luis, Mama, Papi, their dog, Sancho, and beloved Abuelo are one tight familia. When Luis gets home from school he spends the afternoons with Abuelo building models, learning to paint, and sharing stories alongside tasty snacks. As time passes, things begin to change. When Abuelo can no longer remember how to fit the models together, he and Luis can still paint side by side. When he forgets to turn off the stove, quesadillas transform into tasty PB&Js instead. But when Abuelo goes missing one day, it is clear things are changing quickly and will never be the same. What afflicts Abuelo is never explicitly identified as the story unfolds, tenderly told in simple first person from Luis' innocent and loving perspective as he slowly confronts new symptoms of his grandfather's progressive dementia. His mother gives Luis sage advice that even though Abuelo's memory is slipping he will always feel Luis' love. Though this is certainly a sweet sentiment, many dementia patients experience apathy and changes in personality along with their memory loss, so the truth of Mama's words is somewhat in doubt. This is nevertheless a touching and well-told story of the heartbreak of memory loss through the lens of family-oriented Latino culture.

A lovely and needed story of familia in which love conquers loss. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews