A Royal Dragonfly Book Award Winner in Special Needs & Disability Awareness, Emory's journey is one your child won't forget.
"This book is a great addition to the bookshelf."
"It's more than a story. It's a powerful teaching tool."
"Teaches valuable lessons in kindness and friendship. The grandkids especially loved it."
"Perfect for story time, bedtime, or starting conversations about kindness and patience."
When Emory the elephant loses both his way-and his memory-in the heart of the forest, two unlikely friends-a clever parrot and a wise frog-step in to help. Through patience, teamwork, and imagination, they show young readers how to respond with care when someone needs a little extra support.
Elephants DO Forget: How Emory Found His Memory is a soulful story filled with quiet strength. Tender, wise, and beautifully illustrated, this enlightening picture book gently introduces young readers to the concept of memory loss and helps them understand what it means to support someone living with a disability.
Inspired by author P.E. Shadrick's personal experience with a loved one's dementia, this storybook offers a gentle, hopeful way for families to begin conversations about aging, disability, and caring for others-with compassion and courage.
Why Families, Educators, and Counselors Love Elephants DO Forget:
- Engaging, full-color illustrations that soothe and inspire
- Memorable animal characters kids adore and adults appreciate
- Award-winning, compassionate story that introduces disability and memory loss with care
- Perfect for ages 3-7: ideal for bedtime, classrooms, and therapy settings
- A meaningful choice for families navigating change or emotional growth
Whether you're supporting a child through big emotions or simply looking to share a heartwarming animal adventure, Elephants DO Forget is a story kids remember-and grow from.
Industry Reviews
"A sweet animal tale about aiding others." - Kirkus Reviews
"This sweet story highlights the importance of helping others, being a good friend, & having patience. The illustrations are fabulous, too!" - Kameron Brook, Reedsy Discovery
"... Emory is adventurous and resilient, and readers are sure to admire the fact that he doesn't let his memory loss slow him down or frighten him. Frog and Parrot, on the other hand, are loveable characters who model for readers how to kindly and effectively guide someone who is confused. The simple rhyming text adds to the upbeat, positive mood of the text, as do the brightly colored illustrations of jungle life. Best of all, the story has a happy ending, illustrating to readers the powerful message that small acts of kindness can have a significant impact on the lives of others.
Subtle and gentle in its messaging, this is a wonderful book for sparking discussions about helping others." -The Children's Book Review
"...Amanda Letcher's expressive illustrations center on Emory, who wears round blue glasses and walks on his hind legs. With wide eyes and a warm grin, Emory seems gregarious and approachable-though when he gets lost in the forest, the corners of his mouth turn down and his eyebrows furrow. This will help kids see how Emory's friends soothe and calm him in his time of need. The forest setting also feels immersive, with broad green leaves, swinging vines, and an occasional lizard clinging to a tree. Ultimately this tenderhearted tale will help kids see the value in treating everyone with respect, no matter their age or abilities." - BookLife by Publisher's Weekly
