Searching for Mr. Johnson’s Song

A touching story of the friendship between a young boy and his elderly neighbor, and how that boy helps jog the man’s disappearing memory.

Caius spends summer mornings on his neighbor’s porch, and although Mr. Johnson doesn’t remember things as well as he used to, he can always sing the beginning of his favorite song, “Further Along.” Caius understands how nourishing music can be, and so he decides to find the rest of Mr. Johnson’s song. At the library he inspects shelves of hymnals and listens to recordings of protest tunes, but none of these is the one Mr. Johnson sings. How will he help his neighbor?

Exuding warmth, this story displays kindness and neighborliness, and portrays dementia with gentle authenticity.