Finding Forget-Me-Nots

"A gentle, enjoyable tale about looking around to see the solutions
everyone else is missing." - Kirkus Reviews

In this mindfulness book for kids, join Theo as he discovers how paying attention can be a superpower.

Elephants never forget . . . except Theo.

He’s too busy noticing the toucans, flowers, and colorful beetles.

But when his family is faced with a problem and memory fails them, will Theo save the day?

Filled with bright, colorful illustrations, end pages that double as coloring sheets, and an activity page for engaged reading, this feel-good book is both educational and interactive.

Readers will love this book about celebrating what makes you unique. This mindful awareness book is also a good companion for anxiety-busting methods like the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique.

BASIC INFO

Signed and personalized copies can be ordered here (no returns on personalized copies)

Also available at
G Willikers!Books and Toys, 13 Market St, Portsmouth, NH 03801 (603)436-7746
Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth, NH
Calef's Country Store, Barrington, NH

Available through Amazon.com, both in hardcover and e-book form

Publisher: Beaver's Pond Press (November 2, 2021)
Hardcover, 32 Pages
ISBN-10: 1643437712
ISBN-13: 978-1643437712
Distribution: Mariah

Watch a 30 second time lapse video of the creation of one of the illustrations!

From Diane Share, K-1-2 teacher:

"Finding Forget-Me-Nots is a whimsical story of Theo, the very mindful elephant. Wickie Rowland's beautifully illustrated pages follow Theo on his journey which turns his forgetfulness into triumph! The author's gentle words bring calm and peace."

Diane Share is a retired Early Childhood Educator who values the lessons and interpretations found in stories and their illustrations.

From Lynn Zacharias, retired elementary school principal. and teacher of young children:

" A charming, delightful and fun reminder about the importance of mindfulness. A lovely tale of soaking in even the smallest of moments. A must read during these remarkable busy times."

In the back of the book there is a treasure hunt. Can you find all the monkeys?

The end pages double as coloring pages and can be downloaded by clicking here.

PRESS

Photo: Anna Solo

Unboxing the books and seeing them for the first time!

“Finding Forget-Me-Nots reminds us that, like our hero Theo, it’s often the dreamy wanderers among us who find solutions to our most perplexing problems.” ~ Hillary S. Webb, PhD, author of Traveling Between the Worlds

From Kirkus Reviews::

"An elephant who forgets finds a new way of seeing the world in this picture book.
Theo is a small, pink elephant who forgets things all the time—because he is far too interested in looking at what’s happening around him to bother remembering. His family is dismayed, repeating the phrase over and over: “Elephants never forget!” His loved ones don’t understand why he’s too distracted to play chess, forgets to pick leaves for lunch, and doesn’t care about movie stars. But when his relatives want to cross a raging river to get to more tantalizing food, they are too busy remembering things they’ve done before to discover a new solution. Luckily, Theo notices the world a little bit at a time and saves the day. Rowland’s subtitle emphasizes Theo’s mindfulness. To become mindful is to “gently feel your feelings and to notice the sights, sounds, and smells around you.” Theo’s actions in this engaging story may remind some young readers of their own tendency to get distracted and help them to appreciate the way they notice things. Rowland’s accessible text and repeating phrase make this a good choice for emerging readers. The author’s charming illustrations, with elephants sporting accessories and New World monkeys wearing Hawaiian shirts, mix jungle habitats (a toucan from the Americas is featured), but the fictional setting allows for these delightful combinations."

A gentle, enjoyable tale about looking around to see the solutions everyone else is missing.

Clarion Reviews had this to say:

"In the engaging picture book Finding Forget-Me-Nots, elephants learn the benefits of curiosity and mindfulness.

In Wickie Rowland’s picture book Finding Forget-Me-Nots, a small elephant learns the value of curiosity and mindfulness as he solves a big problem.
Theo watches a line of leaf-cutting ants at work. He is so engaged that he forgets all about taking his mud bath. It is revealed that his curiosity and tendency to get absorbed in all that draws his interest causes him to forget other, less interesting duties, too, like picking leaves for his lunch. This worries the other elephants, who remind him that “elephants never forget.”

One day, the elephants are hungry. They notice some delicious-looking trees on the other side of a raging river. Although they can remember much, none of what they recall is any help in crossing the water. Curious, mindful Theo saves the day, leading the whole group to a safe crossing and a satisfying dinner.

Beginning with a definition of mindfulness, this outwardly uncomplicated story touches on some complex topics, including how being different from others can lead to feeling “less than,” but can also be a gift; how looking to the past for solutions may not resolve today’s problems; and how being mindful of other creatures, their activities, and the beauty of nature can enhance the experience of being alive. It makes the subtle point that adults can learn from children when Theo’s sister reveals an important truth: “We forgot to look around us because we were too busy remembering!”

The book’s expressive, colorful illustrations are memorable and complement its messages. Theo’s curiosity and desire to explore with all of his senses are apparent, and his pink color makes him both different from the rest of the elephants and easy to recognize. Background details, the elephants’ facial expressions and body language, and attention to the characters’ sizes and apparel are conveyed; the luminous, subtle coloration demands attention, too. A concluding treasure hunt element invites searching through the detailed illustrations.

In the engaging picture book Finding Forget-Me-Nots, elephants learn the benefits of curiosity and mindfulness."

From BlueInk Reviews:

A picture book that teaches children to live in the moment, not only in the past, Finding Forget-Me-Nots is a touching tale about being yourself.
Theo is a young elephant who is very forgetful. This trait results in his family chiding him again and again: for forgetting how to play chess, the names of movie stars, and even to find lunch for himself. Theo is sad about their teasing, but he finds serenity in little things around him, like the singing of parrots and the taste of bananas.
One day, the elephants try to cross a river to reach some tasty-looking trees. While Theo’s family tries to build ships, ziplines, and other creations from memory, Theo meanders along the river noticing all the beautiful things. He comes to a bunch of forget-me-not flowers, and there finds a path across a quiet part of the water. He shows his family how to get across, and Theo is happy because of their praise.
The illustrations are expressive, lively, colorful, and a good match for the story (although adults will enjoy the playful references—such as the “Meryl Sheep” celebrity poster or the beetles posed as if crossing Abbey Road—more than children).
Theo is a sweet protagonist who is easy to root for, but the story’s flaw is that he never stands up for himself, and even when he finds the path across the river, it feels like happenstance rather than from true mindfulness.*
That said, Theo has a quiet and subtle strength—feeling sad but never complaining, proving others wrong without showing off—that comes through in the story and could become a topic of discussion for precocious young readers.
The sweet elephant memorably demonstrates that you don’t have to be like everyone else to be successful, and that sometimes dwelling on the past can distract you from the present.

* Author note: In a way, that's exactly my point. When Theo is mindful of the things around him, he is open to noticing a better path forward, rather than rushing through things and missing it. :)

Full press kit coming soon.