Dear Mr. Henshaw

Dear Mr. Henshaw

By Beverly Cleary

Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

William Morrow and Company

Copyright 198

pp. 134

Dear Mr. Henshaw

Award Winner (Newberry)

     A terrific book for older elementary school readers! The story is told through sequence of letters from a sixth grade boy, Leigh, to his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw. The reader only sees Leigh’s letters to Mr. Henshaw, but is able to predict from Leigh’s responses what Mr. Henshaw’s letters are about. Mr. Henshaw encourages Leigh to write in a diary, so part of the book is also in a journal format.

     Beverly Clearly has written a wonderful book with many layers for the reader to discover. Divorce, disappointment, loneliness, ingenuity, and perseverance are several of the themes running throughout the book. I could connect with Leigh’s feelings of disappointment because after my parents’ divorce my father was also absent much of the time. Like Leigh, I am also an only child and remember how hard it is not to have someone to share those feelings with. Cleary did an excellent job tapping into the true feelings of a child of divorce.

     I feel there are many ways a teacher could use this text in the classroom, especially with writing assignments. Since the reader does not know Mr. Henshaw’s exact responses to Leigh, students could create Mr. Henshaw’s letters based on the following letter Leigh writes. Students could also create journals or write to their favorite author. It is also a great book for a study on point of view. The reader only knows Leigh’s thoughts, what about his mother, father, Mr. Fridley, or Mr. Henshaw. How might they be feeling? I would certainly want this book in my classroom library.