What Do You See When You See Me?

As an instructor in the medical field and a nurse working primarily with the elderly at present, I am always looking for ways to teach younger people the perspective of the elderly. It seems to most younger people that the elderly have always been old and that they, the younger generation, will never get old. This book does an excellent job of showing both the fears of the child going into an unfamiliar situation as well as the hopes and dreams that still live in the elderly woman's heart. It is a tear-jerking book that shows the loneliness that I have seen played out on birthdays and holidays over and over again in my residents, but shows also the joy that can occur when two hearts connect no matter what their ages. I loved it and highly recommend it for reading to children with discussion afterwards. Perhaps it would lead to nursing home visits where so many elderly would love to have children come by to see them.

Anyone and everyone who knows and elderly person needs to read this book. I think it should be in the waiting rooms of every place that sevices older people. Parents should read it to their children from a young age. Our elderly often are disgraced here in America. In Europe it is considered an honor to grow older and they are treated as such. Most of the time in America people view the elderly as a "burden". We all need to be reminded what lies behind the face of a wrinkled person and this book is a great place to start. Good for you Jeannie.