Wonderful Children's Book About Alzheimer's by Susan McCormick

Granny Can’t Remember Me

By Susan McCormick
Illustrated by Timur Deberdeev

When Alzheimer’s disease and dementia affects members of a family, so much about it can be difficult for adults to understand, and accept. Imagine how confusing it can feel to the young children in those families? Now there’s a book by Susan McCormick for young children aged three to eight that helps when they discover that Granny Can’t Remember Me.

The book tackles this topic in a soothing, fun, and helpful way and in a language that engages children. It’s very clever that the story is told by the character of Joey who is a six-year-old boy. His voice sounds so true to this age range, giving readers someone they can relate to. Joey is very matter of fact about his visits with his granny, and he finds joy in the things that she does remember. In some of his descriptions of their visits there is a wonderful injection of humor which is very clever in that he pokes fun at the situation, not the people. He doesn’t dwell on what Granny can’t remember, but accepts her happily as she is. In the end Joey relates the wonderful surprise to the reader about how he definitely knows that although Granny Can’t Remember Me, “But Granny loves me. And I love Granny.”

The text of this book is readable by the older children in this age group who have started to read. But that doesn’t diminish also encouragement to read this book to the children out loud. It’s an engaging, short story that provides an opportunity to surface some questions and discussion about their specific situation that children would like to voice and talk about, but may not feel prompted to otherwise. The illustrations throughout the book are delightful, warm, and page turning.

The author, Susan McCormick is a doctor who lives in Seattle. She graduated from Smith College and George Washington University Medical School. She is married and has two boys. She also learned a lot about families living with Alzheimer’s when it occurred in her family. The multi-talented illustrator, Timur Deberdeev lives in Uzbekistan.

And for more information, please check susanmccormickbooks.com.

Solemn Graves History With Mystery

Solemn Graves

A Billy Boyle World War II Mystery
By James R. Benn

Solemn Graves is the newest of the outstanding Billy Boyle World War II mystery series, set within the Allied High Command in Europe. The focus on the characters’ stories is surrounded with a brilliantly researched, historic time and place. It’s illustrated against a background of military protocol, weapons and culture. The action scenes are vivid and exciting, and skillfully written to convey the essence of this action even to readers who haven’t felt anything like World War II.

This time US Army detective Billy Boyle is called to investigate a mysterious murder in a Normandy farmhouse, threatening Allied operations just a month after D-Day. The investigation is top secret to protect the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, which are also known as the Ghost Army. The activities of the Ghost Army are meant to cause the enemy to think they’re facing larger formations than they really are. That misdirection is meant to change the enemy’s actions and decisions based on misleading information, almost like red herrings are meant to mislead mystery readers. In this book you get two for one fiction, a mystery and a history.

Thoughtful writing describes the investigative drive pulsing through Billy Boyle. Reading through this acclaimed series from its first book, this character learns and grows into his responsibilities. As he now comes into this Normandy murder scene, he positions himself. “I stood back, studying the scene, trying not to draw conclusions and let the room talk to me. It was one of the things my dad had taught me, or tried to, back in Boston. He was a homicide detective, and as soon as I got my badge as a rookie cop, he dragged me along to watch and study him at work . . . so here I was, carrying on the family business in Normandy, wearing khaki, instead of home in Boston, wearing blue.” Stakes are as high as ever this time, unmasking the murderer while safeguarding the secret of the Ghost Army is critical, if that secret is discovered it could turn the tide of war decisively against the Allies.

Author James Benn turned to writing full time in 2011, after over thirty-five years employed in the Library and Information Technology fields. With that background, it’s no wonder that his research is so thorough and interesting. He’s a graduate of the University of Connecticut, receiving his MLS degree from Southern Connecticut State University. When speaking about his Billy Boyle series he emphasizes that it “has brought me an immense amount of joy. I’ve gotten to meet people in person and online from all over the country (and the rest of the world) and hear their reactions, feedback, and most importantly, their own stories.”

And if you want to hear more from the author listen on YouTube to – Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with James R. Benn

Racing To Read Run Dog Run

Run Dog Run

By Kathleen Kaska

Kate Carraway is devastated when a poacher shooting incident causes her eviction from Africa and her beloved elephant research project. She ends up traveling to a friend’s ranch in Texas. Kate and her husband look forward to a restful visit with their friends to revitalize and make future plans. But planning is put on hold when a mystery surfaces surrounding a prominent neighbor rancher. Kate is drawn into investigating possible racing greyhound abuse, and finds murder added to the stakes after she finds a body. Danger pushes the animals to Run Dog Run by Kathleen Kaska, while the sleuth Kate Caraway also races to find the killer, before she becomes the next victim.

Vivid, passionate writing draws you into this action packed puzzler. The plot immediately tugs at the heart when Kate’s goddaughter asks for her help solving a mystery about possible racing greyhound dog abuse. It’s the determination to protect these beautiful animals that cannot defend themselves against this killer that drives the suspense. Unfortunately for these characters “good judgment was often lost in a moment of passion.” It’s these moments that can result in either tragic mistake or heartfelt sacrifice. And after scratching the surface of this case, Kate finds there’s even bigger issues buried below.

This killer is ruthless, but is pitted against a skilled sleuth. Character Kate Carraway best describes the key to the chase. “She was used to seeing the kill in a killer’s eyes as with the predators on the African plains. It was impossible to hide. Her binoculars would be focused on the eyes of the big cats – lions and cheetahs motionless in the grass, leopards crouched in trees. Their prey would see it too – an instinctual fear would shoot through the air like a bolt of electricity. It was survival in its most raw form. Prey who misread the signals did not survive . . . . A killer could lie, deceive, and even charm victims, but could never hide that look in the eyes.”

Best known for her Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Mystery Series, Kathleen Kaska is also author of the Sydney Lockhart series which are wonderful, historical mysteries; each of these is set in a different, incredible, grand hotel. Kathleen Kaska has also published trivia books on today’s favorite mystery writers, teaches workshops, and is a contributing writer to multiple magazines. Her Alfred Hitchcock and Sherlock Holmes trivia books were finalists for the 2013 EPIC award in nonfiction. She’s also marketing director for Cave Art Press. Her 5-Minute Writings Tips blog posts are published in book form - Do You Have a Catharsis Handy: Five-Minute Writing Tips? When not writing, Kathleen spends much of her time traveling the country’s back roads and byways; bird-watching; and looking for new locales for her mysteries.

And if you want to hear more from the author listen on YouTube to – Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Kathleen Kaska