Author Julia Jarman comes to Guysfield
10th October 2015
What a privilege it was for Guysfield to welcome author Julia Jarman when she visited to give us a book reading of her latest children's book, 'Lovely old Lion', aimed at helping to give children an understanding of how dementia can affect someone.'Lovely Old Lion' is about Lenny the lion who loves his grandpa, King Lion. But when King Lion starts to forget things, Lenny begins to worry. He can't understand why grandpa keeps getting muddled and doesn't want to play any more. Lenny doesn't know what to do, but with a little help from grandpa's old friends, perhaps he can find a way to help him remember.Julia says, "When librarian Karen Morris told me there was a very real need for a story about dementia I said I'd have a go. Karen said a lot of children were having to come to terms with the fact that their grannies and granddads were losing their memories. Beloved grandparents were acting oddly and they didn't know why or what to do. I sympathised; I have friends with Alzheimer's, bright friends who started acting out of character. Lovely Old Lion is the result of this collaboration. Susan Varley has illustrated my text with huge sensitivity, conveying every nuance of emotion - and it is an emotional story. Out on August 6th.Klaus Flugge of Andersen Press believed in my story and decide to publish, despite thinking it was for a niche market with limited appeal. Bologna 2015 proved him wrong - and right! Foreign publishers quickly bought up rights. French, German, Japanese and Chinese translations - and lots more - are on the way. Dementia is a universal problem and I'm delighted that my story is helping."The book was beautifully and very well written, our residents and I were enthralled, as she read 'Lovely Old Lion' to us. Both Julia and her book got great approval, and they would have happily listened to her read it again if they had got their own way. They were thrilled when they received a signed copy of the book presented to them, which helped soften the disappointment that Julia had stayed for as long as she was able.We would love to welcome her back!
