Linda Gerdner

When Chersheng's beloved grandfather forgets his name - confusing his grandson with his own long-dead brother, Fong - the young Hmong-American boy knows that things will never be the same again. Struggling to understand the changes wrought by Alzheimer's Disease, Chersheng uses his grandfather's Story Cloth - made in a refugee camp in Thailand, after his family fled the fighting in Laos - to bridge the gap between the past and the present.

Told in both English and Hmong, Grandfather's Story Cloth offers a sensitive portrayal of a young boy confronting the hurt that accompanies Alzheimer's Disease - the sense of loss as loved ones seem to be slipping away from us - as well as a fascinating glimpse of Hmong history and culture. Linda Gerdner and Sarah Langford are both nurses who work with Alzheimer's patients, and their intimate knowledge of the subject matter shines through. A postscript includes more information about the disease, and about the Hmong people.

I can't say I was as thrilled with Stuart Loughridge's art as I was with the text, although I appreciated the inclusion of various Hmong motifs in the design of the book. The illustrations themselves were a little too blurry for my taste. Still, this was an engaging picture-book, and a very worthy addition to the growing body of children's stories dealing with Alzheimer's.… (mais)

Grandfather's Story Cloth was one that so many people can relate to no matter what their cultural background. Chersheng's grandfather has Alzheimer's disease. He doesn't always remember his family, the time period, or where he is. This is upsetting to Chersheng and his younger brother. When their mother brings out a story cloth that the grandfather had made, the grandfather was able to share stories of his life in Laos. Chersheng decides to create something that will help keep memories for his grandfather of his time in America. this brought back memories of my grandmother who had alzheimer's disease. It often tears families apart. I loved the added information in the back of the book about alzheimer's disease, the Homong people and story cloths. I thought that it was great that this was a bilingual book. This is a great asset to my shelves.… (mais)