The Tide

PreS-Gr 2—Through the eyes of a little girl, readers meet an aging grandfather who struggles with dementia. Grandpa's disease, which has impacted his family, is hard for the girl to fully understand. The girl's mother explains that Grandpa sometimes gets confused and can't remember everything as he used to, such as the day that they watched the tide come in at the beach. The mother and the girl agree that this must be very frustrating. The girl vows to help her grandpa when he needs it. She holds his hand at the beach, and they build forts and castles and eat ice cream as they watch the tide come in. Grandpa's memories are like the tide, Mommy says. Sometimes, they are near and full of life, and other times, they're distant and quiet. But no matter what, she will always love Grandpa, and she knows that he loves her, too. Welsh gently explores a terribly complex disease that affects many people, making it simple enough for children of all ages to understand. The text is complemented by bright, whimsical, and simply stunning illustrations, coming together to create the soft and safe world of a family doing their best to help a loved one with dementia live well.