Scan barcode
readwithpassion's review against another edition
5.0
This is a beautiful story---from cover to cover. I was enveloped by the watercolor images and words that took me inside Noah and Grandpa's story. My toddler sat beside me and pointed to the images as I read aloud to him. While he may not have understood the story, he most certainly understood the love between Noah and his grandfather. Elementary school children will develop knowledge of the scary truths of Alzheimer's disease. While it may feel more comfortable to shield children from these truths, the disease is very much a reality for millions of families, and this book will bring them comfort as they discuss the development of this disease in our loved ones. Teachers might consider teaching a unit about diseases or disabilities. Texts such as these are very important for students to learn from, and this book is no exception. I most appreciated that this isn't a book about Alzheimer's Disease. This is a book about the love between a child and his grandfather.
pagesofpins's review against another edition
4.0
Nice use of color (Grandpa is grey when disoriented, colorful when happy and engaged) and realistic in using music as a way for a child to connect to an adult with dementia (one of the last things to leave the brain). Not depressing but not denying the difficult feelings that come with a loved one having dementia, either.
heisereads's review against another edition
5.0
A lovely, touching book about a boy who spends summers with his grandparents, and what happens when his grandfather starts to forget things. The grandparent with Alzheimers storyline hits very close to home for me, and this book was a beautiful tribute to how we try to hold on to the good, lucid moments. It handles the disease in a way that is not scary and appealing for young children to try to understand a confusing thing. The watercolor illustrations are very sweet, and the use of gray for a visual indication of the loss is powerful.
backonthealex's review against another edition
5.0
Noah loves to spend his summer days with his Grandpa. Together, they sing each beautiful morning in with a big, booming song. Then, after bringing Grandma a hot cup of coffee, they take the dog out for a long walk, rain or shine, singing the whole way. When they come home, there's cinnamon French toast, thanks to Grandma. And after breakfast, Grandpa always asks Noah the same question: "what's on the docket" for the rest of the day.
But one morning, Grandpa forgets how to cut his French toast, followed by more and more forgotten things, until one day, Grandpa doesn't even remember who Noah is and the time Noah and Grandpa spend together is changed forever. But thanks to wise Grandma, the good days aren't completely over once she tells Noah that they must learn to appreciate what Grandpa still has, not what he has lost.
And Noah discovers just how he and Grandpa can connect with each other again - by singing big, booming songs together.
Like so many kids nowadays, Noah is learning how to accept that fact that his Grandpa is suffering from memory loss, most likely Alzheimer's though nothing specific is mentioned, and that forgetting is going to happen more and more frequently, even forgetting a beloved grandchild. This has to be a difficult thing for a child to understand, especially one who is used to seeing a grandparent who is active, happy and loving.
What a Beautiful Morning is a well-done book that doesn't shy away from the reality of what a memory loss disease like Alzheimer's can do to an older person and how it impacts those around them. I think Arthur Levine has really captured Grandpa's confusion when he wakes up and doesn't know who Noah is and Noah's despair as he runs out of the house "breathing hard, a painful lump in his throat."
Illustrations should always reflect what the text says and Katie Kath's line and watercolor illustrations are a beautiful melding of word and picture from beginning to end. Kath captures the joy that a smiling Noah and Grandpa feel when things are going well in her colorful illustrations and the sadness they both feel when Grandpa doesn't remember things in her black, white and gray illustrations giving the sense that all the joy has drained out of their lives.
What a Beautiful Morning is a lovely and sad book, but it is a story that needs to be told to young readers so that they may understand should their lives ever be impacted by a grandparent's memory loss, and/or feel empathy should one of their friends be in a position like Noah. But whether you can relate to Noah or Grandpa or not, it is a book that should be read by everyone.
Alzheimer's directly impacted Arthur A. Levine life when his father was diagnosed with it. It is one of the reason's this book feels so authentic, rather than a story from his imagination. And he has posted some very useful and important Alzheimer's Resources on his blog to help you and your family understand and deal with this disease better. You can find them HERE
This book is recommended for readers age 4+
This book was sent to me by the publisher, Running Press
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
But one morning, Grandpa forgets how to cut his French toast, followed by more and more forgotten things, until one day, Grandpa doesn't even remember who Noah is and the time Noah and Grandpa spend together is changed forever. But thanks to wise Grandma, the good days aren't completely over once she tells Noah that they must learn to appreciate what Grandpa still has, not what he has lost.
And Noah discovers just how he and Grandpa can connect with each other again - by singing big, booming songs together.
Like so many kids nowadays, Noah is learning how to accept that fact that his Grandpa is suffering from memory loss, most likely Alzheimer's though nothing specific is mentioned, and that forgetting is going to happen more and more frequently, even forgetting a beloved grandchild. This has to be a difficult thing for a child to understand, especially one who is used to seeing a grandparent who is active, happy and loving.
What a Beautiful Morning is a well-done book that doesn't shy away from the reality of what a memory loss disease like Alzheimer's can do to an older person and how it impacts those around them. I think Arthur Levine has really captured Grandpa's confusion when he wakes up and doesn't know who Noah is and Noah's despair as he runs out of the house "breathing hard, a painful lump in his throat."
Illustrations should always reflect what the text says and Katie Kath's line and watercolor illustrations are a beautiful melding of word and picture from beginning to end. Kath captures the joy that a smiling Noah and Grandpa feel when things are going well in her colorful illustrations and the sadness they both feel when Grandpa doesn't remember things in her black, white and gray illustrations giving the sense that all the joy has drained out of their lives.
What a Beautiful Morning is a lovely and sad book, but it is a story that needs to be told to young readers so that they may understand should their lives ever be impacted by a grandparent's memory loss, and/or feel empathy should one of their friends be in a position like Noah. But whether you can relate to Noah or Grandpa or not, it is a book that should be read by everyone.
Alzheimer's directly impacted Arthur A. Levine life when his father was diagnosed with it. It is one of the reason's this book feels so authentic, rather than a story from his imagination. And he has posted some very useful and important Alzheimer's Resources on his blog to help you and your family understand and deal with this disease better. You can find them HERE
This book is recommended for readers age 4+
This book was sent to me by the publisher, Running Press
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
scostner's review against another edition
4.0
Books that show the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren are a wonderful reflection of family life. Levine's new book portrays that close relationship between Noah and Grandpa. Whether it is walking the dog or getting coffee for Grandma, they always do it with a song. But when Grandpa starts getting confused and has difficulty remembering, Noah isn't sure how to go on. Grandma counsels him to appreciate what he still has. "Noah thought that was like trying to feel good about the toys you still had, when your favorite one got left behind at the beach." It is a surprise and a relief to everyone when they realize that Grandpa's memory for songs is still strong, and Noah can sing all the songs they have always enjoyed together.
The illustrations show the way forgetfulness or dementia can gradually creep into everyday activities. The pictures go from vibrant, warm colors to having areas that are done in shadowy gray. It might be Grandpa's head partially in shadow, or his breakfast plate when he forgets how to cut his French toast. The day he wakes up from a nap and doesn't recognize Noah is a 2-page spread in those dreary grays, a definite low point.
The cause of Grandpa's forgetfulness is never explained, it is simply shown, along with how Noah and Grandma support him. Noah sings the tuna sandwich song at lunch, or their morning song as they walk the dog. Grandma lays out his walking clothes and swaps roles to be the one to bring the morning coffee.
Readers who have enjoyed the way the title character in Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge tries to help his friend Miss Nancy find her lost memory will love Noah's story. Both boys are such caring individuals and become such a help to their older loved ones, one can't help but see the similarity. Families who are dealing with grandparents or great-grandparents with memory problems may want to share this book with the younger generation to help them see they are not alone. It is also perfect for class studies of family stories, and another companion book could be Song and Dance Man (with the tie-in of the music).
Highly recommended for all ages.
The illustrations show the way forgetfulness or dementia can gradually creep into everyday activities. The pictures go from vibrant, warm colors to having areas that are done in shadowy gray. It might be Grandpa's head partially in shadow, or his breakfast plate when he forgets how to cut his French toast. The day he wakes up from a nap and doesn't recognize Noah is a 2-page spread in those dreary grays, a definite low point.
The cause of Grandpa's forgetfulness is never explained, it is simply shown, along with how Noah and Grandma support him. Noah sings the tuna sandwich song at lunch, or their morning song as they walk the dog. Grandma lays out his walking clothes and swaps roles to be the one to bring the morning coffee.
Readers who have enjoyed the way the title character in Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge tries to help his friend Miss Nancy find her lost memory will love Noah's story. Both boys are such caring individuals and become such a help to their older loved ones, one can't help but see the similarity. Families who are dealing with grandparents or great-grandparents with memory problems may want to share this book with the younger generation to help them see they are not alone. It is also perfect for class studies of family stories, and another companion book could be Song and Dance Man (with the tie-in of the music).
Highly recommended for all ages.
libscote's review against another edition
3.0
This story would be a gentle introduction to a child who has a grandparent or other adult figure in their life who has Alzheimer's or dementia. In this story, the boy learns that his grandfather starts to come out of a fog through song and shared memories.
ketutar's review against another edition
4.0
This is a bit painful because my mother has Alzheimer's, but it's great this book exists, because there's a lot of grandchildren whose grandparents get memory problems, and this helps them to deal with it. I pity my parents' grandchildren, though, because my dad got cancer and died before he could help his grandchildren like this grandmother did, but I suppose their parents will do the job.
maidmarianlib's review
4.0
Lovely story about changing relationship with an aging grandparent with Alzheimer's love how the illustrations also capture the emotion and confusion
tinothy's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful story of a young boy's relationship with his grandparents. Noah and his grandpa have a close bond as they both are energetic and love to sing out loud. But one day grandpa starts forgetting things and one day forgets who Noah is. Grandma explains to Noah what is happening to grandpa and to enjoy the time they have together.
Such an endearing story with wonderful illustrations.
Such an endearing story with wonderful illustrations.
libscote's review
3.0
This story would be a gentle introduction to a child who has a grandparent or other adult figure in their life who has Alzheimer's or dementia. In this story, the boy learns that his grandfather starts to come out of a fog through song and shared memories.