Dad's Camera

September 1, 2018
A father with Alzheimer's uses a camera to capture memories for his family. When Dad brings home an old camera, he takes pictures of objects only. Rolls of film reveal the minutiae of life: jam jars, measuring tape, the bus stop. Knowing his father's circumstances, the son believes the photos represent what his father wants to remember--yet there are no pictures of himself or his mom. Anger, sadness, and empathy wash over them as they remind themselves of what the doctor said about Dad's behavior. After Dad passes away, the boy and his mom receive a box in the mail with Dad's writing on the label. Inside is his camera, with one photo on the roll: a snapshot of a framed picture of their family. Together, mother and son realize Dad's photos were to help them remember him. Anelli uses monoprints to capture the spontaneity of drawing, mirroring the idea of someone trying to capture an impression of his life. She layers these moments of inspiration with collage, watercolors, and digital coloring. Her free-form lines done with a skillful, controlled hand are at the core of the artwork. Done in a primary palette, the impressionistic illustrations have energy and appeal and are tasteful, raw, and emotional. Mom, Dad, and narrator all have light skin and dark hair.As readers experience uncertainty, Watkins opens the door to discussion, making this an opportunity for dialogue about an illness that touches the lives of so many today. (Picture book. 5-9)

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2018
Grades K-3 A young boy notices that his father does odd things, like putting food in the cabinet instead of the refrigerator. Later, Dad buys an old-fashioned film camera, takes pictures of ordinary household items, and puts the images up all over his study. The challenge of having an ill parent is delicately handled, and the text purposefully is vague, though a brief author's note explains Watkins' personal experience losing someone to Alzheimer's. Anelli effectively uses the child's perspective, depicting the boy observing his father's increasingly strange behavior, while being accepting and loving toward him. The process of getting film developed, viewing negatives, and making prints is explained for contemporary children who may have no context for nondigital photography, and the multimedia artwork conveys the present with just a hint of nostalgia. Front endpapers display a gallery of family photos, while the back endpapers show the pictures the son takes with Dad's camera, demonstrating the touching way he carries on his father's memory. A bittersweet book about illness, mourning, and grief that movingly emphasizes the importance of remembrance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2019
After Dad comes home with an old-fashioned film camera and begins taking pictures of odd objects, his family understands that his behavior is associated with Alzheimer's disease. While Watkins's text can be cryptic (e.g., "Then we lost Dad," he writes without further explanation), it could start discussion in families witnessing similar decline. Using mono-prints, collage, and other media, Anelli captures the many tender moments in this story of loss.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)