I FORGOT MY SHOES

When everyone around her becomes afflicted with memory lapses, a young girl’s ordinary day becomes an adventure. From relatively minor forgetting—an overcoat, a backpack—the rash of absentmindedness escalates to grandiose proportions as the bus driver forgets to take the children to school and the teacher forgets the day of the week. The girl, who keeps reminding readers that she has forgotten to put on her shoes, describes the day in a deadpan tone; the juxtaposition of absurd instances of forgetfulness and her calm retelling provides all the humor in this outlandish tale. Released from the bondage of the daily routine, Harper’s characters are free to explore the unbeaten path: the soccer team, lacking their ball, plays hide-and-seek while the puppy, missing his meal, samples the sofa. Osborn’s sophisticated illustrations, with off-kilter perspectives, are deeply hued and color- laden, fairly leaping off the page. This offbeat book will stir readers’ imaginations. (Picture book. 4-8)