The Tide by Clare Helen Welsh, illustrated by Ashling Lindsay

      The Tide by Clare Helen Welsh, illustrated. by Ashling Lindsay, Tiger Tales, 9781680101416, 2019

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4

Genre: Realistic fiction

What did you like about the book? Gently, this book tackles a difficult and confusing topic for children (and adults)- dementia.  A little girl discusses how her Grandpa sometimes forgets things.  A day at the beach demonstrates how Grandpa forgets things, and how this makes the little girl uncomfortable. Her mother explains that it must be so difficult to forget things all the time, to help her empathize. They equate the forgetfulness to the tide- sometimes it’s present, sometimes it is far away.  Sweet illustrations of the family at the beach are bright and welcoming and help sooth some of the anxiety about a loved one forgetting. This book gives hope and comfort.

Anything you didn’t like about it? No

To whom would you recommend this book? Families dealing with a loved one who has dementia.

Who should buy this book? Public libraries, school counselors

Where would you shelve it? Picture books

Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? No

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Lindsey Hughes, Marstons Mills Public Library, Marstons Mills, MA

Date of review: 2/15/19