Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
Every Sunday Tamika, her mother and her father go to visit her grandmother, Momma Lou, who is in a nursing home with Alzheimer's disease. At first Tamika resents spending the time with someone who embarrasses her and doesn't always seem to know who she is. But after looking through the family albums with photos of Momma Lou in Civil Rights demonstrations as well as having good times with Tamika when she was little, Tamika tries to bring some of these memories to the visits. Sometimes she is delighted when Momma Lou's mind seems to be aware again. But eventually it is up to Tamika to keep the memories alive. Johnson's double-page acrylic paintings contain enough detail to set the visual story, but the focus is on the characters. His scenes have almost an unfinished look, as if he is inviting the reader to become involved in Tamika's emotions. An added note about Alzheimer's makes this a useful book for helping children better understand the disease. That the characters are African-American merely makes this more of a universal story. 2002, Lee & Low, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8.

Meredith Kiger, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
What a great way to help young children identify with aging grandparents. Joyfully illustrated, the story tells of Tamika Louella Jordan, a young girl who is taken along each Sunday as her parents visit her grandmother, Momma Lou, in a nursing home. Tamika's grandmother has Alzheimer's Disease, which is slowly robbing her of her memory. Tomika finds the visits frustrating as her grandmother barely remembers Tamika, let alone any experience that the two had shared. Tamika decides to create a scrapbook of her grandmother's life to help jog her memory. As Tamika gathers memorabilia, she learns about Momma Lou's full life as an activist, mother and grandmother. Each time Tamika visits, she shares a portion of the scrapbook, which brings joy and recognition to Momma Lou. Often, they sing the songs that Momma Lou once sang as an activist in the Civil Rights Movement. The story illustrates the importance of making connections among the generations even when memories begin to fade. 2002, Lee & Low Books, $16.95. Ages 7 to 10.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 2002 (Vol. 70, No. 9))
Tamika decides to try to restore her grandmother's memory in this realistic story about a family dealing with Alzheimer's Disease. At first, Tamika resents having to visit Momma Lou in the nursing home every Sunday. One night after a particularly difficult visit, Tamika's father pulls out the family photo album. Cherished snapshots from Momma Lou's full life marching for civil-rights causes, getting married in traditional African dress, and taking care of a young Tamika remind Tamika of "the days of secrets and dreams, when Momma Lou was her best friend in all the world," and she realizes she owes it to Momma Lou to make the visits more meaningful. Tamika's efforts to reconnect Momma Lou with her past by bringing photos and mementos to the nursing home sometimes work and sometimes don't, reflecting the sad reality of the progression of Alzheimer's. A major triumph occurs when Momma Lou is shown a picture of herself in jail, and begins to sing "We Shall Overcome," just as she did on that long-ago day; but it is her last moment of lucidity. Eventually Momma Lou slips away, but not before her memories have taken root in Tamika's heart. Soft-focus, acrylic illustrations convey the dedication and warmth of the family; in particular, Tamika's facial expressions aptly express the progression of frustration, love, excitement, and nostalgia she feels as she comes to terms with Momma Lou's illness. This worthy source for any family dealing with the anguish of Alzheimer's provides assurance to children that their experience isn't unique as well as a blueprint for a proactive approach even young children can undertake. (author's note, list of Alzheimer's Disease organizations) 2002, Lee & Low, $16.95. Category: Picture book. Ages 6 to 9. © 2002 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

S. Latson (Parent Council, April 2002 (Vol. 9, No. 2))
Alzheimer's disease can be confusing and frightening for a young child. This story depicts the relationship of a young girl and her grandmother who once demonstrated in civil rights protests, listened to Martin Luther King, and sang with bands and choirs. To help her grandmother remember, Tamika brings newspaper clippings and has the family sing "We Shall Overcome." For a minute, grandmother's memory is back and the sparkle in her eyes returns. She asks Tamika to keep the memory safe, and Tamika is happy to remember her grandmother's legacy. This is a great story for understanding aging, intergenerational relationships, and the civil rights movement. 2002, Lee & Low Books, $16.95. Ages 5 to 10.