Wordsworth, the little Hawaiian mouse who loves poetry, doesn't understand why there is so much whispering around the house since Grandma came to live with his family. He remembers her last visit, when the house was filled with laughter, and he and Grandma danced around the room together. But now, Wordsworth and his siblings have to walk softly and be quiet so they don't disturb Grandma. In Wordsworth Dances the Waltz, children are introduced to the concept that as grandparents age, they may become different, and even forget important things. Wordsworth finds comfort in writing poems that express his confusion over the changes in his beloved grandparent and the fond memories he has of her more vibrant days. He wonders, "Now that shes losing her memory/She's still my Grandma, isnt she?" The answer, of course, is yes — nothing could ever change that. Wordsworth's poems help his family understand that Grandma would still like to do things she always loved — spending time with the family, laughing and dancing.
Wordsworth Dances the Waltz is dedicated to author Frances Kakugawa's late mother, Matsue, who was afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Frances was her primary caregiver for five years; during that time she found that poetry and journaling helped to ease the rigorous burden of caregiving.
Wordsworth Dances the Waltz received the Bronze Award in the Best Book Overall category, as well as the award for Best Illustrated Children's Book from the Northern California Publishers & Authors (NCPA) group for books published in 2007.
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Frances Kakugawa is a retired Hawaii educator. Originally from the Big Island, she taught for many years in the Hawaii public school system, as well as serving as a teacher trainer and curriculum writer/lecturer for the University of Hawaii and the State Dept. of Education. She has also taught in classrooms in Michigan and Micronesia. Through her workshops and speaking engagements, she is a leading advocate of the power of poetry to enrich the lives of children, the elderly and those who care for them.
Frances Kakugawa, who currently resides in Sacramento, was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii in Kapoho, which was demolished by lava when she was 18 years old. She has taught for many years in the Michigan and Hawaii public school systems; conducted language arts workshops for teachers in Micronesia and in Hawaii; and was a curriculum writer and lecturer for the University of Hawaii.
In 2002, she was recognized in the "Living Legacy: Outstanding Women of the 20th Century in Hawaii" book. Today, she continues to write, conducts writing support groups for caregivers, gives writing workshops for adults and children, and gives lectures on caregiving and writing throughout the U.S. These projects are being done in conjunction with organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California, Del Oro Caregiver's Resource Center and similar groups. A new project is currently being developed to provide support and writing workshops for children who live in families with members who suffer from Alzheimer's or dementia-related illnesses.
Frances is an award-winning author of ten books. Her two children's books, "Wordsworth the Poet" and "Wordsworth Dances the Waltz," have received Best Children's Book of the Year awards from Hawai'i and California publishers' associations. Three of her books, "Mosaic Moon," "Wordsworth Dances the Waltz" and "Breaking the Silence," address aging with dignity and family caregiving. Her memoir, "Kapoho: Memoir of a Modern Pompeii" was named "Best Non-Fiction" by the Northern California Publishers & Authors. Her poem, "The Enemy Wore My Face," has been selected as the opening work for the Rising Sun portal of the World Peace Monument (www.peacemonument.org).
Works that are currently being readied for publication include:
-- "Silk & Steel", a collection of poems and talk-story spanning 50 years of writing.
-- "Wordsworth, Stop the Bulldozers!" is the third volume in the Wordsworth children's series. Wordsworth The Poet and his friends face the challenge of encroaching development threatening to destroy the environment and take over their town.
-- "It's In Your Pocket, Wordsworth," finds Wordsworth's friends mysteriously absent as a whole slew of gadgets, from ipods and video-games to cell-phones and tweets, appear on the scene.
Wordsworth the Poet is a little mouse who is worried about his Granda. She's is losing her memory and having trouble doing things she used to be able to do quite easily. What can Wordsworth as a loving grandson do to help his Grandma? This is the story and premise for "Wordworth Dances The Waltz", a superbly written picturebook story by Frances H. Kakugawa which is enhanced throughout with the full color illustrations of Melissa DeSica. Just what can Wordsworth do? Well for one thing, writes some poetry to express the situation and his feelings. In the end, Wordsworth comes to understand that despite all the changes in his Grandma's behavior, he still loves her and always will. "Wordworth Dances The Waltz" is an especially recommended picturebook for young children experiencing the phenomena of memory loss, Alzheimers, and other forms of dementia manifesting within their own grandparents. Simply stated, "Wordworth Dances The Waltz" should be a part of every elementary school and community library picturebook collection for young children.
As with all of Kakugawa's other works, this one provides powerful insights to young and old alike, without the overbearing moralizing often thinly disguised in childrens literature. In this case, the lessons are multilayered. It breaks the 'ice-puzzle' for kids who live in households where grandma or grandpa's "condition" is still some kind of mysterious secret. The easy lesson is that those suffering from Alzheimer's remain family members, with the need for respect and love no different from any other family member - even if their needs for care may differ. The more difficult lesson is that we have as much to gain from the people we care for as they have from us. Kids will pick up on that on first reading. Adults may take a few more reads before they get it. It's a 'must read' for all kids and a reminder for anyone who thinks people with dementia are useless and strange. Ms. Kakugawa also conducts workshops and support groups for the Alzheimer's Assn. and other organizations. The book makes it clear that she's no arm-chair story-teller when it comes to caring for and about people. If there was another star, I'd give it to 'Wordsworth Dances the Waltz' hands down.
