02/05/2019
Seattle author with local ties to do book signing
Dr. Katie Yusuf, author of the children’s book “Grandma’s Precious Memories,” will be at the Nevada Public
Library on Saturday, Dec. 15, for a book signing event.
Based on experiences with her grandmother’s dementia and her nephew’s reaction to it, Dr.
Katie Yusuf’s book, “Grandma’s Precious Memories,” is a family affair. Published by parents"Local News: Seattle author with local ties to do book signing (12/12/18) | Nevada Daily Mail 12/13/18, 8(29"
"Marilyn and Bill Martin, and illustrated by Marilyn and Aunt Jean Bates, the book is written from a child’s perspective and aims to assist adults in opening a conversation to help children understand what is happening to their loved one suffering dementia.
“It’s a very hard topic to discuss with kids,” Yusuf said. “They get confused when their grandparents or elder adults start forgetting them. They don’t understand.” Yusuf recalls that her nephew, then about six-years-old, had a lot of questions when his great grandmother, Mary Catherine May, couldn’t remember things they had done together. “He wanted to know why grandma didn’t remember him. He wanted to know why she kept asking the same questions and this is why the book is written from a child’s perspective.”
Previously a pharmacist, Yusaf retired from that career after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. “Writing has always been a passion of mine, so it was very rewarding to write the book. If I can just affect one family or one child – that’s my goal with this book. There are activities at the back of the book to help parents start that discussion with their kids about dementia,” Yusaf added. “It can be a very positive experience.” She currently has two other books awaiting publication.
“Grandma’s Precious Memories” already has some positive reviews online which note the helpfulness of the activities, the subdued coloring of the illustrations and the gentle tone the author takes with a subject that can be confusing for children.
Local Social Worker Chelsea Deines wrote: “As a social worker in long-term care, I see this being an incredibly useful tool in helping families navigate the changes in a loved one that memory loss causes. As a mother of young children, who recently lost a grandmother due to dementia, I can truly say that a book like this would have been of great benefit to both myself and my children.”
Children’s Library Specialist and Adjunct Professor of Children’s Literature Martha Bledsoe wrote: “…a helpful tool for any family dealing with dementia. Included are age appropriate questions and activities for families dealing with this difficult issue. Without giving false hope for recovery putting this book in the hands of families dealing with dementia will bring solace and understanding to their changing world.”
Dr. Yusuf will be at the Nevada Public Library on Saturday, Dec. 15, for a book signing event. “Grandma’sPrecious Memories” will be available for purchase."
