Why Can’t Papa Remember My Name?

About the Book

Dr. Juvenna M. Chang has committed her life’s work to education, serving as an elementary teacher and educational administrator. She has advocated for literacy in her classrooms, coordinated related workshops and conferences in the Pacific, and taught a course on literacy and literature for elementary students to preservice teachers. Dr. Chang played another critical role as the primary caregiver for her husband, who had Alzheimer’s. She observed the impact of this debilitating disease on family relationships, especially that of her grandson and his papa. She also noted that there were many resources on Alzheimer’s written for, about, and by adults, but books on this disease from a child’s perspective were limited. Juvenna remains active in education and continues to support the Alzheimer’s Society. She lives with her family in Honolulu, Hawaii. This is her first children’s book.

About the Author

Of all his brothers, Kaiya was the only one who knew his papa before he got sick. They did many things together and had a very special relationship. Papa taught Kaiya to play tennis and basketball and to strum the ukulele. Kaiya loved Papa’s baking, especially his banana cream pies. Kaiya’s nana said that they had their own special language. Even when Papa was well, Kaiya had to keep reminding Papa that his name was Kaiya. He tried different things to help Papa remember, like repeating his name over and over and making Papa a bracelet with the name Kaiya on it. After a while, Kaiya noticed that Papa was starting to forget more than just his name. He started to misplace things and put them in strange places. He thought he was still in the army or still taught tennis. He kept wandering off and getting lost. Nana told Kaiya that his papa had Alzheimer’s and would probably not get better. Kaiya realized then what was more important than Papa remembering his name. He knew what he needed to do for his papa.