A picture book about memory, family and dementia
Nanny Pearl and her two grandchildren share a garden, a table of paper leaves and a tree that holds the stories they never want to lose.
The Garden of Memories is a picture book for children and the adults who read with them. It follows Nanny Pearl and her grandchildren through a day in her garden, where planting, cutting and talking turn into a way to keep hold of what matters.
When a grandparent lives with dementia, children often notice the changes before anyone explains them. This story gives families a gentle way to talk about memory, and something to do together.
The book is built around a simple activity you can do at home, at a care visit or in a group. You need paper, pens and a little string or ribbon.
Sketch a trunk and bare branches on a big sheet, or tape branches to a wall.
Cut paper leaves together. Any colour will do, and the shapes do not need to match.
Ask the grandparent to tell a story. Write a word or draw a picture on a leaf.
Tie the leaf to a branch. Add new leaves each visit and read the old ones back.
There are no right answers. If a story changes from one visit to the next, write down both. This activity is for connection and is not medical advice.
From us, to go with the book
Everything you need to grow your own memory tree alongside the story: a tree to build, paper leaves to write on, ribbon to tie them with, and prompt cards to help the memories flow.
Available to order with the book. Ordering details coming soon.
Children and grandparents sharing a story time, with a tree to build afterwards.
A book and a craft that visitors of any age can join without needing to prepare.
A way to open a kind conversation about memory, ageing and the people who matter to us.
Coming soon
Omar Campbell is a teacher and writer from South London. She wrote The Garden of Memories for her own children, to help them stay close to a grandparent living with dementia and to keep their family stories safe.
Years in the classroom taught her that the best books open a conversation. She also founded Birth Loop, a community programme that prepares families for birth.