Inside: Our unique collection of picture books about memory will take your kids on unforgettable adventures. Not only will they have fun, but they will also learn what memory actually is, why it’s important, and how to use it well. A reading experience that combines fun and learning, indeed!
Nonfiction books about memory can be a bit dull for little kids. That’s why I’m a huge fan of using picture books to teach complex concepts, making them accessible, entertaining, and beautiful experiences for my kids.
Understanding and harnessing the power of memory is a crucial skill for kids. Not only can it greatly enhance their learning and overall development, but it also helps them pack their own mental scrapbooks with cherished moments. According to neuroscience, using past positive memories to nurture positive feelings in the present moment is what we need to live a happier life.
But before our children can embrace their natural cognitive abilities and get excited about improving their memory skills, they need to begin learning what memory is and its significance in our lives. I’m a big believer that if you know why, you’ll want to know how.
Picture books are powerful tools that can help children make sense of how their own memories and emotions work, as well as put their experiences in perspective as part of their own life stories. From the happy moments (My Favorite Memories) to the difficult ones (Memory Boxes), the picture books on this list gently encourage kids to explore the mysteries of their own memories and embrace all the ways memories make them unique individuals.
The Best Picture Books About Memory
Forgetful Knight, Michelle Robinson
I love this book! There’s something wonderfully endearing about the way best-selling, award-winning author Michelle Robinson presents the story of a blundering knight who keeps forgetting things. It’s a mix of humor, wit, lovable characters, mayhem, unexpected twists, and totally adorable artwork.
“Sir Clop was … handsome? Hairy? Tall?
I’m sorry. I just can’t recall.
But he was special – that’s a fact.”
If the story includes a knight and a dragon, there is sure to be a colossal battle. Right? Maybe not! We weren’t expecting this giggle-inducing twist:
“At last he found the dragon’s cave,
And strolled right in, for he was brave.
Not brave, I mean, he was quite scared.
Go in the cave?
He never dared!
He grabbed his phone, he dialed home.
Said, “Mommy, help! I’m all alone!”
Isn’t this totally adorable?!
This lovely book illustrates that our memories are crucial to the essence of who we are as human beings. And that our ability to recall and draw upon past events helps us frame a better understanding of the present. If you can’t buy or borrow this book from the library, find it on YouTube so that you can at least listen to it. I guarantee you will enjoy it very much!
Don’t Forget, Jane Godwin
I know I say this a lot, but this is such a lovely book! I’m sure you will enjoy it just as much as your kids, though everyone will take something different from the story. For me, it’s a great reminder not to forget to illuminate for my kids the really important stuff.
We often tell our children things like,
“Don’t forget to make your bed, and wear socks that fit your feet.”
“Don’t forget to brush your teeth, and don’t forget your homework!”
But do we tell them enough of this?
“Don’t forget to imagine, and to feel the touch of each season.”
“Don’t forget that life is long, you’re not alone, that you are strong.”
We all have different priorities in life, but we can all benefit from living our lives with more intention and awareness. Tender, expressive drawings cleverly capture the magic of being alive in a world full of possibilities. This is the kind of open-ended, free-flowing book that uplifts your spirits and makes you feel like anything is possible. It will also inspire you to go hug the people you love, say “I love you” more often, and be grateful.
If you want to follow up the reading of this book with a discussion, ask your kids, What are the things they find important? What do they want to remember about their childhoods when they grow up? What do they sometimes forget that they wish they always remembered when they’re feeling sad or lost?
Once upon a Memory, Nina Laden
We’ve just come up with a fun new rule: every day, do something to spark curious thinking. And this book is gloriously perfect for the purpose. Does the ocean remember that it once was rain? Does a cake remember it once was grain?
On the left side of each page, a lovely little boy interacts with the object of his curiosity (chair, book, feather…), and on the right side, the same object is presented in the larger, universal scale of things. Curiosity starts with a question and an itch to explore, and this book is a fantastic reminder that everything is interesting. Everything can be looked at as a window onto a whole history of transformations. And that kind of curious look is a skill that a book like this can help cultivate. We all need more of that!
I love the gently colored pencil sketches in the book. They are dreamy and captivating. And if you’re like me and occasionally let yourself get consumed by daily tasks and pressures to the point of losing sight of joyful aspects of life’s responsibilities, ask yourself my new favorite questions from this book: Does work remember it once was play?
My Favorite Memories, Sepideh Sarihi
A little girl and her family are moving to another country. Her parents give her a suitcase to pack her favorite things. The problem is her suitcase is not big enough to pack the pear tree that was planted outside her window when she was born, the special chair that her grandpa made for her, and her best friend, who’s good at listening. But those are her favorite things, and she’s determined to take them with her into her new country!
This is an intelligent read that touches on many topics: starting a new life, letting go of our possessions, and, above all, change and permanence. Even though the very nature of change is that things will never be the way they were before, it doesn’t mean they can’t be even better. Our memories are special and are part of us. They can fill us with heart-wrenching sadness or be an inexhaustible source of comfort, and if we recognize their value, we can choose to cherish them forever.
Memory Jars, Vera Brosgol
This Moscow-born author, cartoonist, and illustrator has captured our imaginations with her off-kilter plots, wisdom, and a healthy dose of dark humor. (Have you seen her Leave Me Alone yet?)
Have you ever smelled the head of a newborn baby and thought, I wish I could bottle up this smell forever? (If you’re not a parent, you’ll have to trust me on that). Freda is thinking along the same lines in this hugely adorable book. And since it’s a fictional story, the author doesn’t feel the need to be constrained by the boring dictates of common sense. So into Freda’s memory jars go absolutely anything and everything she loves:
- a cloud shaped like a unicorn,
- a whole rainbow,
- a couple of stars,
- the singing voice of her neighbor,
- Freda’s best friend, and…
- alas, even her grandma!
With everything she ever loved packed securely into her jars, Freda can relax, can’t she? Maybe not! Freda quickly learns that holding on to things can hurt more than letting go.
It’s not just children who are prone to clinging to the safety of what they know and love from time to time. We all are! The problem comes when we’re so busy holding on to things that we can’t enjoy them right here and now.
When I watch my youngest confidently moving away from me in the direction of independence, milestone by milestone, I sometimes want to grab onto her with all my might and scream, “Stay my baby!” But of course, I never do because we all know that some things are best saved as memories.
Chimpanzees for Tea, Jo Empson
We love this book because it is so funny. Vincent’s mom gives him a shopping list and sends him to the shop. But oh – along the way, the list blows away! Will Vincent remember correctly every item on his list?
Well, not exactly! Every time Vincent gets distracted, the list slightly alters in his memory. Soon enough, some peas turn into a trapeze, a pear into a bear, and before long, Vincent is back home fully loaded but with no groceries… Young readers will laugh out loud at Vincent’s misrememberings.
The author’s lovely watercolor illustrations play with perspective and the use of white space. Being able to remember a long list of items is a useful skill in life and not just in academic settings. I use this book as an excuse to practice memorizing lists.
BONUS: If your kids are excited about this plot, consider also reading Edmund the Elephant Who Forgot by Kate Dalgleish. In this story, the mom sends her son out with a fun little song to help him remember what to buy for the birthday party. Somehow, along the way, 20 pointy party hats turn into seven sassy dancing cats. The colorful illustrations depict the humor of the situation and cleverly leave room for your kids to make suggestions for improvement.
Finding Grandma’s Memories, Jiyeon Pak
This little girl loves the long-standing tradition of tea time with Grandma. She gets to pick a teacup from Grandma’s extensive collection and talk about her day as they enjoy sips of berry tea and cakes. But lately, things are taking an alarming turn. Grandma calls her by the wrong name, leaves the water running, and puts her eyeglasses in the fridge. Her parents explain that Grandma is losing her memory, but the little girl is not ready to give up.
This story is an emotional tear-jerker about the pain of forgetting. But before your kids get sad, remind them that this story is also about the gift of remembering, something that we usually take for granted. The bright illustrations are warm and cozy, and even though the book can elicit strong emotions, it will probably leave you feeling extremely grateful for your family and all the love you are lucky to have in your life.
Remember, Joy Harjo
As soon as I saw reviews of this book (“a dazzling masterpiece,” “a beauty to behold.” “a lustrous celebration”), I knew I had to check it out. This book is based on the poem written in 1951 by a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, a self-governed Native American tribe located in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. And now it has been transformed into a picture book illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade, who has an impeccable ability to create beautiful, dream-like images that leave your heart full.
The best way I can describe this book is that it’s a nudge in the ribs and a gentle hug at the same time. Love, longing, family, existence, death… Poignantly and succinctly, Joy Harjo’s words fall on your ears like a gentle whisper that reminds us that if you remember where you come from, who you are, and where you are going, you will never feel lost. It starts with “Remember the sky that you were born under, know each of the star’s stories.” I’ve been doing a lot of “I’m one with everything and everyone in the world” meditations in the past year, so this book struck me especially deeply. But even if you are not into that sort of thing, you will find comfort and groundedness in this message.
It’s both empowering and comforting to know that even though the world was spinning away long before you came here and will continue spinning long after you are gone, you belong here. You are exactly where you need to be, and you are never alone. Oh, and if you can, listen to the author reading the book here.
Memories of a Birch Tree, Daniel Canas
We picked out this book thinking that it was a story about a boy who moved from the countryside to the city. Never judge a book by its cover, they say. Sometimes, “they” are right.
It turned out that the book is an autobiography of a birch tree (what a very interesting choice of the narrator!). A sweet little birch tree took root in the fertile soil of the countryside, surrounded by fresh air, sunshine, and lots of other birch trees. “I grew up happy,” narrates the tree. “I felt as if the whole universe lived in me.” Then… the land is sold, and the nasty metal crane digs up the birch tree and takes it to a busy city to be planted in a little patch of dirt in a sea of concrete. If your kids love nature, they might get pretty upset by this turn of events (mine did). But keep going …
This colorfully illustrated book was originally published in Spain and then translated into English. It’s the winner of the 2023 Independent Publisher Book Ward and a Gold Medalist of the 2022 Moonbeam Children’s Award. We decided that this story does a good job of making you feel like you’re right there with the birch tree, hating the injustice of it all, the dark side of change, the struggle. Don’t worry: it all ends on an optimistic note, with the tree discovering its purpose in giving shade, oxygen, and shelter to the city people, birds, and bugs who need it, while cherishing the memories of the life long gone. The ultimate lesson is that you can shine wherever you are planted, and you can spread love and hope anywhere you are.
Arthur and the Forgetful Elephant, Maria Giron
Arthur, a cute little redhead, runs into an elephant who’s forgotten who he is and where he’s from. Arthur is puzzled. He himself sometimes forgets where his toys are (shrug) and the lines in a school play (bigger shrug), but did he ever forget anything really important? Never! Luckily, Arthur is an open-minded kind of fellow. He doesn’t know what the solution is for this poor elephant, but he does know what works for him when he’s upset. And that’s to do something that makes him feel better. It doesn’t make the problem go away, but it does make the problems seem smaller.
So Arthur and the elephant just play and play all day until…. Elephant remembers that he has a family and starts trumpeting loudly until they come in the great flurry of a full-blown stampede to surround him with love and hugs! Hurrah!
This story opens an avenue for discussion of memory loss (the publisher even put together a five-page book discussion guide that you can download here). The muted palette of grays and greens at the start of the story explodes in happy fireworks of bright colors by the end. The artwork by the author is warm and kind, like a hug that unexpectedly envelops you on the day you really need it.
Have You Seen My New Blue Socks, Eve Bunting
Do your kids lose hats, toys, and library books? (Need I even ask?) Then they will love this book! An adorable little green duck is looking for his new blue socks. He knows he put them somewhere near, but he just can’t remember where. Good thing he has trusty friends who are willing to help. We all know it’s incredibly frustrating when items go missing. Your kids would appreciate knowing that other creatures forget things and make mistakes, too. (Did you know that an average American spends 2.5 days a year looking for lost items, and collectively, we are shelling out a whopping $2.7 billion annually to replace our lost treasures? I find those numbers both hilarious and heart-warming).
The text has a bit of a Dr. Seuss feel to it, and I bet your kids will memorize the catchy rhymes in no time. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations in subdued colors also complement the story and gently guide the reader toward the hilarious final twist. Your kids will want to flip to the beginning right away to see if they missed some important clues on the first read.
The Memory Box, Joanna Rowland
What attracted me to this book is that I was really into memory boxes when I was a kid. I had many! For example, I had a memory box from a mountain vacation with my grandparents filled with pine needles, cones, stones, a tin can wrapper, a gas station receipt, and an eagle feather.
It’s great for creative expression and a fantastic way to go down memory lane once in a while.
That said, this story is about losing a family member, and if you think it’s going to stress out your kids or make them worry about someone dying, then this book is not for you. The heroine of this story is dealing with the death of an unspecified family member. When she remembers the beautiful moments they spent together, it makes her smile. So she makes a memory box filled with things from “everywhere we’ve been, everywhere you’ve been, everywhere we wanted to go,” so she won’t ever forget.
The gentle artwork sets the scene and captures all the warmth of the girl’s love.
Sweet, Sweet Memory, Jacqueline Woodson
This book stood out to me not just for its deft handling of serious family issues but also for its gorgeous artwork. Sarah, who was brought up by her grandparents, is reeling from the loss of her grandpa. Even though she’s surrounded by a loving extended family that is sharing her pain, she can’t seem to find her balance, a firm piece of land to stand on where things make sense again.
That is, until her grandpa’s words of wisdom, the words he shared while taking care of his extensive garden, start taking root in her mind. He often said that human life is like a garden, “a part of it never dies. Everything and everyone goes on and on.” She lets the flow of the memories come. She finds comfort in her memories of Grandpa and understands for the first time what he meant: that he will live on through her as long as she cherishes her memories of him.
All my grandparents are long gone and buried, so this book made me weep like a baby. The muted chalk color illustrations struck me with their medievally dramatic dark colors and shades. The artist did a great job of capturing the energy of each scene, the emotions under the surface, and the intricacies of facial dynamics, all of which make this story sing.
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