‘How Can I Remember All That?’ by Dr. Tracy Packiam Alloway is a child-friendly guide that tackles working memory issues. It explains what working memory is, how it feels to struggle with it, and practical strategies to improve it.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

A really interesting read which through the child’s voice of ‘Tommy’ gives a fascinating insight into his struggle with his ‘working memory’ and the problems which result from this. The book provides us with a definition of what working memory is and explains how our brains work to retain information. There are really helpful sections providing tips and strategies for improving and testing working memory (not sure about the practicalities of barefoot running but still an interesting perspective to read about). Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Some kids have trouble remembering - maybe because of a brain disfunction, a learning gap, or other challenges. This book aims to provide reassurance and tips for improving working memory.

However, it also provides information and help for adults with learning disabilities or who struggle to build working memory. Highly recommended as it's from a professional who works in the field and has ideas for personal practical application.

I'm going to use some of the tips as I learn a new language.

This is an interesting book that just touches the surface of a complex and important problem impacting many children today. I think a large part of the book is meant to be read to a child, and will work wonders in acknowledging the difficulties some children face. Just to be heard and understood is really important. The information is just a starting point and is very high level, but will be useful to start parents on their own investigation. Some of the remedies were a little extreme but from a fun perspective can be experimented with. Overall a good starting point for a wide and complex issue.

I thought this was a good book with lots of great ideas. I liked how it could be read with children (Tommy), so they could understand and try some suggestions, too. It was a quick read, but had good ideas, although I'm not too sure about the barefoot running (too many stones where I live!).