This delightful book is about a little boy who befriends the residents of a retirement home next door to his house. In particular, he makes friends with 96-year-old Miss Nancy. When he learns that Miss Nancy is having problems with her memory, he takes action. A beautiful story about how compassion can make all the difference. I legit cried reading this.

This story tells us the story of Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge, a young boy, who helps his old friend, Miss Nancy, remember her past. Wilfred Gordon calls on all of his friends to understand what memory truly is, when everyone gave him a different perspective on the definition of memory. He helps Miss Nancy remember her past by bringing her things that may spark her memory. He is dedicated to recreating the memories that Nancy had lost.

Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox is a heartwarming story about a young boy that lives near a retirement or old folks assisted living home. The young boy has made friends with the residents and they learn from one another. He is able to help one of his best friends from the nursing home, who also has 4 names. He helps her get her memory back. The idea of friendship across generations makes this story a great addition to any classroom library. This book would be a great read aloud for grandparent’s day at an elementary school.

The literary element of repetition makes this an easy to follow story and can be shared with such a large span of ages. There are also connections made about the various characters that make the story seem to come to life.

I would rate this book with 5 stars because of the versatility of its use in a school setting.
There are many reasons why this story can be read and shared and a large audience base to enjoy the messages it delivers. I love this story, and it is super heartwarming.

Mem Fox the author and Julie Vivas the illustrator are a match made in heaven. The originality of the story of Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge and his love for Miss Nancy Allison Delacour Cooper is so touching. The watercolor illustrations have my eyes anxious to turn the page for the next picture, but wanting to stay on the page because the current picture is so fun.

Wilfred lives next door to a nursing home, where he meets a new friend Nancy who has lost her memory. Wilfred sets off to try and understand what a memory is by asking everyone he knows. He finds objects to fit each of the explanations he's received and upon presenting them to Nancy she gets her memory back. It is an endearing book that shines light on the positive outcomes of curiosity and compassion. With it comes the idea that connection is always possible with care. Although it may not be completely realistic that Miss Nancy's memory come back, it is possible that such symbolic items bring up flashes from the past. This reading would be most appropriate for K-2 children. It could be used in the classroom to introduce historical events that connect to the memories that come back for Miss Nancy. Or it could be an introduction into a discussion piece on our own memories and relationships to others.

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: Primary (2nd-3rd)

This was a very sweet story about a little boy and his friends in the nursing home which he lived next door to. The story reminds me of my childhood when my grandmother worked in a Retired Priest Community and I got to go with her to work and talk to all the old priests. To this day, I love hearing stories from long ago just like Wilfred Gordan McDonald Partridge. He liked hearing the stories the elderly residents would talk about. His love for Miss Nancy helped him figure out a way to help her remember some more stories from her past. Elderly people need more young people to talk to. Even if they tell the same story over and over again.

I unequivocally enjoyed this picture book and so did my 5/6 students. It was so beautiful and created discussion around memories, losing them and how we can help each other. I wanted to reread it straight away as it tugged at the heart strings.

The story is about a boy named Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. He learns that Miss Nancy is loosing her memory. Wilfrid goes around and asks people what a memory is and gets a range of different answers. He then meets with Miss Nancy and she ends up remembering a lot of things.

A young boy who lived near a senior care facility. The boy knew everyone who worked there. His favorite old lady was the one who, like him, had four names. His parents were discussing the lady and mentioned she had memory issues, but he had no idea what those memories were. He asked of everyone at the old folks home until he received an answer. He brought a number of objects to assist her in recalling her memories. She soon recalls everything about the items the young guy brought her. It was an excellent book on Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Intergenerational friendship, a young boy tells his "secrets" to his next door neighbor (who lives in a home for the aged). She loses her memory and he brings her a basket of items that help her to remember things, including him and their friendship. Wasn't crazy for the illustrations or the repetitive responses to "what is a memory"?

A sweet story about a boy who lives next to an old folks home. He befriends Miss Nancy and tries to help her remember.

Repetitive without being tedious, poignant without getting overly detailed and beautifully illustrated. Currently this book rates highly with my 3 year old although he doesn't understand some of the more subtle references.

What a timely book for many of us who have aging parents with some sort of memory loss. As young, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge shows us, there are ways to enliven those memories, stuck in the minds of seniors by giving them a familiar reminder to dislodge into today. The words are few, the drawings are delightful. We still have this on our shelf from when our children enjoyed reading it with us.