Dad's Camera by Ross Watkins, Liz Anelli
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on October 9th 2018
ISBN: 1536201383
Pages: 40
Goodreads

This Australian import provides a book for grades 1-4 about the topic of Alzheimer’s Disease.  A young boy’s father has starting to forget things and the places where items belong in their home.  One day the father brings home an old camera and begins taking photographs of different things in their world.  The boy and his mother are conflicted because they believe his is taking them to remember, but he never takes photos of them.  After the father dies, the boy receives his father’s camera in the mail and there is only one picture on the roll of film, a picture of their family together.  The father had taken pictures that he wanted them to remember him by.  Adult readers will want to have the tissue box close at hand.  Anelli’s collage, acrylic and watercolor illustrations set the tone for the scenes and provide much detail, even in the end pages.  Consider for bibliotherapy collections about Alzheimer’s or dementia concerns.

 

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library, Springvale