A NORTH-EAST author will launch her first book, Grandma, at a special party at Newcastle’s Seven Stories children’s book centre this Saturday.

Written and illustrated by Teesdale author Jessica Shepherd, 24, Grandma is a picture book narrated by a little boy called Oscar, who has to learn to adjust to his mother moving into a care home after she begins to develop dementia.

The final pages include child-friendly information about dementia.

“There are currently around 800,000 people living with dementia in the UK, with figures set to rise to over a million by 2021,” said Ms Shepherd, who lives in Baldersdale, upper Teesdale.

"My hope is that Grandma will provide an invaluable resource for children and adults alike."

The book launch, jointly hosted by publishers Child’s Play and the Alzheimer’s Society, will begin at 5pm and end at 7pm on Saturday (June 7) and include refreshments and activities for children.

A proportion of the profits made at the event will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Jigsaw Entertainments will be making balloons for the children in attendance and a book tombola will also raise money for dementia research.