Grandfather’s Story Cloth

By Linda A. Gerdner, Sarah Langford, Stuart Loughridge
Paperback: $12.95

Chersheng feels sad and helpless when he learns that Grandfather has Alzheimer’s Disease, but then Chersheng’s mother presents him with a story cloth stitched by Grandfather himself, embroidered in the Hmong tradition.

Description

Chersheng’s grandfather is beginning to forget things: little things like turning off the water faucet and big things like Chersheng’s name. Sometimes he even forgets that he is in America now. Chersheng feels sad and helpless when he learns that Grandfather has Alzheimer’s Disease, but then Chersheng’s mother presents him with a story cloth stitched by Grandfather himself, embroidered in the Hmong tradition.

Through the story cloth, Grandfather’s memories of his life in Laos come alive. And inspired by Grandfather’s tales about his life before the war forced him to immigrate to America, Chersheng comes up with a plan to capture his family’s new life with his own art project. This way, they can all remember that their love is stronger than Alzheimer’s Disease, no matter in which country they live.

Linda Gerdner’s heartwarming story addresses the increasing number of children who live with elderly grandparents with dementia. This volume, presented bilingually in English and Hmong, allows children and their loved ones not only to gain a compassionate understanding of Alzheimer’s Disease, but also to share in the simplest act of pleasure and love — that of reading together.

About the Creators

Linda A. Gerdner
Linda A. Gerdner

Linda Gerdner was born in Iowa and is a registered nurse. She is dedicated to helping persons with Alzheimer s disease and the family members who are care for them. Although Grandfather s Story Cloth is her first children s book she has published extensively in professional journals and received international and national awards for these contributions. Gerdner has traveled to northern Laos where she visited three Hmong villages in the rural province of Xieng Khouang. The bonds and friendships established with members of the Hmong American community have enriched her life and expanded her world.

Sarah Langford
Sarah Langford

Sarah Langford is currently a student at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. She is especially interested in the health care needs of immigrants and refugees living in United States. She has a long-standing interest in children's literature and has enjoyed the opportunity to combine her talent in this area with her nursing focus.

Stuart Loughridge
Stuart Loughridge

Stuart Loughridge lives and works in St. Paul, MN. Most of his waking hours are spent in his studio, drawing, painting, printmaking, and filling the bird feeder. This is his first children's book.

Paperback

  • ISBN 9781885008657
  • Price $12.95
  • Publication Date May 01, 2008
  • Trim Size 10 × 8 in
  • Weight 0.3125 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Hardcover

  • ISBN 9781885008343
  • Price $16.95
  • Publication Date May 01, 2008
  • Trim Size 10.75 × 8.25 in
  • Weight 0.875 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Interests

  • Imprint Shen's Books
  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JUV / Health & Daily Living / Diseases, Illnesses & Injuries
  • BISAC Category 2 JUV / Family / Multigenerational
  • BISAC Category 3 JUV / People & Places / United States / Asian American
  • Themes Asian / Asian American / AAPI, Empathy / Compassion, Families, Fiction, Grandparents, History & Civics, Immigration, Kindness / Caring, Persistence / Grit, Realistic Fiction, War
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 6 - 9
  • Grade Range Grades 1 - 4
  • Guided Reading S
  • ATOS Book Level 3.4
  • DRA 40
  • Interest Level Grades 1 - 4
  • Lexile Level 580
  • Reading Level 3
  • SRC 3.1
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
  • This Book is Included in These Collections:

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