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TECTA’s Melissa Joiner’s children’s book teaches us all about Alzheimer’s disease

By Diana Fedinec  

TECTA Coordinator Melissa Joiner wrote and published Danny the Nanny Cares for Granny, a children’s book on Alzheimer’s disease.
TECTA Coordinator Melissa Joiner wrote and
published Danny the Nanny Cares for Granny, a
children’s book on Alzheimer’s disease.

Congratulations to Melissa Joiner, orientation coordinator for the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA), on the release of her first self-published children’s book, Danny the Nanny Cares for Granny! The book follows the adventures of young Danny as he discovers and learns to cope with his grandmother’ s Alzheimer’s disease. Joiner is life-long child advocate with more than a decade of experience working in early childhood education.  

Melissa Joiner at the book-signing of Danny the Nanny Cares for Granny, May 22, 2021 at the African Place in Memphis, Tenn.
Melissa Joiner at the book-signing of Danny
the Nanny Cares for Granny, May 22, 2021
at the African Place in Memphis, Tenn.

“I decided to write the book after my mother, Earline Ray Joiner, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019,” Joiner said. “I thought about how hard it was for me to process her illness and that it must be even more difficult for children to understand the disease. She inspired me to use my creativity and background to teach children how they can still be part of someone’s life who is touched by this disease.”  

Joiner said she initially was going to create a little girl named “Annie” as the main character of the book but changed her mind because she felt boys were under-represented in children’s books and rarely perceived as caregivers. She began working on the book in 2019 and published it on Mother’s Day the next year. In 2021, Joiner’s mom transitioned into hospice care.  

“I was so happy to be able to read the book to my mom before she went into hospice.” Joiner said. “The book is dedicated to my mom and father who is her caregiver.  It’s a lasting tribute to her – she’ll be immortalized forever in bookshelves all over the world and on the desks of children!”  

The inspiring and heartwarming story of Danny who learns the lessons of love, compassion and family loyalty has become a valuable resource tool for adults and early childhood teachers and providers looking for insight on how to deal with difficult situations and issues.  

You can find Joiner’s book on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble, Target, Novel and other retail stores. A portion of the proceeds of the book are donated to the local Walk to End Alzheimer’s event that Joiner participates in every year. Watch a preview of the book on You Tube at Danny the Nanny Cares for Granny-Trailer.