Weeds in Nana's Garden: A heartfelt story of love that helps explain Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias.

My father died from Alzheimer’s in 2007. My sister-in-law died from the same horrible disease five years later. Ms. Harrison does such a stellar job writing a story that should be more of a nightmare than a fantasy (at least to us adults) but her adept way of writing for the younger set clearly and beautifully explains why Nana’s just not the same anymore.Whether a child’s Nana or Papa starts showing symptoms of dementia, this beautifully illustrated story will soften the blow, ease the sadness, and help the youth in our families gain a thoughtful understanding of why a close family member acts differently from before.An added bonus to this picture book: the two pages of questions and answers at the end of the book that can be shared with those needing added understanding of this disease that is so very prevalent in the world.Thank you, Ms. Harrison, for writing from a place in your heart that sought to soften the emotional burden for our youngest generation.

Alzheimer’s is such a sad disease and for children especially, it can be difficult to understand. In "Weeds in Nana’s Garden" a young girl’s favorite activity is helping her grandmother tend to her fabulous garden. One year the girl notices that weeds are taking over and she doesn’t understand why her grandmother would let this happen. Her mother has to explain that Nana is sick and her brain just doesn’t let remember things the way she used. The girl is able to draw an analogy of weeds taking over her Grandmother’s brain the way they have taken over the garden. As the years pass she shoulder’s more responsibility for the garden as her nana grows less able to care for herself. At the end of the book, there is a question guide for kids. The artwork in this book is especially lovely. The garden ebbs and flows with Nana’s condition but still leaves the reader with hope.

When a loved one is diagnosed with such a complicated disease, it can be especially hard on the little ones who have no way of grasping what is going on. This is certainly so when it comes to the symptoms of diseases like Alzheimer's and Dementia.In Kathryn Harrison's book, "Weeds in Nana's Garden" , she does an amazing job of illustrating the the effects of Alzheimer's on a loved one, in a way that anyone can truly understand.Through vivid and colorful illustrations (seriously, there is NO white space in this book. It's absolutely breathtaking.), she tells the story of a granddaughter realizing that beloved Nana is going through some serious changes."Weeds in Nana's Garden" is a real story of hope in the midst of a heartbreaking trial.I pray that you will never need such a resource, but if you're ever stuck trying to show or explain to your children why grandma doesn't recognize them, or why grandpa seems more forgetful than usual-this is a beautiful tool to use.

The brilliant colors in Kathryn’s appealing illustrations burst forth in striking hues, in contrast to the gentle flow of soft words describing Alzheimer’s disease on a level that young children can understand. The author has done a superb job of explaining this horrific disease in a simple, realistic way. In my own experience with my mother’s Alzheimer’s, there were times it did seem like weeds had overtaken her brain, so I appreciated the visual images the author depicts in this gem of a book.

Beautiful illustrations and a beautiful story. Dementia and Alzheimer's disease is not an easy subject to explain to children and this author has done a fantastic job of bringing such a complicated concept to a level where a child can begin to understand what is going on when a loved one has dementia. I have taught 2-year-olds up through 2nd graders and I think, while still above the level of 2 year old, I think this could still be helpful to a family that needed to explain this concept to a child that young. Thank you for writing such a wonderful story, at this time I don't need it for me personally, but I am so glad it is out there for families who may need to explain dementia to their children.

A wonderful help for a child/children who are dealing with the loss of a loved one as they once knew them. Children have heightened senses and can feel when something is just not right. What better way than a book written for children in their understanding. Also, an example to show ways of how they can help someone who is battling this debilitating illness. I lost my Father nearly two years ago a couple days before Christmas. I understand firsthand what it is like to see someone fail right before your eyes and how it was difficult for me. An adult. Thank you Kathryn for sharing your family's experience of your Mother's journey with us. I believe it will help many during their journey. Children and adults alike.

Weeds in Nana's Garden is a beautiful book that takes children through the process of losing a loved one to Alzheimer's by using the metaphor of a flower garden. I found myself tearing up as I read the heartfelt message of finding ways to love a person through their disease. The colorful, gorgeous illustrations enhance the poignancy of the story. This is a book I wish I'd had when my daughter was losing her Meemaw to Alzheimer's.

Sweet story and helpful in explaining the dementia disease process. For older kids, it’s a bit long for the 4 year old.

Wow what a deep topic to handle and what a beautiful job the author has done in giving it a relatable context for kids and adults alike. I have not had anyone close to me with this particular issue and yet I found the book very informative and totally engaging to read. The analogy with the garden is such a beautiful and tender one and I truly felt the love between the granddaughter and grandmother in this tale. The art work is gorgeous with the rich colours and textures, and so uplifting which I felt also brought the whole topic to a place that felt very healing and hopeful. I think this book would be an excellent addition for our educational system and should find a place in every public school. The greatest gift that we can give to our children is knowledge so that they can deal with the challenges life brings and feel safe doing so. This book provided all of that and more! Just loved it.

Explains in a kid friendly way what happens to a person with Alzheimer's or Dementia.

Fantastic!