The Memory Jar

by Debra Daugherty, Victoria Marble (Illustrator)

Helping a loved one remember what they have forgotten.
Amelia's grandmother doesn't remember her because she has dementia, but Amelia is determined to find a way to help. She knows that if she can get her grandmother to talk about the stories she's told Amelia over the years, then it will help bring the memories back and make all of them happy. Amelia comes up with a clever plan to assist her grandmother... but will it be enough?

24 pages, Paperback

Published April 11, 2023

About the author

Debra Daugherty is a Central Illinois author and a member of SCBWI, The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Debra’s publishing credits include Calamity Cat (2013, MeeGenius/HMH), The Dragon’s Ring (2016, Clean Reads), The Memory Jar, (2023, Roan & Weatherford/Young Dragons), Cows Can't Be Clowns (2024, Harbor Lane Books/EverImagine Books), Grandpa's Barn (2025, Roan & Weatherford/Young Dragons), two children’s stories in Guardian Angel Kid's e-zine; and a short story in an anthology, Adventures on the Go, Book 2, (2021, Offbeat Reads). Her short story, Heart of Stone, won first place in a writing contest in 2015.

Debra began writing children’s stories for her nieces and nephews when they were young. Now their children read her books.

When not writing or reading, Debra enjoys exploring flea markets, visiting local museums and historical sights, and playing ball with pup nephew Elmer, her brother’s dachshund.

Something most people don’t know about Debra - she’s kissed the Blarney Stone.

Reviews

[Victoria Marble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This heartwarming story will show kids how to cope with having a loved one suffering memory loss. Thoughtful Amelia uses her ingenuity to come up with a way to remind her Gram of her most cherished memories. This multi-generational story is great to read as a family.

[Tiffany Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

When dementia hits a family, it can be confusing for everyone. This book shows how a child can feel powerful at a time when everyone feels hopeless. I love how the story shows the value of intergenerational relationships, especially when the young child can bring the memories back to the older grandparent.

[Paulette Sharkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debra Daugherty has written a sweet, accessible story for children in families touched by Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. A little girl whose grandmother is losing her memory writes down stories Grammy has told her over the years. The memory jar helps Grammy remember, and helps grandmother and granddaughter share precious moments of connection.

The little girl has a simple goal: to remind Grammy “of things she’s done, and the people she loves.” Some of the memories—all written in Grammy’s voice—are humorous (“I brought my pet mouse to school and scared my teacher”), others poignant (“The day I married Wilbur, it snowed eight inches”).

Nice visual separation and font change to distinguish between the past memories and the little girl’s present first-person narrative make the story easy to follow despite leaps in time. The charming illustrations by Victoria Marble add to the appeal of this picture book. She cleverly used sepia-tones on pages showing distant memories of Grammy as a young girl and woman, color for more recent events.

The satisfying ending might bring a tear. This book is a welcome addition to school and home libraries.

[Dina Towbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memory Jar by Debra Daugherty tells the sweet story of a young girl, Amelia, whose Grammy has dementia and can't remember her or any of their adventures together. Amelia decides to write down each memory or story she has from Grammy's life and put it in a jar, the memory jar of the title. Grammy reads each story and it rekindles the memory. The story is told in a straightforward manner with delightful illustrations by Victoria Marble. It will be a helpful tale for children and grandchildren encountering memory issues with older adults.

[C.L. Colyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful picture book with its heartwarming story and adorable illustrations is sure to help children not only understand dementia, but provides a positive project that can help a loved one.

[Maria Antonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opening Lines of the Book...
It started slowly, my Grammy’s memory loss. Most days she seems fine, but lately, she has trouble remembering where she lives, if she has eaten, and even my name.

MY THOUGHTS...
This is a book about the hard reality of losing someone you love to dementia. There's no death in this book, but poor Amelia feels the loss of her grammy nonetheless. But she has an idea to help Grammy with her memories. She starts to write all of Grammy's stories down and put them in a jar.

I love how they go into sepia tones for Grammy's stories! (See spread below.) There are some fun moments. Finally, it's time for Amelia to give her gift to Grammy. And fortunately, for the story, she has a lucid moment and is able to remember!

This is a lovely idea, and I feel like this would be a good book (and activity!) to read/do with kids who have a grandparent or great-grandparent going through this. I also think THIS is why it's so important to share stories with the younger generations. I love the fact that Amelia knew the stories well enough to share them back with her grandmother!

[Kathy Temean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an important topic. So many families have to face slowly losing a family member to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It is tragic and effects everyone in the family. I love how Amelia came up with the idea to write down Grandmom's memories so she could read and help Grandmom remember. What a wonderful way preserve her memories and a special way to bond with Grandmom. A true treasure to pass on to future generations.

I am sure this book will help families and caregivers deal with what they face everyday. But most of all, it will give children a way to understand what is happening and how they can assist in taking care of someone they love. Victoria did a very nice job creating the characters and scenes to make the story come alive.

[Moona · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memory Jar is a touching and tender story about love, memory, and the enduring bond between a granddaughter and her grandmother. Amelia’s gentle determination to help her grandmother, who is struggling with dementia, is both heartwarming and inspiring. Debra Daugherty beautifully captures a child’s hope and creativity as Amelia turns to the power of storytelling to reach the woman she loves. With simple yet emotional prose, this short picture book offers a meaningful introduction to dementia for young readers while encouraging empathy and family connection. It’s a wonderful reminder that even small acts of love can make a big difference. A gentle, thoughtful book perfect for family reading and meaningful conversations.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story recounts Amelia's efforts to help her grandmother, Grammy, reverse dementia. Or, at least, to be able to remember some of her memories.

So Amelia makes a memory jar, containing summaries of the past incidents they have shared together.

Look, Mama! I made Grammy a memory jar.
Each time she reads one of these notes,
she will be reminded of things she's done,
and the people she loves."

After Grammy pulls her first memory from the jar, a happy ending follows.

FIVE STARS for stirring words by Debra Daugherty and gently comforting illustrations by Victoria Marble.

[Suzy Leopold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caring for and understanding the needs of a loved one with memory loss can be difficult to navigate for adults. For young children, it can cause uncertainty and confusion. With a unique idea and determination, Amelia creates a clever way to help her Grammy revisit memories from days gone by. Readers will acquire a better understanding of memory loss through this sweet story that shows love and care as Amelia and Grammy revisit their beautiful memories.

[Gayle Krause · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memory loss is difficult for adults to understand, especially when they are the afflicted person’s caregiver. But a child doesn’t understand such a complicated subject, yet they are expected to interact with a grandparent who may gradually forget who they are. The young protagonist comes up with a clever way to help her grandmother remember events from her past. Daugherty covers this sensitive subject with love and Marble’s illustrations bring the story to life.

[Connie Dow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memory Jar, beautifully written by Debra Daugherty and illustrated by Victoria Marble, is a heartwarming picture book about a difficult topic, dementia. Amelia finds a way to help her grandmother recall events in her life despite her memory loss. This creates a special bond between them, and gives Amelia the chance to learn about her grandmother's life. A wonderful intergenerational story.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little by little, Amelia’s Grammy has been slowly losing her memories; and as her dementia progresses, Grammy even forgets her granddaughter Amelia’s name. Amelia remembers the many wonderful stories her Grammy has shared through the years, and she wants to figure out a way to remind her Grammy of those special moments from her life. Luckily, Amelia recalls these verbal stories clearly, and she decides to record them in writing in her journal. This activity gives Amelia another idea, which inspires her to use her own words to help remove some of the cobwebs clouding her grandmother’s memory. This sweet and nostalgic story is a heartfelt approach to the very real challenges faced by people with dementia and the families that love them. Short, accessible blocks of text present Amelia’s story, and these make the book suitable for a wide range of ages. Dialogue between Amelia and her mother helps to explain some of what is happening for readers, and these interactions also support the familial aspect of caring for someone with dementia. The illustrations enhance the overall presentation of the book from beginning to end, incorporating floral patterns and soothing colors throughout. It is especially noteworthy that memories appear in sepia tones while the present day images incorporate more colors. This choice helps to further clarify the story itself while simultaneously encouraging readers to inquire about memories in their own families. Additionally, the multigenerational nature of life in Amelia’s household with her mother and grandmother is evident in the illustrations, and this adds another layer of familial connection to the story. Though relatively brief, this book is an excellent one to share with families for whom dementia is a familiar challenge. It is a well crafted addition to library collections for young readers.

I received a copy of this book from the author and I chose to leave this review.