The Forgettery

Amelia’s granny forgets lots of things. Little things, like where she put her glasses, and big things like people and places. But everything anyone has ever forgotten is stored in The Forgettery, and there Amelia and her granny learn the power of making memories.

WINNER! English Association English 4-11 Picture Book Awards, Fiction 4-7 Category!

Chosen by The Guardian for Book of the Month!

Filled with warmth and gentle humour, The Forgettery is a beautifully written, sensitive look at dementia and memory loss. Over 850,000 people live with dementia in the UK, which will soar to 2 million by 2051. Globally, around 50 million people live with dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases each year. Opening up discussions surrounding this challenging topic with little ones has never been more important.

Without ever explicitly mentioning dementia, The Forgettery can be enjoyed as an adventure story where children explore a fantastical world where memories can be re-discovered and revisited as well as newly made. Rachel Ip’s tender words capture the wonderful bond between grandmother and granddaughter and Laura Hughes conjures up an exciting, wonderous space where our most precious memories are stored, and the challenge of dementia can be gently explored and understood.

Rachel Ip has always loved language and literature. After studying modern languages and linguistics at Cambridge University, she worked in marketing communications for over 10 years, before turning her hand to children’s book writing. The Forgettery will be Rachel’s second picture book, following The Last Garden. She lives in Hong Kong.

Laura Hughes studied illustration at Kingston University and is the illustrator of the Oscar’s Book Prize-winning There’s a Pig Up My Nose, the Greenaway Medal-nominated Daddy’s Sandwich, as well as the bestselling We’re Going on an Egg Hunt and sequels. She lives in Hastings, East Sussex.