The Tide

I selected this book having no idea what it was about, but upon receiving it I was very moved. My grandmother suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, so The Tide was a very poignant story for me. In this picture book, a mother, granddaughter, and grandfather go for a day trip to the beach, which is complicated and enhanced by the grandfather’s memory loss. The book explains dementia in a child-friendly way: “Mommy says Grandpa’s memories are like the tide. Sometimes, they’re near and full of life. Other times, they are distant and quiet.” The book’s illustrations are done in orange, blue, green, and grey. Instead of being garish, they are vibrant as well as soothing. I enjoyed sharing this book with my three-year-old, and the story helped remind me in simple language and illustration that love is always there, and no matter the stage of your memory, you can always feel it.