This one is a story that tugged at my heartstring. The grandpa doesn’t remember his granddaughter so the grandma and the granddaughter make spaghetti and meatballs to help jog his memory.

Super cute

This was a beautiful story! I would recommend it for toddlers through early elementary age, especially anyone wanting to discuss elderly grandparents or memory challenges.

I adored this beautiful sensory filled story. Not only does it inspire children to spend time working with your hands in the kitchen, but also to listen to what's passed down from your elders. It's also a heavy exploration of grief and memory loss, we see the child in this story grappling with her Grandfathers loss of memory. With that being said, I think this would be a perfect read aloud for children that have people in their lives struggling with memory loss.

With beautiful imagery, sensory moments to pull you in and colorful illustrations; this is such an important story to tell your children.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the E-arc.

Meatballs for Grandpa (Hardcover)
by Jeanette Fazzari Jones
A good book for showing how children see Alzheimer's, the sadness and struggle to understand that their loved one is not able to recognize them. The idea of using the other senses to bring them back is a good step. The family is the best support for children and those with Alzheimer's

Rarely does a children's book evoke tears from me, yet this narrative is exquisitely crafted. It delicately unfolds as a tale of a young girl's visit to her grandparents, centered around the creation of homemade spaghetti and meatballs. The poignant undercurrent reveals the grandfather's evident struggle with dementia, with the little girl fervently wishing for his recognition throughout the narrative. In a heartwarming culmination, during the shared dinner, he does remember her. Having witnessed the affliction within my own family, I appreciate the portrayal of the profound pain it inflicts. Additionally, the inclusion of a recipe at the conclusion adds a delightful touch.

The book is SO magical! A little girl visits her grandparents but she’s also knows that her grandfather does not remember most things and people including her. But she’s trying with the help of her grandmother to make him remember her as she knows grandfather loves helping them cook and she feels this would help him remember things like before.

I love how gorgeous the entire book is! It’s colourful; it’s vibrant; it’s eye pleasing! At the same time, the whole story is wholesome and beautiful.

I love everything about this storybook!

Thank you, Two Lions, for the advance reading copy.

My daughter loved the story! And I cried. Having suffered something similar with a family member is pulled on my heart strings. This books just reminds us that no matter what family is everything

I loved this so much. My own mommom and best friend I ever had was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s so it was hard to watch it progress.

This is a sweet hearted, tender story which is perfect for kids and adults alike.

I highly recommend it.

Thank you for this eARC! Such a sweet story of a child spending time with her grandparents and learning the rhythms and traditions (and tastes and smells) that tether her grandfather with Alzheimer’s to his family. The illustrations were darling, evoking movement and vivacity, and the recipes at the end would be a wonderful way for readers to make their own family memories. Loved it!

Reading this boom brought a little tear to my eye. I love how the book started with an Italian to English translation recipe card. It was so nice to see that the little girl clearly had an idea of what was going on with her grandpa and yet still remained hopeful. Love using food and smells to spark memories.

As someone who has worked with elderly citizens with Alzheimer’s this book brought me to tears in the most beautiful way. A story of a little girl cooking spaghetti and meatballs with her grandparents. Her grandfather does not remember who she is right away due to Alzheimer’s but with all the fun and beautiful memories cooking their favorite dish, he remembers who she is. “Taste and smell are all we need”
The author also adds in her family recipe at the end for meatballs and tomato sauce. Her authors note was also beautiful, a job well done.

As a retired geriatric specialist and as a Nana who cooks with her grandchildren, I found this book to be delightful! Food can create and evoke wonderful memories. Thanks #NetGalley

A really cute story about a little girl making spaghetti and meatballs with her grandparents. Her grandpa has trouble remembering her, but the act of cooking and eating together helps connect them and bring his memory of her back. A very cute book about dealing with the realities of a family member with dementia.

A mindful story about the effects of aging, but with a hopeful tone. This book is lovely in that it celebrates the power of family and food and offers readers a little peak of Italian culture. There's even a meatball recipe at the end!

Felicia was very excited to make meatballs for her grandpa. On that day, her feet fly up on her grandparent’s driveway. When she arrived, her grandma squish her in a giant hug, meanwhile her grandpa only looks without knowing who she was (alzheimer). Grandma told her that taste and smells of meatbalss are all they need for grandpa. Felicia is the only grandchild and she always to remind him who she was by kiss him at the cheek and telling she loves him.

From this book, we can learn how to make meatballs step by step (the meatballs and tomatoes sauce). It was the original recipe from author’s grandma and also this story regardless from her own grandpa who began suffering from alzheimer.

This is a sweet story of a little girl that is trying to connect with her grandfather who has some form of dementia, and no longer even remembers who she is. Her grandmother says that taste and smell will bring back memories, as she teaches Felicia how to make spaghetti and meatballs the way she has always made them.

As Felicia and her grandpa go through the steps, she keeps hoping he will remember her. And while he remembers how to make the meatballs, and do the steps, it isn’t until they sit down to eat that he remembers her, and tells her that he loves her.

The author based this on cooking with her own grandparents, and while it brought her closer to her grandmother, nothing brought her grandfather’s memory back, unlike in the story.

At the end of the book, there are recipes for what was made, both meatballs, and the sauce. She says no one ever wrote down any of the recipes, over the years, so she had to talk to all her relatives, to bring these together.

Sweet book, and easy to make recipes. This book will resonate with children whose grandparents are slipping away because of dementia.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published on the 12th of March 2024.

So many children’s books present an idealized and perfect family or situation. I liked this book because it’s real. A little girl loves her grandfather so much, but he doesn’t remember her. It’s a sweet story about spending time with him and making meatballs for him, a flavor he insta y recognizes, along with his beloved granddaughter.

THIS STORY WAS SO SWEET

I admit, I teared up on the first page when i realized this story was not only about meatballs. A very heartwarming story that will leave a smile on your face. I also enjoyed the author’s note and I will definitely be trying out the meatball recipe!

What a delightful story about connecting through food and family. I loved the illustrations and the onomatopoeias throughout the story. It was a wonderful experience

Gosh, what a sweet story about the importance of cooking and making memories with family members!
Taste and smell are all we need! I love it.
From a teacher standpoint, I love the Italian Glossary at the beginning so that readers can practice reading italian and then learn the meaning of the words used in the story. I also love the onomatopoeias sprinkled throughout why the family is cooking spaghetti together. This is definitely a book that I will be adding to my collection at home and school when it is released.