New Children’s Book Offers a Gentle, Repeatable Tool for Families Talking About Memory Change

(ORLANDO, FL) — Parents and caregivers often struggle to answer a hard question in a way that feels honest but not frightening: “Why does Grandpa forget?” As more families experience memory change in a loved one, the need for calm, child-appropriate language and a repeatable way to revisit the conversation continues to grow.

The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise is a children’s book designed to be used as more than a one-time story. It is a gentle, adult-guided conversation tool that helps children make sense of memory change gradually through simple language, reassurance, and connection. The story introduces a “Memory Box,” a child-centered way to hold onto meaningful moments through photos, stories, and shared rituals, giving families and educators something they can return to as questions evolve over time.

A distinctive feature of the book is that it uses the words “Alzheimer’s disease” and introduces the term carefully and briefly, without becoming clinical or overwhelming. The emphasis remains on emotional safety and the book’s central message: love remains, even when remembering changes.

Author Homer L. Hartage, a Florida-based professional guardian and longtime advocate for families navigating dementia-related challenges, wrote the book to help parents, educators, counselors, and caregivers support children through these moments with clarity and compassion.

The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise will be available in hardcover and paperback beginning June 5, 2026.

Hartage is also the author of Family & Professional Guardianship, a practical guide to guardianship decisions and protections, and his forthcoming trade book, Parentification: Caregivers in Crises, which explores the hidden burden carried by children who assume adult responsibilities in families under stress.