The Jar of Hearts and Sunshine
The Jar of Hearts
and Sunshine
A gentle picture book for little ones — ages 3 to 5 — who love someone with dementia.
About this book
When a grandparent has dementia, young children notice. They see Grandma forget their name. They watch Grandpa look for things he just put down. They feel the change — even if they don't have words for it yet.
The Jar of Hearts and Sunshine gives caregivers a gentle, honest way to start that conversation. Sam — a curious, loving child of about four — spends a day with Grandma and starts noticing things are a little different. That night, Mom explains it in a way a small child can understand:
The book ends with Sam and Grandma sharing a joyful moment together — painting pictures at the big table, laughing, dancing in the kitchen. Because even with dementia, there is still so much love to share.
Who this is for
This book was made for family caregivers — the Gen X adults balancing jobs, kids, and the care of aging parents — who need a way to explain Grandma's dementia to the little ones in the family.
Read it together at bedtime. Read it before a visit to Grandma's house. Read it when a child asks a question you don't know how to answer. There are no wrong moments for this story.
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