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.

Ariel Vanece received her MFA/MA in Writing for Children and Children's Literature from Simmons University and holds a BA in English from the University of Kansas. This story was inspired by her great-grandmother who lived with dementia. This is Ariel's first book.

Jade Orlando left her job as a children’s apparel artist to become a full-time illustrator. She lives in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, three cats, and a dog, and when she's not illustrating, you can usually find her curled up with her pets and a really good book.

• Publisher: Rocky Pond / PRH (October 14, 2025)
• Language: English
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• ISBN-13: 9780593617816
• Reading Age: 5 - 10 years
• Grade Level: Preschool - 3
• Item Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Dimensions: 11 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches