This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Susan van der Walt for Readers' Favorite
Many people know about Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, but few have ever heard of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). In Grandpa and Lewy: A Story of Hope and Empowerment for Children Touched by Lewy Body Dementia, Jennifer Randazzo explains the twofold nature of this disease called Lewy in the story. Firstly, the cognitive decline is similar to Alzheimer's, and the impaired motor symptoms are similar to Parkinson's. She explains the symptoms in simple language that young children can understand and the confusion created when the symptoms alternate between the cognitive and the physical. The author aims to raise awareness about this lesser-known disease and its devasting effects on patients and their families.
A disease like Lewy's is challenging because of the cognitive decline and the patient's loss of identity. Small children can struggle to understand why a grandparent they love suddenly doesn't remember them or can't play with them like before. In Grandpa and Lewy, Jennifer Randazzo uses the typical interactions between a grandfather and his grandchildren to illustrate in a practical way how Lewy symptoms can appear. The most important message is that the grandparent will always love them and that they should treasure those moments of normalcy between the periods of strangeness. I love the rhyme-like quality of the narrative and the simple line sketches. The book is a great way to talk to children about Lewy and other age-related diseases that can affect the elderly. But even more, how important the support of family and friends is for the patient and for other family members. And in the end, children will know that love is stronger than any disease, and the love they feel for a grandparent will live in their hearts forever.