Edmund the Elephant Who Forgot

by Kate Dalgleish, Isobel Lundie (Illustrator)

Overview

An elephant never forgets . . . except Edmund! Join this silly elephant on the funniest shopping spree ever.
 
“Elephants always remember. Elephants don’t get it wrong.
Elephants always remember. As long as they sing this song!”
 
Edmund isn’t like other elephants: he forgets. A lot. Then, one day, his mother sends him to the store to pick up some things for his little brother’s birthday party. To help him remember what they need, mama gives him a fun little song to sing . . . and a shopping list. But Edmund even forgets the list! Soon his purchases get sillier and sillier—like seven sassy dancing cats instead of 20 pointy party hats. Kids will laugh out loud at this delightful story and its humorous, dynamic art.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781913337391
Publisher:	Salariya
Publication date:	04/06/2021
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.80(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Kate Dalgleish studied at the University of Sunderland and is a primary school teacher. This is her debut picture book, which was shortlisted for the Stratford-Salariya Picture Book Prize in 2019.

Isobel Lundie studied illustration and animation at Kingston University. Her books include Alice Down the Rabbit Hole, Fairies Color By Numbers, Monsters Color By Numbers, and Mystery Pictures.

Editorial Reviews

"Kids will enjoy Edmund’s mistakes, realized in zany cartoons full of hilarious details."—Kirkus

"Madcap text and droll illustrations make this “the best party ever!”—as Edmund’s brother exclaims."—Kirkus

From the Publisher

05/01/2021

Gr 2–4—Edmund is a forgetful elephant. His mother teaches him a rhyme about how elephants always remember. The jaunty rhyme is cute, but, as demonstrated when Edmund forgets his mother's shopping list and every item on it, it doesn't actually help him remember. Enter Colin the Cricket, who overheard the list and had a great memory. Unfortunately, Colin is either very quiet or Edmund is an elephant with big ears and terrible hearing. A series of humorous misunderstandings leads to Edmund collecting a baboon named Betty and a piano-playing turtle instead of confetti and his Aunt Myrtle. The book has an ironic ending, with Edmund's mother having forgotten to hand out party invitations. Thankfully, Edmund has brought half the town's animal residents home with him, leading to a huge shindig. There is no moral lesson in the end—just a party. Lundie has a rich color palette, clean lines, and a gift for creating zany, madcap scenes. It all culminates in a glorious spread of the menagerie at play. VERDICT A fun addition for larger collections and certain to invite raucous read-alouds.—Chance Lee Joyner, Haverhill P.L., MA

School Library Journal

2021-02-09
Elephants and memory are linked proverbially, but poor Edmund totally forgets everything his mother tells him to buy for his younger brother’s birthday party.

He complains to his mom that he is forgetful, so she teaches him a song that Edmund sings throughout the book: “Elephants always remember, / Elephants don’t get it wrong. / Elephants always remember, / As long as they sing this song!” She also hands him a shopping list: balloons, party hats, confetti, wrapped gift, cake, paper plates, and napkins. At the bottom is the stern instruction “Don’t forget to fetch Aunt Myrtle!” Naturally, Edmund immediately leaves the list behind, and Colin, a tiny cricket in a long overcoat who appears in every spread, tries to help him. Colin has a great memory, but every time the insect calls out the item Edmund is supposed to buy, Edmund doesn’t hear Colin properly and the fun begins. His yellow wagon becomes crowded with all kinds of animals cavorting in funny clothes. Instead of “twenty pointy party hats,” for instance, Edmund finds “seven sassy dancing cats!” Kids will enjoy Edmund’s mistakes, realized in zany cartoons full of hilarious details. Edmund’s mom is dismayed (not least because it turns out she’s also forgotten something important) but his little brother is delighted. The amusing text is meant to be read aloud, although the detailed illustrations will best be enjoyed by individual children or small groups. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.25-by-20.88-inch double-page spreads viewed at 27% of actual size.)

Madcap text and droll illustrations make this “the best party ever!”—as Edmund’s brother exclaims. (Picture book. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews