A little boy is instructed by his mom to get a list of grocery items: six farm eggs, a cake for tea, a pound of pears, and of course, bacon.

As anyone who has had to remember a number of things without a written list for reference — and before the advent of iPhone Notes — can empathise, memory can be a tricky thing. And, much hilarity can ensue when mnemonics go haywire and similar-sounding words get jumbled up — as the brightly hued classic illustrations of Pat Hutchins in Don’t Forget the Bacon! so playfully demonstrate. (Six fat legs and a flight of stairs, anyone?)

There’s also the small matter of remembering that all-important bacon…