“The Forgetful Elf” by Robert Fidgett and Dani Pasteau is an entertaining and creative antidote to the screen time that even the youngest children are now experiencing as their introduction to storytelling.
Written with the benefit of Rob’s lifetime career in outdoor education, and presented via delightful illustrations from Dani, “The Forgetful Elf” takes us on a joyful journey into the great outdoors, creating an enticing and involving prospect for parents of younger children – an opportunity to play and learn together!
Perfect for children aged three to seven years old, this is the first book in The Family Adventure Series, and can be enjoyed through shared reading at bedtime, or used as a catalyst for weekend family adventures.
“The Forgetful Elf” is more than a story – it’s the start of an adventure - with many more ‘adventures through story’ to come as The Family Adventure Series progresses.
It’s also the perfect gift to give at birthdays and special occasions – a book that begins a very special family tradition.
One magical story, one forgetful elf, and an adventure the whole family can explore together.
“The Forgetful Elf” - written by Robert Fidgett, and beautifully illustrated by Dani Pasteau, is a magical new children’s picture book, and the first in the Family Adventure Series.
This delightful book is more than just a story - it’s an adventure waiting to happen, for children and adults alike. When The Forgetful Elf misplaces something important, young readers and their grown-ups are invited to help solve the mystery together, following clues and exploring the outdoors and uncovering hidden along the way. Every page encourages curiosity, imagination and teamwork, turning story time into an adventure that continues long after the book is closed.
Designed especially for younger children and families, The Forgetful Elf blends storytelling with playful investigation. Parents and children work together, talk, laugh and explore, making each reading a shared experience rather than a solo one. It is a story families return to again and again, discovering something new each time as the adventure unfolds.
With warm, enchanting illustrations by Dani Pasteau, the elf’s world comes to life in scenes filled with charm, wonder and outdoor magic. Children are invited to linger, look closely and imagine themselves stepping into the adventure alongside the characters.
Inspired by a lifelong love of the outdoors, “The Forgetful Elf” gently encourages families to step away from screens and rediscover the joy of playing, talking and adventuring together. Whether read at bedtime or before a day outside, the story sparks conversation, creativity and unforgettable family moments.
The book is written with great care and sensitivity to children’s emotions. It gently guides grown‑ups to revisit the adventure, offering cues to talk about the experience - whether that’s straight afterwards or later in the day, when it can sometimes be hard for children to open up about what they’ve learned or felt. With thoughtful prompts, it encourages adults to ask children how they felt about the adventure and what they might do differently next time. The book also includes cutouts to use in the story to help bring the adventure to life, as well as a sample map for laying out clues.
“The Forgetful Elf” is great fun for young children and their carers,” says Rob. “Families have told us why they love “The Forgetful Elf” - because it encourages conversation, teamwork and curiosity, and turns story time into an interactive adventure.”
“Through my life’s work in outdoor education, I have built in elements that spark outdoor exploration and imagination, and with the wonderful complement of Dani’s illustrations we have created a structure that makes this first book in The Family Adventure Series perfect for repeat reading and creating family traditions and wonderful memories. The result is a screen-free adventure that inspires families to play, explore and discover together.”
The statistics on screen time are concerning, and reading together in the pre-school period is an essential part of children’s early years education, as this new initiative from the Department for Education highlights:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
The Family Adventure Series is designed to help families enjoy time together in the outdoors, explain Robert and Dani: “We are so pleased to announce the release date of our very first book in The Family Adventure Series, “The Forgetful Elf'”– a magical adventure in the great outdoors with the added wonder of meeting a mysterious, but very forgetful elf. Our second book is in progress, so watch this space!”
The Forgetful Elf is available now direct from the publishers using this link: https://www.
It can also be purchased from Foyles, Waterstones, Amazon and other good booksellers.
About the Authors:
Author Robert Fidgett was born in Brixton and discovered his love for the outdoors at an early age through a local youth club that regularly organised adventures and activity days. This early passion shaped a career of more than 40 years as a qualified youth worker specialising in outdoor education. Throughout his career, Robert worked with families and organisations to design meaningful activity programmes that build confidence, resilience and a sense of adventure
“Working and living in an Outdoor Education Centre, I am privileged to lead groups of young people through very positive outdoor experiences, “he says. “One day, around 16 years ago, while walking the dog, I decided to have a bit of fun. I laid out sticks in the shape of an arrow to create a path to follow. At the end of the trail, I used some mud to create a small door at the base of a tree. The next day, my then 4-year-old joined me for the walk and discovered the arrow-shaped stick path, which led to a 'fairy village.' It was delightful to watch him embark on this adventure.
“Both of my children reminisce about our walks in the woods. They express how they truly believed in the wonder of the fairy village, recalling those moments as magical times and I recognise the importance of creating family adventures with experiences for everyone, whether it is in the backyard, local woodland, or any outdoor space you happen to visit. From here, I began my journey creating these adventures, and I hope readers enjoy them as much as I have creating them.”
Illustrator Dani Pasteau is a creative leader and entrepreneur based in Surrey. With over 25 years of experience in design and illustration, she brings creative thinking and artistic warmth to every illustration. Dani’s work is known for its lively energy, visual clarity and ability to perfectly support storytelling, helping characters and worlds feel both magical and welcoming.
“Having spent most of my childhood sketching and drawing and being the ‘doodler’ of the family, it was obvious that I was going to do something art-based as a career,” she explains. “I have produced many illustrations for both children's and adult books, illustrative advertising for food and retail packaging, magazines and private artworks, and I absolutely love what I do.
“A few years ago, I was introduced to Rob, who told me he had an idea for some children's outdoor exploration books, and what a great idea it was! He handed me a story and asked me to bring his characters to life, giving them the endearing qualities he hoped would capture his readers' imagination and take them on an adventure.”
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