Remind Me

In an affecting picture book about an elder’s dwindling memory, Little Eldon the elephant loves to have Big Ella recall parts of his young childhood: “Remind me what kind of baby I was,” he says, gesturing to a picture of an infant hanging on her wall. “Cutest ever!” Big Ella tells him promptly. Working in wispy watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil images, Shute (Rabbit Wishes) gives the clothes-sporting pachyderms gentle expressions that make their close bond clear. “Remind me what kind of cake you baked for my first birthday,” Little Eldon says. “Your favorite—banana cream,” comes the response. When Big Ella asks Eldon to remind her where she put her hat one day, Eldon laughs—the big flowery chapeau is right on her head—but Big Ella does not. Soon, Big Ella needs reminding about ordinary tasks (“Remind me to go to bed when it gets dark,” she asks), a change that Little Eldon takes in stride (“Remind me to kiss you goodnight,” he responds). And when things grow more difficult, the youth finds a way to offer reminder-based care. Eliding logistical concerns around a caretaker’s progressive memory loss, it’s a portrait of loving reciprocity that provides Big Ella with that which she once offered Little Eldon. Ages 4–8. (July)