MY MEMORY GOBLIN IS MAKING ME FORGET!

Hugo’s forgetfulness leads to lost belongings, overlooked responsibilities, and messed-up schedules. Not fun. Hugo suffers so much that he imagines a “sneaky little trickster” who might be behind it all, undermining him. Artistically inclined Hugo even provides a droll labelled portrait of the creature! We follow Hugo through his disasters: missing a soccer session with his friends because he’s looking for his cleats, neglecting to take his puppy for a walk, and forgetting about a field trip. Even his short-term memory is wonky. Then Hugo finally decides to make some changes. He implements common-sense steps: early preparation, checklists, calendars and scheduling planners, and other memory helpers, like mnemonics. He also enlists help from trusted adults and peers and rewards himself when he does well. Hugo’s forgetfulness doesn’t vanish, but he tames the goblin. A final spread summarizes all the strategies covered. This Czech import offers useful advice, presented in a gentle, nonpreachy way. In amusing vignettes against minimal backgrounds, tousle-haired, jug-eared, tan-skinned Hugo and other big-eyed, loose-limbed kids, who vary in skin tone, are rendered with specificity, along with the cute but troublesome goblin.