Grandma Bibi | Understanding Memory Loss

Grandma Bibi, La Abuela, and Grandma Bibi / La Abuela Bibi

Does Grandma Remember Us?

Grandma Bibi is a children’s book about shared memories and love. It tackles memory loss as a family issue and opens a dialogue for families to discuss what is happening to grandma or grandpa.

This book is based on the author’s experience with her own Mother’s memory loss.

Grandma Bibi - English and Spanish Version

Available in English, Spanish, and dual language, English and Spanish

“What do I say when grandma doesn’t remember me?” asked Jackie. “If grandma does not remember me, why should I go and visit her?”

These are all important questions that need to be addressed. The book asks questions and then provides an example of how Jackie might relate to her grandmother’s memory loss. Each one of us needs love and understanding no matter where our memory has gone.

The story is an emotional journey for Jackie and the reader who has experienced this issue first hand.

Dual Language Version release date: July 4, 2026
Pages: 40

Soft Cover: ISBN: 979-8-9947778-0-0
Hard Cover: ISBN: 979-8-9885893-9-6

Age Range: 5-8
Author/Illustrator: Vicki Riske
Author/Translator: Sonia Soto

English Version release date: December 16, 2019
Pages: 36

Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-1-7341268-0-8
Hard Cover: ISBN: 978-1-7341268-1-5

Age Range: 5-8
Author: Vicki Riske
Illustrator: Laura Best

Spanish Version release date: August 1 2023
Pages: 38

Soft Cover: ISBN: 979-8-9885893-0-3
Hard Cover: ISBN: 979-8-9885893-1-0

Age Range: 5-8
Author: Vicki Riske
Illustrator: Laura Best
Translator: Sonia Elizabeth Urrutia de Soto

Ordering Information

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Reviews

ILHAM ALAM: STORY MUMMY

https://www.storymummy.com/kids-book-review/

Grandma Bibi by Vicki Riske

December 2, 2020

This is a very touching book as it deals with elder dementia and losing a beloved grandparent to this neurological disorder. And it does it in a lighthearted and child-friendly way because the main characters are bunnies (who doesn’t love bunnies)!

In many ways, the person that they once were and what you loved about them, dies, once they lose their ability to recognize you and the remembrance of their love for you. You may even want to have a discussion with your child about philosophical things like, “What makes a person?”; “Is love something that lives forever or does it only survive as long as the memory of it survives?” With younger readers, you can even ask them why they love their grandparents or what it is about their grandparents that they love? Or what is their favourite memory of them?

My grade schooler read this book by himself and then I discussed the subtext of the story, which is about GrandMa Bibi’s dementia and what dementia is.

The author was inspired to write this book based on her own mother who was living in a long-term care home due to her dementia. However, the author’s mother passed away earlier this year due to COVID-19, that has ravaged through long-term care homes worldwide.

So after you read this book, please think of all the beloved elders you have in your own life and continue to practice strict hand hygiene (wash your hands with warm water & soap frequently); mask wearing while out in indoor settings in public (3 ply face masks recommended. Mask & face shield add an extra layer) and DO NOT gather in big groups during the Holidays, as much as it’ll hurt not to see your own loved ones in this special time of year. We all need to do our part to not only reduce infection rates but also to protect the health of our loved ones and our community too.

Did you also know that the author is a puppeteer too? You can check out her website to order Puppets, Make an Order for your uniquely designed Puppets and print off your own DIY Puppets. Check out: We Are Puppeteers

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A Children's Book About Grandparents and Dementia
Review by Dr. Beth Onufrak
https://www.drbethkids.com

Over 25 Years Experience – Dr. Beth Onufrak is a Licensed Clinical Child Psychologist in Phoenix specializing in the critical preschool & primary years. Dr. Beth has also created ChildSightTools® an online training platform for parents, giving you the tools need to understand and deal with your child.

Hello, again!
Each month I recommend a resource to aid parents. Today, it's a children's book on a painful subject. We adults can barely grasp the mysteries of dementia, let alone explain them to young kids. It's harder still when the person losing memories is a grandparent.

Grandma Bibi can be your voice. Written by Vicki Riske (wearepuppeteers.com), this sensitive book is aimed at the young listener in your lap. Here's why I like this book and recommend it.

It's developmentally sensitive.
This tale unfolds in a familiar experience -- visiting a beloved grandmother. The characters are bunnies, illustrated by Laura Best in a playful, whimsical style.

Animal characters, like puppets, give kids safe distance from a problem. It helps them absorb and approach topics that are hard to talk about.

It opens the door for talking.
Grandma Bibi now lives in at the Bunny Memory Care Center. Mother Rabbit prepares young bunny Jackie for their visit. Questions arise, answers follow and a plan takes shape.

On topics that stress the heart, we fret about what to say.

Open the door. Follow your child's lead. Answer what they ask you. They'll ask exactly what they need to know, in their moment.

It's realistic.
Grandma Bibi herself is portrayed in a gentle way. Her memory loss and confusion are conveyed in a soft manner.
Yet this tale doesn't shy away from realities. The story conveys that their interactions that have changed.

The story enacts new ways of being together.
This beautiful book unfolds from the child's point of view. This is what I call ChildSight, the cornerstone of my therapy and transformative parent courses. Learn more here.

Author: Vicki Riske

Vicki is originally from Minot, ND, but has been living in Mesa, AZ for over 30 years. She has been interested in puppetry and storytelling for many years. She created puppets for theatre productions at NDSU in Fargo, ND.

Now Vicki writes and illustrates award winning children’s books. Her first book, The Polka Dot Tea Party, is about finding shapes in nature, fun, and friendship. My Teeth Are Too Big, is about how self confidence affects us all no matter our age and is presented with fun thoughtful measure. Her award winning book, Fishy Tales, has been translated into Spanish by Sonia Elizabeth Soto, Los pececitos aventureros. These two books are about fish who love to swim, and play in the ocean. But encounter environmental problems caused by plastic trash forming a large trash island. This book is a great conversation starter for discussions on climate change and our responsibility to care for planet earth.

Dear Grandma and Grandpa/Queridos abuelos is a dual language book. Vicki co-authored this book with Sonia Elizabeth Soto. Writing this book was a new experience, they had to make decisions on how to work with the text in the design of the book. They decided to keep the English and Spanish text close to each other and used color to differentiate the languages.

The story is about a bored Jackie Rabbit. Her friends are too busy to play with her, so she asks her Mother if she can play. Mother Rabbit is too busy writing a letter to her sister and suggests that Jackie should write a letter to her grandparents. She doesn’t know how to write letters, so Mother explains the process. Jackie discovers the joy of writing and receiving letters.

Illustrator: Laura Best

Laura Spalding Best is an artist living and working in Phoenix, Arizona. She received her BFA from Arizona State University in 2003 and has been actively involved in the local art scene since then. Best recently received a Contemporary Forum Artist Grant and a Pollock-Krasner grant and has appeared on Arizona Horizon Art Beat to discuss her artwork. She has been involved in numerous solo and group exhibitions in downtown Phoenix and has completed several public murals. Best was the Exhibitions Manager at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. She is now the Senior Director of Exhibits at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix.

Translator: Sonia Elizabeth Urrutia de Soto

Photo of Sonia Elizabeth Urrutia de Soto

Sonia Elizabeth Urrutia de Soto is a Bilingual Family Childcare Specialist for the Family, Friend, and Neighbor program of United Way of Pinal County. She has worked in family and child services for more than 20 years, including owning her own in-home preschool. Originally from Ciudad Juárez, México, Sonia earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Centro Teresiano de Estudios Superiores before moving to Arizona and obtaining her Early Childhood Education certificate from Central Arizona College. Sonia has two beautiful children and a very supportive and fun husband. In her spare time, she enjoys going to concerts, cooking, spending time with her family and rollerblading.