Grandpa's White Cane
by Jim Hoxie
and Joanna Jones with illustrator Alex Portal
One Grandfather. One White Cane. One Powerful Story.
Grandpa’s White Cane is a heartfelt and educational children’s book that resonates with readers of all ages. Educators, medical professionals, and community leaders alike have said this is a story that belongs in every school and every library. Through a simple yet powerful story, the book helps children understand blindness, independence, and the role of the white cane as a tool for safe mobility. By sharing this message with young readers, we are helping build communities that are more informed, inclusive, and supportive of people who are blind or have low vision.
The story was inspired in 2018 when Jim Hoxie began sharing his personal journey with vision loss in his local community. Encouraged by the impact of those conversations, he wrote Grandpa’s White Cane, a children’s book illustrated with photographic images from his hometown enhanced with creative caricature artwork. In the book, Jim reflects on the challenges of losing his sight and the renewed confidence he discovered through learning to use the tall white cane. Today, educating children and adults about the white cane – and the independence it represents – has become his passion.